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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 20, 2020 02:01 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Martina A. White and Rep. Jared G. Solomon |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Encouraging hospitals to acquire additional ventilators and additional necessary equipment |
| As the number of cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, U.S. hospitals are already experiencing increased demand for beds and ventilators. Shortages in Italy and other countries have resulted in selective care and many experts are warning that if the latest projections come true, the U.S. could see as many as 4.8 million hospitalizations due to COVID-19. The American Hospital Association (AHA) also projects that of the patients requiring hospitalization, 960,000 could require mechanical ventilation. However, as the Society for Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) reports, the number of ventilators available to patients is well short of what is necessary to respond to these projections which would leave just one serviceable ventilator for every 5 patients. But with the cost of new ventilators ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 per unit, many hospitals are hesitant to purchase new equipment as they weigh the short-term needs with long-term budgetary concerns. That is why we will soon be introducing legislation to encourage hospitals to purchase the ventilators [and other necessary equipment] that they need to combat this pandemic by letting the state buyback unused equipment at-cost. This legislation will encourage hospitals to purchase necessary equipment during this crisis and provide them the support they need to better care for our impacted populations. It also allows for Pennsylvania to build up a strategic reserve of critical supplies that can then be borrowed or purchased by other states who need it. Please join Rep. Solomon and myself in supporting this critical legislation. |