Press Release

Cummings Chairs Hearing on HHS Failure to Implement Law to Coordinate Response to Public Health Emergencies

The hearing examined how the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has implemented the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act. Passed by Congress in 2006, the Act establishes the HHS as the primary federal agency in charge of coordinating the response to public health and medical emergencies.

Congressman Cummings said, "In times of great tragedy, Americans rely on our emergency care system.  Whether because of a car wreck, a heart attack, a stroke, or a pregnancy complication, Americans and their families show up at the doorstep of our nation's emergency rooms seeking critical care everyday.  Emergency care is the great equalizer-it is the only form of health care guaranteed to every American, regardless of his or her ability to pay. 

"For that reason, we all want emergency care to work effectively for ourselves and our loved ones.  When it does work, and it usually does, lives are saved, and lifelong disability is avoided.  But when the system fails, it can have fatal consequences."

"In my hometown of Baltimore, a City Health Department study documented that between 2002 and 2005, the total hours City hospitals were on 'red alert' status, meaning they had no cardiac monitored beds for arriving ER patients, increased by 36 percent.  The length of time it took ambulances to offload patients in the ER increased by 45 percent, and the number of hours ambulances were diverted from overcrowded ERs shot up by 165 percent.

"Failures in the ER have led to an increase in preventable death, from treatable conditions like heart disease.  The fact of the matter is that we have a crisis in emergency care, and it is nationwide. With a national emergency and trauma care system as fragile as ours, how would we manage the very real threats of a terrorist bombing, a natural disaster, or an outbreak of pandemic flu?  Where is the surge capacity?"

In May, Congress enacted a one-year moratorium that blocks the Department from implementing its proposal to reduce funds for emergency care. But HHS has shown no signs of modifying its position.

"Nearly six years have passed since the wake up call of September 11^th, and HHS has yet to tackle this problem.  The time for action is long past due," Congressman Cummings said.

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