Government Temporarily Suspends Some Anti-Capitalist Healthcare Regulations
American's For Tax Freedom has posted a list of over 150 suspended regulations to help the U.S. deal with the COVID-19 virus from China.In all cases, these anti-capitalist, anti-free-market rules have been suspended because they increase the cost and decrease the efficiency and effectiveness of America's health care system.Which makes you wonder why such violations of individual rights (non-objective regulations) were put into place, to begin with.Such "universal" regulations are a political virus that has weakened the U.S. health care for the past century.They should all be repealed. -- MDC***
Some of the suspended federal regulations include:FDA allows state leeway in virus testing"The FDA will allow states to take responsibility for tests developed and used by laboratories within their borders. The labs will not have to pursue Emergency Use Authorization from the agency, an emergency clearance that is normally required." - STAT News (3/16/20)FDA loosens regulations on distribution of newly developed tests
"Under certain circumstances, the agency will not object to any manufacturers that distribute newly developed tests before the FDA grants emergency clearance, and a similar stance will be taken toward labs that use these new tests." - STAT News (3/16/20)FDA issues emergency authorization of anti-malaria drug for coronavirus care
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to BARDA to allow hydroxychloroquine sulfate and chloroquine phosphate products donated to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to be distributed and prescribed by doctors to hospitalized teen and adult patients with COVID-19, as appropriate, when a clinical trial is not available or feasible." - Department of Health and Human Services (3/29/20)Allowance of licensed health care professionals to work in a different state from which they are licensed
The "requirements that physicians or other health care professionals hold licenses in the State in which they provide services, if they have an equivalent license from another State (and are not affirmatively barred from practice in that State or any State a part of which is included in the emergency area)" are being waived. - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (3/13/20)Physician-owned hospitals can temporarily increase the number of their licensed beds, operating rooms, and procedure rooms
"Physician-owned hospitals can temporarily increase the number of their licensed beds, operating rooms, and procedure rooms. For example, a physician-owned hospital may temporarily convert observation beds to inpatient beds to accommodate patient surge during the public health emergency." - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (3/30/20)Allows non-physician practitioners (physician assistants, nurse practitioners) a wider scope of practice, like ordering tests and medications
"CMS is issuing waivers so that hospitals can use other practitioners, such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners, to the fullest extent possible, in accordance with a state’s emergency preparedness or pandemic plan. These clinicians can perform services such as order tests and medications that may have previously required a physician’s order where this is permitted under state law." - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (3/30/20)American's For Tax Freedom also lists suspended state rules and regulations. Most of these deal with licensing restrictions that:
- prevent medical professionals from working outside of the state they are licensed,
- limit the actions and care that physician assistants' can perform,
- limit the number of medical professionals,
- limit the creation of hospitals and nursing homes via so-called "Certificates of Need."
