TCAA Federal Policy Priorities Signed into Law

On June 24, the President signed into law S. 1379, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPAI) of 2019. PAHPAI reauthorizes and extends funding through 2023 for numerous emergency health programs largely administered by various Health and Human Services Department (HHS) agencies, including the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

TCAA is extremely proud that S. 1379 included the MISSION ZERO Act, which will establish two new Military-Civilian Trauma Readiness Grant programs. The first, the Military Trauma Team Placement Program will provide grants to Level I civilian trauma centers for the costs of hosting military trauma teams on a full-time basis. The other, known as the Military Trauma Care Provider Placement Program, will provide grants to Level I, II and III trauma centers for the cost of training and incorporating military trauma physicians and other providers into those trauma centers. TCAA is already working with Congress and community stakeholders to ensure that the $11.5 million per year authorized for the programs is appropriated by Congress.

PAHPAI also includes provisions that requires ASPR to develop guidelines for implementing a Regional Disaster Health Response System (RDHRS) and allows funding from the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) to be used for demonstration grants to implement the guidelines in regions across the country. These grants would expand HPP public-partnerships among trauma centers, emergency medical services, state public health agencies and local health departments, public health labs, outpatient services, and other providers and agencies.

TCAA thanks its members, trauma community partners, and congressional champions for working together over the past two years to make this major achievement possible.