Washington, DC – This week, Congressman William J. Jefferson (D-La.) introduced two bills- one that would offer more protection to responders to life threatening public emergencies.  The other, to give Touro Infirmary the financial assistance it needs to continue treating a surge of patients who used to receive medical services from Charity Hospital.
 
The Strengthening Public Health Protection in Major Disasters and Emergencies Act of 2007 addresses the prevention and protection of emergency responders against injury, illness and death in instances when emergencies become disasters.

This bill would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide health and safety protection to emergency responders if the President determines that one or more suspicious substances have been released in the area.  Those exposed to the affected areas would be entitled to long-term protection and health care.  It would also require the National Academy of Science in partnership of the HS, Health and Human Services Department and the Environmental Protection Agency to scrutinize and report on environmental effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Gulf Coast communities.

The Gulf States’ Medicare Rehabilitation Unit Access Act of 2007 would provide New Orleans’ Touro Infirmary with financial relief in the provision of rehabilitation services.  This is important to the community not only for the continuation of this needed service, but also for the improvement of Touro’s financial situation.  Touro now shoulders a significant portion of New Orleans’ poor and uninsured population.

“Should these bills win final passage, they would better take care of our police officers, firemen, emergency medical technicians and other public authorities who work to keep our communities safe and in many cases, risk their lives for our protection and well-being.  These members of our society should have the best protection available when going into an emergency situation, and they should receive the best health care if they are  harmed on the job”, Jefferson said.

“Since Katrina forced so many of New Orleans’ hospitals to close, it’s imperative that the government try to help those hospitals that are currently operating which have extended their services to thousands of more patients.  Touro Infirmary is one of those institutions that has taken on many of these constituents.  For Touro to be able to accommodate its new patients, we need to provide it with deserved financial relief”, Jefferson said.