Bill Overview
Title: Public Health Emergency Flexibility Act of 2022
Description: This bill allows specified COVID-19 funding that was made available through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to also be used to address monkeypox. (Monkeypox is a viral disease that is endemic to parts of Africa and causes symptoms similar to, but less severe than, smallpox.)
Sponsors: Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
Target Audience
Population: People at risk of infectious diseases (monkeypox and COVID-19)
Estimated Size: 100000000
- The bill allows COVID-19 funding to be used to address monkeypox.
- Monkeypox is currently endemic to parts of Africa.
- COVID-19 funding is aimed at public health and emergency preparedness, impacting populations vulnerable to infectious diseases.
- The global population is increasingly mobile, and infectious diseases can spread beyond endemic regions.
- The potential risk of monkeypox spreading beyond Africa makes it a concern for global public health.
- Those involved in healthcare sectors globally will be directly affected due to changes in funding and resource allocation.
Reasoning
- The target population in the U.S. for this policy includes those who are vulnerable to infectious diseases such as monkeypox and COVID-19, which mainly consists of healthcare workers, individuals with compromised immune systems, and those living in high-density areas.
- Given the limited budget, the policy will likely prioritize locations with higher population densities or those with previously identified outbreaks. Areas with robust healthcare facilities might see enhancements in their response capacities.
- The common person may not feel a direct impact of this policy unless they are closely tied to healthcare, public health response sectors, or are part of communities at higher risk for outbreaks.
Simulated Interviews
Registered Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think redirecting some COVID-19 resources to address monkeypox makes sense given the rising cases.
- As a nurse, I welcome any policy that strengthens our response capabilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Public Health Official (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is crucial for maintaining our readiness for emerging health threats such as monkeypox.
- The additional funding allows us to expand our strategies and includes education and prevention.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Freelancer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't paid much attention to monkeypox, but anything that addresses public health sounds beneficial.
- I’m concerned about any outbreaks, but I trust our systems to handle them.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Immunocompromised Patient (Houston, TX)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies that enhance public health responses are incredibly important to people like me who are more vulnerable.
- I'm grateful that there’s a focus beyond COVID-19.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Small Business Owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The pandemic taught us the value of readiness; I assume measures for emergent diseases will help everyone <i>eventually</i>, indirectly.
- My main concern is keeping my business open.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see direct effects on my daily life from this.
- It's good to know our emergency responses are active.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Public health preparedness is a topic we study closely; the policy seems like a smart move considering the funds are available.
- Knowledge and preparedness can mitigate harm.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
CDC Researcher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Utilizing existing funds would bolster monkeypox prevention strategies, vital for containment strategies.
- It's about equipping systems with enough flexibility for various threats.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
High School Teacher (Boston, MA)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think redirecting funds makes sense. Education on public health is key, and this could help support our schools too.
- I'm hopeful for more awareness around diseases like monkeypox.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Tech Worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m hopeful for systemic improvements long-term thanks to policies like these, but right now it doesn’t feel relevant to me.
- Maybe our health apps could integrate updates on such issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $31000000, High: $72000000)
Year 3: $54000000 (Low: $32000000, High: $74000000)
Year 5: $58000000 (Low: $34000000, High: $78000000)
Year 10: $65000000 (Low: $38000000, High: $85000000)
Year 100: $90000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $120000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill relies on existing funds, minimizing additional financial burdens on the federal budget.
- The policy seeks to enhance emergency preparedness for developing health threats, potentially avoiding higher costs associated with future pandemics.
- Flexibility in funding supports timely responses to emerging health challenges, aiding in public health resilience.
- Potential scalability to other infectious diseases could necessitate further resource adjustment and expenditures.