U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) introduced last week the Essential Workforce Parity Act, H.R. 7538, which seeks to extend the paid leave required by the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) to healthcare workers and offer liability protections to hospitals and other medical providers from certain lawsuits during the COVID-19 emergency declaration.
FFRCA exempted hospitals and other healthcare facilities from the requirement of paid leave and liability protections because, at the time, the extent to which the pandemic would affect the health system was not yet known.
“Our doctors and nurses are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic risking their own health to treat the worst cases of COVID-19,” Kelly said. “The Essential Workforce Parity Act will guarantee that our health care heroes are treated fairly if they get sick while also ensuring their primary focus can be on helping patients, not fighting lawsuits.”
Kelly’s legislation has received full or partial support from the Health Coalition on Liability Access and the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP).
“Pennsylvania hospitals’ first priority is the safety of health care workers and the patients they treat,” HAP President and CEO Andy Carter said. “This is especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic. During these difficult times—where the situation and guidance is constantly changing—we must allow health care workers and facilities to focus on caring for every patient who needs care rather than worrying about the threat of meritless lawsuits.”