This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a new program for emergency grants . These grants are designed to safeguard essential health care workers during various declared emergencies or disasters, including those declared by the President, public health emergencies, or state, local, territorial, or Tribal emergencies. The grants are available to public or private nonprofit health care facilities and home health agencies, specifically targeting support for eligible health care workers whose duties cannot be performed remotely. Grant recipients are primarily required to use the funds to provide hazardous duty compensation to eligible health care workers. This compensation, which is in addition to regular wages, can be up to $13 per hour, with a maximum annual cap of $25,000 per worker, when their work or commute is deemed hazardous during an emergency. Additionally, grant funds may be utilized for other crucial safety measures to protect these workers from hazards. Such measures include providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and offering alternative transit options to ensure their well-being.
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a new program for emergency grants . These grants are designed to safeguard essential health care workers during various declared emergencies or disasters, including those declared by the President, public health emergencies, or state, local, territorial, or Tribal emergencies. The grants are available to public or private nonprofit health care facilities and home health agencies, specifically targeting support for eligible health care workers whose duties cannot be performed remotely. Grant recipients are primarily required to use the funds to provide hazardous duty compensation to eligible health care workers. This compensation, which is in addition to regular wages, can be up to $13 per hour, with a maximum annual cap of $25,000 per worker, when their work or commute is deemed hazardous during an emergency. Additionally, grant funds may be utilized for other crucial safety measures to protect these workers from hazards. Such measures include providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and offering alternative transit options to ensure their well-being.