Pediatric health provider groups are calling on the Biden administration to declare a national emergency to help them combat the surge of hospitalizations due to respiratory illnesses in children. Seasonal flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory viruses are hitting young children especially hard this year and the resulting hospitalizations are putting an immense strain on a pediatric health system that is still reeling from COVID-19. The pediatric care organizations argue that significant capacity issues in hospitals can only be solved by a federal emergency declaration from the Biden Administration — like the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency. An emergency declaration would allow for more telehealth flexibilities and waive certain Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements that make it difficult for providers to share resources.
