Letter to Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services - Following Reports of Slowdown in Medication Deliveries, Pappas Leads 31 Lawmakers Calling on HHS Secretary Azar to Stand Up for Postal Service

Letter

Dear Secretary Azar:
During this pandemic, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is serving as a lifeline for Americans
who rely on the delivery of lifesaving medications and supplies to their homes. In light of the severe
financial challenges facing the Postal Service, we write to share our deep concern that any reduction
in service standards or move towards privatization would negatively impact the health of millions of
Americans. We therefore urge you to publicly convey to the President and his Administration the
importance of the Postal Service to achieving HHS' stated mission to "enhance the health and wellbeing of all Americans."
According to the American Postal Workers Union, USPS delivered 1.2 billion prescriptions in 2019,
including almost 100% of the prescriptions from the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Recent data
also shows a 20% increase over last year in mail-order prescriptions since the beginning of the
COVID-19 pandemic. These figures clearly demonstrate the need for a reliable and efficient Postal
Service to ensure continued patient access to care. The provision of health care products through the
Postal Service is particularly important for Americans who live in rural communities, especially
those who have pre-existing conditions or experience disabilities. During the pandemic, the Postal
Service has also been responsible for delivering millions of pounds of medical supplies, testing kits,
medicine, and personnel protective equipment to our hospitals and frontline workers. Doctors, EMTs,
nurses, sanitation staff, and other frontline workers rely on USPS to maintain the medical supply
chain essential to battling COVID-19.
As you are likely aware, the Postal Service is currently facing significant financial challenges.
Former Postmaster General Megan Brennan testified that unless Congress provides emergency
funding to stabilize the Postal Service's finances, USPS could run out of funds within a year. Given
the fact that the Postal Service is the largest delivery service and the only carrier that guarantees
delivery to every address in the United States, we are gravely concerned that any reduction in
standards or services provided by USPS could have severe consequences for our health care system.
On August 18, 2020, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced that he was suspending the
implementation of any operational changes before the November 3, 2020 Federal election. While this
is welcome news in the short term, we are still concerned that if USPS does not receive emergency
funding and maintain service standards, millions of Americans, especially those who are at highest
risk during the current public health crisis, could lose access to the resources they need to keep
themselves and their communities safe and healthy. We therefore urgently request that you convey to
the President and the public the significant negative impact that a reduction in USPS service would
have on our health care system.
Thank you for your attention to this letter. Again, we believe that ensuring the long-term financial
health of the Postal Service is critical to our shared mission of protecting the health and well-being of
all Americans. Millions of Americans are relying on your leadership to ensure that they can retain
access to lifesaving medications during the pandemic. We look forward to continuing to work with
you to support the American people at this difficult time.

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