Skip to main content

COVID-19, Federal Efforts

USofCare’s Response to U.S. Senate on Pandemic Preparedness

Published On June 25, 2020

Share

United States of Care (USofCare) provided feedback to US Senator Lamar Alexander, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, in response to the Committee’s white paper “Preparing for the Next Pandemic.”

USofCare’s response was developed in consultation with USofCare Board Member, former US Senator Bill Frist, MD, and other members of the USofCare Board and Founder’s Council, which are composed of business leaders and public health experts from across the health care ecosystem.

Read the Letter

“Consistent with our mission, we believe federal leadership is essential to both preparing for a pandemic before it occurs and also managing the development and implementation of a national response. That is why we commend Chairman Alexander for undertaking this critical national work and providing this opportunity for expert feedback and collaboration. We stand ready to work with the Committee and others to develop solutions in response to problems brought to light during COVID-19 that will better prepare the nation for the next pandemic.”

– Emily Barson, United States of Care’s Executive Director.

We thank the following members of our Board and Founder’s Council for their collaboration, expertise, and input:

  • Richard Deem – Former Senior Vice President of Advocacy, American Medical Association
  • John Driscoll – CEO, CareCentrix
  • Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, MD, MPH, MPA – Founder & CEO, Grapevine Health
  • Former Senator Bill Frist, MD
  • Dr. Rebekah Gee, MD – Former Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health and current CEO of the Louisiana State University Health Care Services Division
  • Dennis Heaphy – Co-Chair, Disability Advocates Advancing Our Healthcare Rights
  • Elena Hung – President & Co-Founder, Little Lobbyists
  • Dr. Dora Hughes, MD, MPH – Associate Research Professor, Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University & Former Counselor for Science and Public Health to HHS
  • Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
  • Cara James, PhD – Former Director of the Office of Minority Health, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and current President & CEO of Grantmakers in Health
  • Mario Molina, MD – former CEO, Molina Healthcare & Dean, KGI School of Medicine
  • Anand Parekh, MD, MPH, FACP – Chief Medical Advisor, Bipartisan Policy Center
  • Caitlin Rivers, PhD – Senior Scholar, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security & Assistant Professor,
  • Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • George Roberts, MHA – CEO of the Northeast Texas Public Health District and Board President of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
  • Erin Rogus, MA – Policy Advisor to Senator Bill Frist, MD
  • Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD – Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • Crystal Watson, DrPH, MPH – Senior Scholar, Johns HopkinsCenter for Health Security & Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health