In Response to Sustained Staffing Shortages at Local Hospitals, Rep. Katko Reintroduces Bipartisan Legislation to Incentivize Retired Healthcare Professionals & First Responders to Aid in Pandemic Response Efforts

Statement

U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24) today reintroduced the Health Care Worker and First Responder Social Security Beneficiary Choice Act. This bipartisan bill aims to alleviate the staffing shortage at local hospitals by incentivizing retired healthcare workers to participate in pandemic response efforts. Rep. Katko joined U.S. Reps. David Trone (D, MD-6), Antonio Delgado (D, NY-19), and Dusty Johnson (R, SD-AL) in introducing this measure.

Hospitals in Central New York have experienced a significant shortage of healthcare professionals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, these hospitals have been forced to reduce the number of staffed beds, temporarily close their doors to new ambulance patients, and cancel elective surgeries. To help hospitals with these staffing shortages, state and local officials have encouraged retired healthcare workers to participate in pandemic response efforts. However, retired healthcare professionals are disincentivized from returning to work due to the Social Security Administration's retirement earnings test. This test requires individuals under the full retirement age to lose some of their Social Security benefits if they return to work and earn income above set thresholds.

Rep. Katko's legislation would address this deterrent by suspending the retirement earnings test for retired healthcare workers and first responders who choose to assist in response efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic or any future public health emergency. This bill was inspired by Joseph Huppman of Syracuse, a retired Syracuse VA Medical Center Nurse and Air Force Veteran, who brought this barrier facing retired medical professionals to Rep. Katko's attention.

"Central New York hospitals and medical facilities have struggled with staffing issues throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This has forced hospitals to reduce their operating capabilities amid an influx in patients," said Rep. Katko. "To alleviate the staffing shortage, I have reintroduced the Health Care Worker and First Responder Social Security Beneficiary Choice Act. Under current law, retirees under the full retirement age risk losing Social Security benefits if they choose to assist in pandemic response efforts. This bipartisan measure would provide a fix by incentivizing retired healthcare workers and first responders to participate in response efforts during this pandemic and any future public health emergency."

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