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(CNN) – The federal government must take “urgent action” in its response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report from the US Government Accountability Office.
The shortage of medical supplies persists, despite efforts by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to mitigate the shortage and expand the supply chain, according to the report.
US states and territories are concerned about an ongoing shortage of some COVID-19 testing materials and medical supplies, including rapid point-of-care tests and reagents needed for nitrile tests and gloves, according to a GAO poll from October. About a third of the responding states said they were “very” or “completely” concerned about having enough vaccine-related supplies to deliver a potential COVID-19 vaccine, and another 21 states said they were “moderately concerned.”
The GAO made recommendations to HHS and FEMA in September, but they have not been implemented.
“In light of the increase in COVID-19 cases, along with the reported shortage, including the results of the GAO national survey, the GAO underscores the critical imperative that HHS and FEMA implement the GAO recommendations. September 2020, “the GAO, an independent agency that acts as the investigative arm of Congress, said in its report.
In an accompanying response to the GAO report, Sarah Arbes, HHS Deputy Secretary for Legislation, said the agency “disagrees” with the shortage findings and suggested the report is “too vague” in its recommendations on the best way to help states. meet testing and supply needs.
The new report is also concerned about the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s changes in testing strategy and guidance, and says the CDC has not been transparent about the changes.
“The GAO recommends that HHS ensure that CDC clearly discloses the scientific basis for any changes to the testing guidelines at the time the change is made,” the report said.
The GAO report made 11 recommendations to improve the federal response to a pandemic. It recommended that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services quickly develop a plan to respond to 27 recommendations from the Coronavirus Commission’s analysis of Nursing Home Safety and Quality, a report released Sept. 16.
The GAO report also recommended that the Department of Veterans Affairs develop a plan to inspect state veterans ‘homes and “collect timely data on COVID-19 cases and deaths in veterans’ homes in each state.”
This story was first published on CNN.com, “” Urgent action ‘needed in the US government’s response to the pandemic, says watchdog.”
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