AONL, in addition to the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Nurses Association, is endorsing the Frontline Heroes Act, (H.R. 8441) which would provide survival benefits to the families of health care workers who die from COVID-19 and disability benefits to health care workers who are permanently disabled from coronavirus-related complications. “This is the very least we can do for the incredible people who face the horrors of COVID every day to care for the sick and protect the healthy,” said Norma J. Torres, D-Calif., who introduced the bill with 15 co-sponsors. AONL strongly supports the legislation, which recognizes the sacrifices of clinicians and others caring for patients during the pandemic, said Robyn Begley, DNP, RN, AONL CEO and American Hospital Association senior vice president and chief nursing officer. “We encourage Congress to compensate our heroic caregivers and their families for any health care and other related costs associated with exposure to COVID-19 that are not otherwise covered, including death benefits for surviving family members,” she added. “AONL applauds Rep. Torres for her leadership in introducing this legislation that values the contributions of every health care worker in the fight against this virus.”
