Kosierowski, Day working together across aisle
Pair introduce long-term care PPE reimbursement program
Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski May 13, 2020 | 12:56 PM
HARRISBURG, May 13 – A bill that would protect people working in Pennsylvania’s long-term care facilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic has been introduced in the PA House, according to prime co-sponsor state Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna.
“Our long-term care facilities have seen the harshest impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s vital we do all we can to protect those healthcare workers entrusted with caring for our loved ones during these critical times,” Kosierowski said. “I am so pleased to work in a bipartisan way with my colleagues creating legislation that ensures we’re approaching the seriousness of our situation by ensuring these facilities are able to procure the needed tools to protect our workers and those they care for each and every day.”
The legislation, co-authored state Rep. Gary Day, R-Lehigh/Berks, is similar to H.B. 2435, legislation Kosierowski authored that would create a Food Establishment Pandemic Disease Remediation Cost Reimbursement Grant Program within the state Department of Agriculture. That bill was unanimously passed by the House on April 30 and is currently under consideration in the Senate.
House Bill 2509 would establish a Long-Term Care Facility Personal Protective Equipment Reimbursement Grant Program, designed to assist long-term care facilities pay for personal protective equipment for workers, including gloves, respirators, face masks, gowns, face shields and other personal protective equipment.
The bipartisan legislation has been assigned to the Aging and Older Adult Services Committee for consideration.