WASHINGTON — The broad outlines of an upcoming debate over a pandemic preparedness reauthorization bill are beginning to emerge as regulators, policymakers and industry groups take stock of lessons learned from COVID-19.
The latest reauthorization of the 2006 pandemic preparedness law, which created a sweeping set of emergency medical programs, expires in September, and is the only major must-pass health bill Congress is considering this year.
Because of that, the bill could serve as the vehicle for both a bevy of industry riders and a number of partisan disputes that exploded during the pandemic.