Essential Workforce Parity Act

To amend the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to provide paid sick leave for health care providers and emergency responders, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Essential Workforce Parity Act 2. Amendments (a) In general Section 5102 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ( 29 U.S.C. 2601 (1) in subsection (a), in the matter following paragraph (6)— (A) by inserting of paragraphs (1), (3), (4), (5), and (6) employee from the application (B) by adding Paragraph (2) shall apply with respect to an employee who is a health care provider by substituting because such provider determines that the employee has tested positive for COVID–19 or attests that the employee is at greater risk for COVID–19 because the employee is living with someone who has tested positive for COVID–19. due to concerns related to COVID-19 (2) by adding at the end the following: (g) Certification for health care providers (1) In general If an employer requires that a request for leave by a health care provider under subsection (a)(2) be certified, the employer may require documentation for certification not earlier than 5 weeks after the date on which the employee takes such leave. (2) Sufficient documentation Documentation of a positive COVID–19 test or an attestation from a health care provider of an employee that the employee meets the requirements under subsection (a)(2) shall be sufficient for certification. . (b) Regulatory authority Section 5111 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ( 29 U.S.C. 2601 3. Limitation on liability for health care professionals and related health care entities related to COVID–19 emergency response (a) Limitation on liability Except as provided in subsection (c), a health care professional, the professional’s related health care entity, and any other staff of the related health care entity, shall not be liable for damages under any law of the United States or of any State (or political subdivision thereof) for any harm caused by any act or omission of such health care professional, related health care entity, or other staff, in the course of arranging for or providing health care services if— (1) the act or omission occurs during the COVID–19 emergency period and the 60-day period following such emergency period; (2) the act or omission occurs in the course of providing health care services that— (A) are within the scope of the license, registration, or certification of the health care professional, as defined by the health care professional’s State of licensure, registration, or certification; and (B) do not exceed the scope of license, registration, or certification of a substantially similar health professional in the State in which such act or omission occurs; and (3) the health care services in question were provided in good faith or were withheld for reasons related to the COVID–19 emergency period. (b) Additional covered acts Except as provided under subsection (c), the limitation on liability under subsection (a) shall apply to any act or omission that may be outside the health care professional’s normal area of practice and are within the licensure and accreditation of the related health care entity that is— (1) based on any direction, guidance, recommendation, or other statement made by a Federal, State, or local official to address or in response to the COVID–19 emergency period; (2) based on any guidance published by any Federal, State, or local department or any division or agency of such department in response to the COVID–19 emergency period; or (3) undertaken or omitted due to a lack of resources, including manpower, attributable to the COVID–19 emergency period. (c) Exceptions Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply if— (1) the harm was caused by an act or omission constituting willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed by the health care professional or related health care entity; or (2) the health care professional rendered the health care services under the influence (as determined pursuant to applicable State law) of alcohol or an intoxicating drug (other than where the health care professional is properly taking a prescription drug ordered by a physician). (d) Preemption (1) In general This section preempts the laws of a State or any political subdivision of a State to the extent that such laws are inconsistent with this section, unless such laws provide greater protection from liability. (2) Volunteer Protection Act Protections afforded by this section are in addition to those provided by the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 ( Public Law 105–19 (e) Definitions In this section— (1) the term harm (2) the term health care professional (3) the term related health care entity (4) the term professional affiliation (5) the term health care services (A) the treatment, diagnosis, prevention, or mitigation of COVID–19; (B) treatment, diagnosis, or care with respect to an individual with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID–19; or (C) treatment, diagnosis, or care with respect to an individual who presents to a health care professional or the professional’s related health care entity during the COVID–19 emergency period; and (6) the term COVID–19 emergency period emergency period 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B) (f) Effective date This section shall apply with respect to any act or omission described in this section that occurred on or after the date on which the COVID–19 emergency period began.

Summary: Essential Workforce Parity Act This bill limits the liability of health care professionals and related health care entities for certain harm caused in the course of arranging or providing health care services during and shortly after the COVID-19 public health emergency.