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COVID-19 Update: April 13, 2020

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania state and federal regulators, legislators, and others as of 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13.

Pennsylvania Update

Governor Wolf

  • Last week Governor Wolf signed an executive order to facilitate the targeted distribution of COVID-19 personal protective equipment and supplies among Pennsylvania health care providers. The Department of Health has published an FAQ on this executive order.  The state also has published a survey for health care providers to complete to help it identify current resources.  All covered entities – including hospitals – are required to report inventories of the specified supplies, equipment, and pharmaceuticals by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 16.  The state will update and direct completion of the survey in the future as needed.
  • Governor Wolf today announced that he and the governors of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island will create a multi-state council to “…develop a fully integrated regional framework to gradually lift the states’ stay at home orders while minimizing the risk of increased spread of the [COVID-19] virus.” See the governor’s announcement here.

General Assembly

Harrisburg, PA capital buildingOver the weekend, House Speaker Michael Turzai changed the House of Representatives’ session schedule to hold a non-voting session day today and a voting session day tomorrow in an effort to enable Republicans to move forward with relief efforts for businesses related to the COVID-19 crisis.  There has been speculation that if a quorum is present the Speaker may seek to suspend temporary House rules permitting remote voting to ease the passage of Republican-sponsored relief measures for businesses affected by limits on their ability to operate during the COVID-19 emergency.  The House also has canceled its session for Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

Both the House and Senate are scheduled to return to session on May 4.

Daily Department of Health COVID-19 Briefing

  • In the past few days the number of newly reported COVID-19 cases has declined slightly, leading Department of Health Secretary Levine to declare that “social distancing is working.” The new case increase, she explained, is now linear rather than exponential, although she warned that Pennsylvania may not yet have reached its peak.
  • 1179 health care workers have been diagnosed with COVID-19, which is about four percent of the total state case count.
  • 1688 residents of 215 long-term-care facilities have tested positive as well.
  • Currently 2205 people are in hospitals to be treated for COVID-19 and 665 of them are on ventilators.
  • Across the state, 44 percent of acute-care beds and 38 percent of ICU beds remain unoccupied and nearly 70 percent of ventilators are available for use.
  • The state still lacks testing supplies so only those who are symptomatic are being tested. Secretary Levine hopes to do population-based testing in the future but does not expect to be able to do it in the near future.
  • Serology testing is not available at this time.
  • Governor Wolf spoke to Vice President Pence this morning and reports that the state will be receiving a shipment of N95 masks later this week.
  • Eventually the state hopes to follow up on those who have been discharged from hospitals after being treated for COVID-19 but is not doing that now.
  • While there have been published reports of people who seem to have recovered from COVID-19 suffering relapses, Pennsylvania has not seen any such cases yet.
  • When asked if the state planned to take any additional measures to help hospitals, Secretary Levine pointed to the health care provider money in the federal CARES Act and the $450 million loan program Governor Wolf announced last week.
  • During her Saturday briefing, Secretary Levine said that Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania have enough acute-care beds, ICU beds, and ventilators right now.
  • She also said there could be a surge in southeastern and northeastern Pennsylvania over the next week, with possible surges in western and southeastern Pennsylvania coming later.

Hospital Emergency Loan Program

Late last week Governor Wolf announced a $450 million Hospital Emergency Loan Program.  The state’s Department of Community and Economic Development, which is administering the program, describes it as follows:

The Hospital Emergency Loan Program (HELP) was established to provide critical working capital bridge financing to hospitals located within the Commonwealth that are adversely impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The loan funds are intended to provide a short-term financing solution for hospitals until federal grant funding through the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is received by the hospitals. The program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) through the Pennsylvania First Program (PA First).

Go here for a more detailed description of the program and go here to apply for a loan.

Children’s Health Insurance Program

The state’s CHIP program has announced changes in its program requirements that seek to ease access to CHIP and keep families enrolled in CHIP during the duration of the COVID-19 emergency.

Pennsylvania Hospitals and the CARES Act

Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey’s office reports that the state’s hospitals will receive $1.2 billion of the $30 billion now being distributed by the federal government to hospitals and health care providers.  The $30 billion comes from $100 billion that the CARES Act designated for health care providers.  A second round of funding is expected.

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry

The Wolf administration has issued a news release summarizing the new federal unemployment compensation benefits established under the CARES Act, including eligibility and payment information.

