For Immediate Release:
Contact: Kelly Broadway, 202-808-8853
kbroadway@health-innovation.org
Washington, D.C. –Today’s markup of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Response Act (PAHPA) by the Senate HELP Committee included an addition that compels information to be shared with everyone involved in fighting a public health crisis.
The Health Innovation Alliance (HIA) has been calling for lawmakers to require public health information be shared in both directions – bureaucrats in D.C. need to share information back to providers just as much as providers and states need to report the information up. The changes approved today will make that exchange of vital information a reality.
Gatekeeping information is a surefire way to prolong a public health emergency and increase the number of Americans who will die. Today’s technology allows information to be easily shared between all levels of government and frontline healthcare workers; it is time our laws caught up.
HIA is encouraged by today’s bipartisan support of PAHPA, and we will continue to work with lawmakers to ensure a speedy vote by the full Senate.