Besieged Providers Cheer Biden's Coronavirus Plan

Executive orders to fix the PPE supply chain, expedite and accelerate vaccinations, and address healthcare disparities are roundly lauded.

President Joseph R. Biden's plan to subdue the coronavirus pandemic is being greeted with cheers from the nation's largest provider organizations.

Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, said the executive orders, which the president signed on Thursday, would "help increase coordination and communication among all stakeholders involved in vaccination efforts and increase access to COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and care. Importantly, they will lead to more adherence to the public health measures we know work, especially mask wearing."

"In particular, we are pleased that the Administration will use all the tools at their disposal, including increased use of the Defense Production Act (DPA), to accelerate the availability of the supplies and equipment needed to fight COVID-19," Pollack said.

"This includes personal protective equipment for our heroic front-line caregivers and supplies needed to ramp up testing and vaccinations," Pollack said. "We know the DPA may not be able to solve all equipment shortages, but it will certainly help."

American Medical Association President Susan R. Bailey, MD, said the AMA since March has called for a coordinated federal response to the pandemic. She said the steps taken by the Biden administration "will quickly fix the supply chain issues that have plagued the U.S. for many months—providing health care professionals with the PPE they need to protect themselves, their patients, and families from illness, ramping up testing to identify COVID-19 illness more quickly, and getting the vaccines into more arms." 

Bruce Siegel, MD, president and CEO of America's Essential Hospitals noted that the pandemic has disproportionately harmed "communities of color and other underserved populations."

"We are grateful for the president's pledge to create a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, improve access to treatment, and enhance COVID-19 data collection, as well as a renewed dedication to fill medical supply shortfalls in communities in need," Siegel said.

Federation of American Hospitals President and CEO Chip Kahn said Biden's executive orders "made it clear we are at war with COVID-19."

"President Biden aptly recognizes that to regain our nation’s health - both physical and economic - will require Americans grasp the critical importance of masking up, as well as the need for the federal government to turn to vaccine dispensing at warp speed," Kahn said."He is also rightly focused on increasing the inventory of necessary PPE, and other important supplies, through the implementation of the Defense Production Act," Kahn said. "The use of DPA must be focused on providing what has not been available, while allowing the supply chain that is working to do its job."

Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, president and CEO, Catholic Health Association of the United States, called President Biden's executive orders "an encouraging first step for a highly coordinated federal response to bring the virus under control and stabilize our nation's healthcare delivery system, while providing necessary support to vulnerable individuals and families."

"We are pleased that this plan would offer additional support and resources for frontline workers in hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities to protect patients and the communities they serve; provide for outreach and access to COVID-19 vaccines for all communities; expand coverage options for the uninsured and extend unemployment support; and provide vital funding for important social safety net programs that address food insecurity, housing and child care," Haddad said.

Jacqueline W. Fincher, MD, president, of the American College of Physicians, said the pandemic has exposed other troubling issues in the nation's care delivery system, including "racial disparities, immigration, poverty, and climate change that impact the health of our patients and our physician workforce."

"The initial announcements from President Biden are both good steps forward for the new administration to address many crucial issues, and a promising sign that he is going to make improving health for all Americans a priority," Fincher said.