(This story was updated on Jan. 22, 2021)
ASCP applauds President Joe Biden for his prompt efforts today to improve our nation’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Administration released its new plan, called the
National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, to address the pandemic. ASCP has been calling for the adoption of a comprehensive testing and support strategy since April 2020. The new initiative includes a number of the signature policies and proposals championed by ASCP. Yesterday ASCP released its latest version of its plan, click
here to obtain a copy. ASCP has been in
communication with President Biden’s advisors to advocate for more aggressive support to improve laboratory test capacity, and recently released an Action Alert to further support these efforts. ASCP appreciates the overwhelming support of our ASCP members who have helped make a national plan possible.
Biden’s plan focuses the administration’s efforts on seven goals, including mitigating COVID-19’s spread through expanding testing and expanding use of the Defense Production Act to address PPE and other supply shortages as well as efforts to expand the public health workforce, both elements of ASCP’s recommendations. ASCP is also pleased that President Biden has called for the creation of a
National Pandemic Testing Board, another initiative for which ASCP has been advocating since early last year, to help the administration’s more effectively guide COVID-19 pandemic mitigation response. The creation of the National Pandemic Testing Board will be established by an executive order expected to be signed by President Biden tomorrow.
President Biden Signs Executive Order Creating Testing Board, Public Health Workforce Initiative
ASCP is also applauding President Joe Biden for signing an
Executive Order late January 21 establishing a National Pandemic Testing Board and outlining a bold, new workforce initiative that appears to include laboratory personnel. The creation of the National Pandemic Testing Board was first highlighted in the President’s COVID-19 Strategy document.
The Executive Order charges the Testing Board with identifying strategies to expand testing, coordinating federal government efforts to increase testing; reducing disparities in access to testing; and providing guidance on how to enhance the clarity, consistency, and transparency of federal government communication with the public about the goals and purposes of testing.
Biden’s Executive Order calls for the development of a sustainable workforce initiative, called the U.S. Public Health Workforce Program. It requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to provide “technical support to state, local, tribal, and territorial public health agencies with respect to testing and contact-tracing efforts” and “to assist such authorities in the training of public health workers.” This effort may also involve providing “technical assistance to non-federal public health workforces in connection with testing, contact tracing,” and other urgent public health workforce needs. The Corps will be involved in assisting with training programs for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to provide testing, including in schools.
The President’s Order tasks his Administration with “achieving a sustainable public health workforce, as well as options for expanding HHS capacity, such as by expanding the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and Epidemic Intelligence Service, so that the Department can better respond to future pandemics and other biological threats.”
ASCP appreciates President Biden’s vision for recognizing the critical role that laboratory testing and entire laboratory workforce plays in responding to the current pandemic, future pandemics and other disease threats. Consistent with ASCP’s recommendations for the development of a national testing strategy, we will be working with the Biden Administration and Congress to ensure that this initiative is designed to help laboratory workforce development needs to better meet patient testing demands.
Laboratory Workforce Covered in Phase 1a Vaccine Rollout
In a clear win for the laboratory community, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has acted on ASCP recommendations by confirming that non-physician laboratories are included in its recommendations for the Phase 1a vaccine rollout. Last month, ASCP
wrote to the CDC seeking clarification as these vital healthcare professionals are technically exempt from the agency’s initial recommendation.
There appeared to be some confusion as to whether pathologists were included in the original draft but they, along with phlebotomists,
were included. In a letter, the CDC confirmed laboratory personnel were included. Less clear, however, is the status of non-physician autopsy personnel. ASCP will be working with the CDC to secure further clarification on non-physicians involved in providing autopsy-related services.
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