The following is the latest information from Pennsylvania’s state government and the federal government as of 3:45 p.m. on Wedneday, July 8.
Pennsylvania Update
Department of Health
The Department of Health has updated its FAQ on universal testing requirements for skilled nursing facilities. It includes new guidance on the definition of “all staff” and how to treat staff who refuse testing.
Department of Health – by the numbers
The number of newly reported COVID-19 cases in the state has risen significantly in the past two days. The Department of Health attributed the first day’s increase to delayed reporting from some counties, especially Philadelphia.
Department of Human Services
Act 20, recently passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, allocates money from the federal CARES Act. Included in that funding is $457 million for providers of long-term living programs. DHS has posted a statement explaining how it will distribute $8 million of that sum among qualified providers of ventilator or tracheostomy nursing facility services.
Federal Update
Department of Health and Human Services
HHS has updated its CARES Act Provider Relief Fund web page to remind providers that to be considered for its next distribution of CARES Act money to Medicaid and CHIP providers, interested parties must submit their gross revenues from patient care for CY 2017, 2018, or 2019 by July 20, 2020. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered for funding. To learn more about this process, interested parties can read the Medicaid and CHIP provider distribution fact sheet.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
CMS has published an FAQ addressing matters involving provider burden relief.- In March, CMS published a memo “…granting exceptions under certain Medicare quality reporting and value-based purchasing programs for acute care hospitals, Prospective Payment System (PPS)-exempt cancer hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospices, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term care hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, renal dialysis facilities, and Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians for all providers and suppliers…” participating in certain CMS quality data reporting programs. Those exceptions have now expired. Providers may request exceptions to the restored quality data reporting requirements using this form.
- In its online publication MLN Matters, CMS has revised past guidance with a new point-of-origin code for the transfer of patients from a designated disaster alternate care site. The article introduces a new Point of Origin (PoO) Code “G” to indicate a “Transfer from a Designated Disaster Alternative Care Site (ACS)” due to changes related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- CMS has updated the MLN Matters article “New and Expanded Flexibilities for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE)” to clarify how Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers can apply the Cost Sharing (CS) modifier to preventive services furnished via telehealth.
- CMS has published its proposed end-stage renal disease prospective payment system for calendar year 2021. In it the agency proposes, at least in part in response to the COVID-19 emergency, “…that certain new and innovative equipment and supplies used for dialysis treatment of patients with ESRD in the home would qualify for an additional Medicare payment. These proposed changes would encourage the development of certain new and innovative home dialysis machines that would give beneficiaries more dialysis treatment options in the home…” The changes include rate increases and add-on payments. See CMS’s news release about the proposed rule here and a CMS fact sheet here and go here to see the rule itself.
CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Calls
CMS hosts recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the health care community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts.
Home Health and Hospice Calls
Tuesday, July 21st at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 6080197
Audio Webcast Link: go here.
CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls
Tuesday, July 14th at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 2550919
Audio Webcast link: go here.
Tuesday, July 21st at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 7477995
Audio Webcast link: go here.
Tuesday, July 28th at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In:833-614-0820; Access Passcode:1492795
Audio Webcast link: go here.
Nursing Homes Call
Wednesday, July 22nd at 4:30 – 5:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 1143564
Audio Webcast Link: go here.
Dialysis Organizations Call
Wednesday, July 22nd at 5:30 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 7692208
Audio Webcast Link: go here.
Nurses Call
Thursday, July 9th at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 9386539
Audio Webcast Link: go here.
Thursday, July 23rd at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 7971869
Audio Webcast Link: go here.
Lessons from the Front Lines
Friday, July 17th at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Code: 3096434
Web Link: go here.
Conference lines are limited so CMS encourages interested parties to join via audio. To listen to the audio files and read the transcripts for the COVID-19 Stakeholder calls, visit CMS’s Podcast and Transcripts page.
Food and Drug Administration
- The FDA has issued to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an emergency use authorization (EUA) for a new test that can simultaneously diagnose COVID-19 and the flu.
- The FDA has issued EUAs for three new commercial tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Find them here, here, and here.
- The FDA has issued an EUA for a new commercial serology test for COVID-19. Find it here.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- The CDC has updated its interim guidance on testing health care personnel for COVID-19.
- The CDC has updated its FAQs about COVID-19 clinical issues.
- The CDC has updated its COVID-19 FAQ for laboratories.
- The CDC has updated its guidance on safe laboratory practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The CDC has updated its information about how to get the CDC’s COVID-19 diagnostic test and supplies.
- The CDC has updated its resources for laboratories working on COVID-19.
- The CDC has updated its information for laboratories about COVID-19.
Environmental Protection Agency
For the first time, the EPA has approved surface disinfectant products for use against the COVID-19 virus. The EPA expects to approve similar products in the coming weeks.
Resources to Consult
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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