Combined Sources
(BOSTON, MA) — On April 8, the 26 members of the western Massachusetts Legislative delegation called on MaryLou Sudders, the Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services, to increase transparency around the dissemination of personal protective equipment (PPE).
“We believe this information would be welcomed by every community across the Commonwealth and will send a clear message that the Massachusetts response to this crisis will be guided by facts and conducted with transparency,” said the five senators and 21 representatives.
Today’s letter follows a March 26, 2020 request from the delegation for a clear and transparent protocol for the prioritization and allocation of PPE requests submitted by western Massachusetts hospitals, first responders, and other health care providers and organizations. In the March letter, legislators requested clarification on both the process to communicate, prioritize and escalate PPE needs and the factors used to make such determinations.
In today’s letter to Secretary Sudders, the delegation stated, “We are grateful that clarification has been provided on the process to request PPE. We are still awaiting a response detailing the protocol for how PPE is distributed, and to whom across Massachusetts.”
Legislators noted that the recent delivery from the Patriots of N95 respirator masks to health care workers in Massachusetts “underscores the need for a transparent process so that institutions and organizations across the Commonwealth can understand the factors involved in determining PPE dissemination from this gift, the national stockpile, and other secured sources.”
Read the letters here COVID Hospital letter Western Mass Delegation COVID-19 Hospitals Letter Followup