California Medical Association (CMA) President Peter N. Bretan, Jr., M.D., issued the following statement in response to the $3 trillion coronavirus response package introduced yesterday by U.S House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“Speaker Pelosi’s ‘Heroes Act’ prioritizes essential needs of states, physicians, and other health care providers who are on the front lines fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know that this is not only a health care crisis, but an economic one, and sending direct aid to states is the best way to help minimize the impact from COVID-19 and to ensure that aid flows quickly to where it is needed most.

“CMA would also like to thank the Speaker for acknowledging that the economic fallout from COVID-19 will increase the need for important programs, like Medicaid,  that provide health care and sustenance to families who need additional support during these unprecedented times. Health care coverage expansions are essential to ensuring that Californians can get the care they need when they need it through this crisis. 

“As physicians continue to place the well-being of our communities above all else, we appreciate the additional support to protect patient access to physicians, both during,  and after the COVID-19 surge.   

“We also agree that the keys to reopening the economy include efforts  to bolster  testing and contact tracing to understand how our fight against this disease is evolving in real time, and to help contain the spread of the virus in the weeks and months ahead.   

“The House Democratic proposal is the right prescription to get America back on track and meet  the future  challenges this disease, and its fallout, will present for the American people and the economy.”