Auditor General DePasquale Applauds Bipartisan Agreement on State Funding for COVID-19 Medical Supplies, Will Monitor State's Ability to Purchase Them
Auditor General DePasquale Applauds Bipartisan Agreement on State Funding for COVID-19 Medical Supplies, Will Monitor State's Ability to Purchase Them
HARRISBURG (March 26, 2020) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today said he will work with the Wolf Administration and monitor Pennsylvania's ability to purchase medical supplies due to increased competition sparked by the Coronavirus pandemic.
"I applaud Gov. Wolf and the General Assembly for agreeing to set aside $50 million to purchase badly-needed medical supplies," DePasquale said. "We need to make sure Pennsylvania’s health care providers have all the tools they need to save as many lives as possible."
Officials in numerous states have cited difficulty in acquiring supplies such as face masks and other equipment used by medical professionals when treating COVID-19 patients. A lack of federal coordination has put states in the difficult position of competing with one another to purchase supplies.
Beyond being an urgent public health concern, DePasquale said the issue is also a concern to Pennsylvania taxpayers because some states are reporting having to pay higher-than-usual prices for medical supplies.
"No business should stoop to trying to make a fast buck from human suffering and those that do should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," DePasquale added.
Learn more about the Department of the Auditor General online at www.PaAuditor.gov.
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