October 12, 2001

House Subcommittee Examines Public Health Response to Bioterrorism

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Rep. Jim Greenwood (R-Penn.), focused on the public health system's role in the event of a bioterrorist attack at an Oct. 10 hearing. The first panel featured local and national experts giving their views on the immediate needs of the public health system in the face of an emergency, such as training of health professionals, improving communication between providers and agencies, and increasing hospital capacity. Most witnesses agreed that more funding designated for bioterrorism needs to reach the state and local level to assist those on the front line. Also needed is a disaster response plan coordinated at the federal level under one agency, preferably the newly created Office of Homeland Security to be headed by former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge.

Among the witnesses in the first panel was Ronald Peterson, president of Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. Representing the American Hospital Association, Mr. Peterson outlined eight core components of disaster readiness, including integration with community police, increased inventories of supplies, and back-up plans in case of power failures or water contamination. Mr. Peterson estimated that Hopkins' own disaster readiness efforts total nearly $7 million. This includes, among other items, the purchase of 100 new ventilators ($1.5 million), 1,000 special filtering masks ($300,000, covering only about 1/7 of the staff), and four days of drug therapy for 100 patients ($600,000).

The second panel included Dr. Scott Lillibridge, head of the Health and Human Services bioterrorism office, who discussed HHS activities on bioterrorism [see Washington Highlights, Oct. 5]. Bruce Baughman of Federal Emergency Management Agency, focused on the links between HHS, his agency, and other local disaster arms. Jan Heinrich of the General Accounting Office discussed the major findings in the GAO report released last month, in particular which agencies are using bioterrorism monies, and weaknesses in the current system.

Information: Erica Froyd or Chris Mitchell, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.