Health System Would Get Crisis-Fighting Weapons in Stimulus

The U.S. health system is at risk of being overwhelmed by a deluge of patients and accompanying money problems brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. But the Senate’s $2 trillion stimulus bill would give it tools—such as $100 billion in emergency funds for hospitals and the suspension of a cut in Medicare payments—that could help it keep its head above water.

Demanding Supplies: The package (H.R. 748) would help streamline the federal government’s manufacturing orders, which have priority under the Defense Production Act. It also would take steps to spur production of personal protective equipment, avoid shortages of vital ...