“I
will never hesitate to take any necessary steps to protect the lives, health,
and safety of the American people. I will always put the wellbeing of America
first.”
President Donald J. Trump
MOBILIZING ALL FEDERAL RESOURCES: President
Donald J. Trump is leveraging the full power of the Federal Government to
protect the health and safety of the American people.
- President
Trump is exercising statutory authorities to declare a national emergency
in response to the coronavirus.
- The
unprecedented action the President is taking invites States, territories,
and tribes to access over $42 billion in existing funding to combat the
coronavirus.
- The
Administration has taken decisive action to ensure State, local, and
tribal leaders have the resources they need to provide protective
measures for their communities.
- The
Small Business Administration also has authority and available funding to
make over $7 billion in loans to qualifying small businesses to assist
economic recovery.
- President
Trump is directing further actions across his Administration in response
to the coronavirus.
- The
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced guidance to
limit medically unnecessary visits to nursing homes to protect vulnerable
elderly Americans
- The
Secretary of the Education will be waiving interest on all student loans
held by the Federal Government.
- The
President is directing the Department of Energy to purchase large
quantities of crude oil for the strategic reserve.
- The
President is urging every State to set up emergency operational centers
and is asking every hospital to activate its emergency preparedness plan.
EMPOWERING HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS: The
President’s emergency declaration will give healthcare providers on the front
lines of this pandemic the flexibility they need to respond.
- President
Trump continues to cut through every piece of unnecessary red tape that
may hinder our response efforts and make every Federal resource available.
- The
President will empower the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to
waive provisions of certain laws and regulations and give maximum
flexibility to healthcare providers to care for their patients.
- The
declaration will provide HHS with critical authorities to waive:
- Certain
laws to enable telehealth, remote doctors’ visits, and hospital check-ins
- Licensing
requirements so doctors from other states can provide services in areas
with the greatest need.
- Critical
Access Hospital requirements to allow those hospitals to have more beds
and longer lengths of stay
- The
requirement of a 3-day hospital stay prior to admission to a nursing
home.
- Rules
hindering hospitals’ ability to bring additional physicians on board or
obtain needed office space.
- Restrictions
on where hospitals can care for patients.
- The
Administration will be working to eliminate every obstacle possible to
ensure healthcare providers can deliver Americans the care they need.
RAPIDLY EXPANDING TESTING: The Trump
Administration is working to rapidly expand coronavirus testing across the
nation and make sure Americans who need them have access.
- President
Trump is mobilizing resources across the Federal Government to accelerate
testing and expand access for more Americans.
- The
President wants to make sure that those who need a test can get a test
safely, quickly, and conveniently.
- The
Administration is working with the private sector to open up drive-through
testing collection sites in critical areas impacted by the coronavirus.
- The
Administration is working with Google to develop a website Americans can
go to determine whether a test is needed and, if so, facilitate testing at
a nearby location.
- The
Food and Drug Administration is issuing emergency authorization for new
commercial coronavirus tests that will help significantly expand testing
across the country.
- One
new test produced by Roche has already been authorized and authorization
is coming for another test very shortly.
- Up
to 2 million additional tests are expected to be available next week
thanks to these efforts.
- President
Trump and his Administration are working to provide maximum flexibility
for States to approve labs for coronavirus testing.
- HHS
recently announced it is providing funding to help accelerate the
development of two rapid diagnostic tests.
- The
Administration has designated Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir
to take the lead in coordinating testing efforts to ensure seamless access
for patients, doctors, and hospitals.
- The
Administration continues to cut red tape that restricted who qualifies for
testing.
