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S 957 111th Congress Senate Health Emergency medical services and trauma care Health care coverage and access Health information and medical records Health programs administration and funding Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009

Introduced: May 1, 2009 Introduced by: Durbin, Richard J. Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 1, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5020-5022)
May 1, 2009
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to activate the coverage of short-term emergency health care services if the Secretary determines that there is a public health emergency. Sets forth factors for the Secretary to consider, including the degree to which the emergency is likely to overwhelm health care providers in the region.

Requires the Secretary to establish a medical monitoring program for monitoring and reporting on the health care needs of the affected population over time.

Limits eligibility for coverage of emergency health care services to: (1) uninsured or underinsured emergency victims who need health care services due to injuries or disease resulting from the public health emergency; or (2) uninsured individuals residing in the affected area whose ability to access care or medicine is disrupted as a result of the emergency.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a streamlined process for determining eligibility for emergency health care services; (2) report to Congress on the number and adequacy of volunteers enrolled in the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP) who will be available to each state in the event of a public health emergency; and (3) conduct an outreach and public education campaign to inform health care providers and the general public about the availability of emergency health care coverage during the period of the emergency.

What's happening now May 1, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5020-5022)

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 2231 Identical bill Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 957: Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-957/
MLA
"S. 957: Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-957/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 957, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-957/.
Markdown link
[S. 957: Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-957/)
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