I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6618 
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a database 
to facilitate the provision of health care services by a volunteer at 
a Federal or State agency during the COVID–19 public health emer-
gency, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 24, 2020 
Mr. CROW (for himself and Mr. WALTZ) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
establish a database to facilitate the provision of health 
care services by a volunteer at a Federal or State agency 
during the COVID–19 public health emergency, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Temporary Responders 
for Immediate Aid in Grave Emergencies Act of 2020’’ 
or the ‘‘TRIAGE Act of 2020’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:28 Apr 28, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6618.IH
H6618
SSpencer on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEER PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) HEALTH
CARE
PROFESSIONAL
VOLUNTEER 
DATABASE.—Not later than 7 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a data-
base to facilitate the provision of health care services by 
volunteers during the period of the public health emer-
gency at Federal or State agencies. 
(b) VOLUNTEER INFORMATION COLLECTION.—For 
purposes of the database under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall establish a toll-free telephone number and a 
public website to collect the relevant information of health 
care professional volunteers, including— 
(1) the contact information of a volunteer; and 
(2) the Federal or State agency at which the 
health care professional prefers to volunteer. 
(c) COORDINATION.— The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall coordinate with the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary 
of Homeland Security, the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, the Attorney General of 
the United States, and the State agencies with the pri-
mary responsibility for public health within the respective 
States, to facilitate the exchange of information collected 
pursuant to subsection (b). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:28 Apr 28, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6618.IH
H6618
SSpencer on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM TO EXPEDITE REACTIVATION OF 
AN EXPIRED LICENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award grants 
to States for reactivating the expired licenses of health 
care professionals to the extent necessary to allow such 
professionals to volunteer, and assigning such profes-
sionals to volunteer, pursuant to section 2 during the pub-
lic health emergency. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.—During the 
public health emergency, a State receiving a grant 
under this section may use such funds to— 
(A) expedite the reactivation of a medical 
license, including— 
(i) a criminal record history check and 
similar vetting as required under State law 
for each volunteer; 
(ii) covering the cost of reactivation of 
the license; 
(iii) hiring additional staff; 
(iv) providing appropriate refresher 
training; and 
(v) any other logistical, administra-
tive, or material costs that may arise; and 
(B) implement a process to assign a health 
care professional to a hospital, a health care 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:28 Apr 28, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6618.IH
H6618
SSpencer on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with BILLS
clinic, or any other health care facility within 
the State. 
(2) TERMINATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMER-
GENCY.—If a State receiving a grant under this sec-
tion has grant funds remaining at the end of the 
public health emergency, the State may use such 
funds, during the 6-month period following such 
emergency, for restoring health care system readi-
ness and procuring infectious disease personal pro-
tective equipment. 
(c) REACTIVATED LICENSE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As a condition on receipt of 
a grant under this section, a State shall require a 
health care professional whose license is reactivated 
pursuant to the grant to perform health care serv-
ices under the guidance of a health care professional 
with an active license and in good standing on the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) RESTRICTION.—As a condition on receipt of 
a grant under this section, a State may not use a 
grant under this section to reactivate a license of an 
unlicensed health care professional if— 
(A) the unlicensed health care professional 
was not in good standing when the medical li-
cense expired; or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:28 Apr 28, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6618.IH
H6618
SSpencer on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with BILLS
(B) the unlicensed health care professional 
has been convicted of a crime that would limit 
their ability to provide health care services. 
(d) GRANT AMOUNT.—The amount of a grant under 
this section shall not exceed $250,000. 
(e) PERIOD OF THE GRANT.—The period of a grant 
under this section shall be in effect only for the length 
of the public health emergency. 
(f) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary 
an application in such form, and containing such informa-
tion, as the Secretary may require. 
(g) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 
may be construed to require a State to continue in effect 
a license beyond the public health emergency. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out 
this section. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) Subject to paragraph (7), the term ‘‘health 
care professional’’ means an individual who is li-
censed, registered, or certified under Federal or 
State law to provide health care services. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:28 Apr 28, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6618.IH
H6618
SSpencer on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with BILLS
(2) The term ‘‘health care services’’ means any 
services provided by a health care professional, or by 
any individual working under the supervision of a 
health care professional, that relate to the assess-
ment or care of the health of a human being, includ-
ing the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of 
COVID-19. 
(3) The term ‘‘license’’ includes a license, reg-
istration, or certification, as defined by the State of 
licensure, registration, or certification to provide 
health care services. 
(4) The term ‘‘public health emergency’’ means 
the public health emergency declared by the Sec-
retary pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 2020, 
with respect to COVID–19. 
(5) Except as otherwise specified in this Act, 
the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services. 
(6) The term ‘‘State’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 311 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(7) The term ‘‘unlicensed health care profes-
sional’’ means a health care professional with an ex-
pired license. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:28 Apr 28, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6618.IH
H6618
SSpencer on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with BILLS
(8)(A) The term ‘‘volunteer’’ means a health 
care professional who, with respect to the health 
care services rendered, does not receive compensa-
tion or any other thing of value in lieu of compensa-
tion. 
(B) In this paragraph the term ‘‘compensa-
tion’’— 
(i) includes a payment under any insur-
ance policy or health plan, or under any Fed-
eral or State health benefits program; and 
(ii) excludes— 
(I) receipt of items to be used exclu-
sively for rendering health care services; 
and 
(II) excludes any direct payment or 
something of value from a State, hospital, 
or any other donation, including reim-
bursement for travel, lodging, and per 
diem in lieu of subsistence. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:28 Apr 28, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6618.IH
H6618
SSpencer on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with BILLS