The Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act would authorize federal emergency grants to hospitals, health care facilities, and home health agencies to provide hazard pay to essential health care workers during declared emergencies or disasters. Eligible workers include doctors, nurses, direct care workers, medical technologists, public health workers, orderlies, and janitorial or custodial staff in health care settings whose work cannot be done remotely. The bill would allow facilities to pay workers up to $13 per hour in additional hazardous duty compensation, with a cap of $25,000 per worker per year, as well as fund safety measures like personal protective equipment and alternative transportation. The legislation applies during presidentially declared disasters or emergencies, public health emergencies, and state or local emergency declarations. The bill does not specify a funding amount, instead authorizing "such sums as may be necessary" to carry out the program.
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