No public health emergency declaration for RSV or flu

Photo: Reza Estakhrian/Getty Images

The Department of Health and Human Services has not declared a public health emergency for hospitals overcrowded with patients suffering from the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and influenza, despite a request for a PHE from children's hospital groups.

Earlier this month, the Children's Hospital Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics sent a letter to President Biden and to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra requesting a public health emergency declaration that would open the door for waivers and financial relief that are available under the COVID-19 public health emergency.

As of today, no PHE has been declared.

HHS instead told The Hill it was ready to offer help on a case-by-case basis.

"We have offered jurisdictions support confronting the impact of RSV and influenza and stand ready to provide assistance to communities who are in need of help on a case-by-case basis," an HHS spokeswoman said, according to the report.

Infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that spiking cases of RSV among children are currently at a critical juncture in the U.S. but will hopefully begin declining from their peak soon, according to Axios. Next month, Fauci will step down from his roles as chief medical advisor to the president and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

WHY THIS MATTERS

An emergency declaration would allow waivers for certain Medicare, Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) requirements so that hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers could share resources in a coordinated effort to care for their community, according to the letter from the hospital groups. 

Specifically, Section 1135 waivers would offer temporary reprieve from conditions of participation that may impede moving patients; the use of new spaces for care and adapting to workforce challenges; Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act requirements that may impede transferring patients and creating offsite triage to manage capacity challenges; and licensure reciprocity to support cross-state care and telehealth.

In addition to the regulatory relief, federal encouragement to state Medicaid agencies to support telehealth, out-of-state care and needed flexibilities to manage capacity in hospitals and across the care continuum would be very helpful, the letter said. 

"President Biden and Secretary Becerra have been invaluable leaders to children's hospitals across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we implore them to renew their commitment to pediatric healthcare and give us the resources necessary to control the ongoing RSV and flu surge with the continuing children's mental health emergency," said Children's Hospital Association CEO Mark Wietecha. "Our system is stretched to its limit and without immediate attention the crisis will only worsen."

THE LARGER TREND
 
Earlier this month, the CDC warned of a surge in flu, RSV and other viral infections this season, especially among children and older adults.

The rise of respiratory diseases this year may be the direct result of COVID-19, as children may now be exposed to other viruses for the first time, according to the CDC. 

Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org