Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Leading critic wants more funds to prepare for potential pandemic.

For years, many Democratic leaders have charged that President Bush is ignoring the dangers bird flu presents. One of the most vocal critics has been Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), who is the ranking minority member of the Committee On Government Reform, which held hearings on whether the United States is in fact ready for the potential pandemic.

In those hearings, he told Congress that the president's plan shows that "progress is being made" to fight the bird flu. Parts of the plan "make a lot of sense," such as Bush's goal of investing in vaccines. But the plan still has some significant problems, Waxman said, such as:

• The administration gives a key role to the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to help protect the nation from a flu outbreak. Considering these agencies' "abysmal performance" during Hurricane Katrina, Waxman said, "this is a huge misjudgment."

• Another serious problem is inadequate funding, Waxman noted. The White House's plan requires local and state governments to perform hundreds of tasks to prepare for an outbreak. But the administration is asking Congress for only $100 million to fund these activities.

• Bush shouldn't shield vaccine manufacturers from liability without providing any meaningful compensation for people who suffer injuries from the vaccine, Waxman maintained.