On Friday, March 13, President Trump declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency. This designation comes with up to $50 billion in federal aid to states and local governments and frees up funding for increasing medical resources.
President Trump also declared a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act, which allows regulatory assistance toward the crisis.
Related: ACEP sent a letter to the HHS secretary outlining COVID-19 policy priorities to ensure EM physicians and health care systems have the necessary resources to provide care during this pandemic. Read a summary of ACEP's ongoing federal and regulatory advocacy.