In advance of a hearing in the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on March 17, the Partnership for Employer-Sponsored Coverage provided Members and staff with input on employers’ commitment to helping with the COVID vaccination process. The coalition’s statement is available HERE.
The hearing entitled “Leading the Way Forward: Biden Administration Actions to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations,” is with the nation’s leading public health officials working on pandemic efforts - Dr. Rochelle Walensky of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health, and Dr. Peter Marks of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
An excerpt of the statement is below and the full statement is available HERE.
As Congress works with the Biden Administration, and health professionals and facilities across the nation on vaccination efforts, P4ESC would like to you to take note of the following:
1. We welcome any opportunity to help in the public education campaign on vaccinations, including disseminating information to our member businesses and their employees, and provide input on policy development and compliance relief measures for employees and employers.
2. Employers are seeking clarification from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on their ability to offer employees incentives to vaccinate without running afoul of federal laws. Many employers have publicly announced their intent to provide employees with paid time off or monetary incentives to get vaccinated, and many others are contemplating such actions. Any assistance you could provide in requesting clarification from the EEOC would be appreciated.
3. COVID-19 has brought an unprecedented amount of uncertainty for employees and businesses. The employer-sponsored system has been a steadfast safety net for the millions who have suffered from COVID and the millions more receiving care for a host of health and wellness issues. As our nation continues to weather the public health crisis, P4ESC urges Congress to preserve and strengthen employment-based health coverage and work with employers to address the long-term health and economic issues.