Federal Update

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Department of Labor

Food and Drug Administration

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institutes of Health

Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission

  • MACPAC has written to CMS administrator Seema Verma to express its concern that the manner in which CMS has chosen to distribute $30 billion of the $100 billion designated in the CARES Act for hospitals and health care providers “…does not account for the real and pressing concerns of safety-net providers that are on the frontlines of serving the nation’s poorest and most vulnerable people…” MACPAC also asks Ms. Verma to “…ensure that safety-net providers, including hospitals considered deemed disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) for the purpose of Medicaid payment…children’s hospitals, and other providers serving Medicaid and other low-income patients have access to federal funds made available through the CARES Act without delay.”  See the MACPAC letter here.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page

FAQ

(To receive this daily update directly, sign up for our mailing list at info@pasafetynet.org.)

 

2020-04-14T06:00:15+00:00April 14th, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health and COVID-19, Pennsylvania Department of Health coronavirus|Comments Off on COVID-19 Update: April 13, 2020

SNAP Asks HHS for More Coronavirus Grants

Private safety-net hospitals should be among high-volume Medicaid providers that receive priority consideration in the distribution of additional grants from the CARES Act, SNAP has written in a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma.

Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania logoWith CMS already conceding that high-volume Medicaid providers may be shortchanged in the initial distribution of funds from the $100 billion designated for hospitals and health care providers in the CARES Act, SNAP asked Ms. Verma to “…acknowledge the special needs of these hospitals and the roles they play in their communities by ensuring that they will receive much-needed assistance in the second round of grants as well.”

See SNAP’s letter here.

2020-04-12T06:00:57+00:00April 12th, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals, Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania|Comments Off on SNAP Asks HHS for More Coronavirus Grants

COVID-19 Update: April 10, 2020

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania state and federal regulators as of 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 10.

Pennsylvania Update

Governor Wolf/Financial Assistance for Hospitals

During today’s daily COVID-19 briefing, Governor Wolf spoke of the financial challenges the state’s hospitals currently face and announced that he is creating a Hospital Emergency Loan Program that will offer $450 million in low-interest loans to hospitals to help them fully mobilize in response to the COVID-19 crisis.  The governor’s news release announcing the program explains that

Pennsylvania health care facilities licensed as hospitals by the Pennsylvania Department of Health under the Health Care Facilities Act of 1979 that are eligible to receive federal grant funding through the CARES Act are eligible for HELP. The maximum loan size is $10 million per hospital at an interest rate of 0.5 percent.

Applications will be available on the Department of Community and Economic Development’s web site starting at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 13 through April 20.  Learn more from the governor’s news release.

Daily COVID-19 Briefing

  • The number of newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases fell 12 percent from the previous day.
  • Secretary Levine acknowledged that there are unquestionably many more cases that remain unreported. This is widely accepted everywhere.
  • But yesterday’s death count was the single highest day since the state started tracking deaths and the overall death count has quadrupled since last Friday.
  • Some of this increase, Secretary Levine observed, is from patients who battled COVID-19 for some time before finally succumbing to it.
  • 955 health care workers have now tested positive for COVID-19, as have 1209 residents in 181 long-term care facilities in the state.
  • There are no current plans to identify publicly the long-term-care facilities that have patients with COVID-19.
  • 2069 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 and 598 are on ventilators.
  • As of this morning, 45 percent of the state’s acute-care hospital beds and 38 percent of its ICU beds remain unoccupied and nearly 70 percent of its ventilators are not in use.
  • The state continues to share supplies with health care providers and so far has distributed 1.8 million N95 masks, 136,000 hospital gowns, 912,000 hospital masks, and 730,000 pairs of gloves.  The state still has some of these supplies available and is seeking to increase its stocks as well.
  • There are no current plans to make the use of masks mandatory in public. Governor Wolf is trusting that Pennsylvanians will wear them, as he has recommended.

Department of Health

The Department of Health has issued interim guidance on postmortem care of decedents whose death is confirmed or suspected to be attributed to COVID-19.

Department of Human Services

Department of State

The Department of State has extended temporary licenses for graduate perfusionists during the COVID-19 crisis.  It also has waived the limitation that temporary emergency perfusionists can only provide services once during a 72-hour period.

Federal Update

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Federal Communications Commission (COVID-19 Telehealth Program)

Last week the FCC announced a $200 million grant program to help health care providers develop connected care services to patients at their homes or mobile locations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Today the FCC announced that it will begin accepting applications for this money on Monday, April 13.  See this FCC news release for further details on the program and the application process.

Food and Drug Administration

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA has issued a news release announcing that it will seek to give states the option of assuming control of federal community-based COVID-19 testing sites.

White House

President Trump has issued a memorandum on providing federal support for governors’ use of the National Guard to respond to COVID-19.  A similar order was issued earlier this week and this new order adds 13 states to the list of those previously authorized to use the National Guard in this manner, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency directed to assume 100 percent of the associated costs.  The new states are Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page

FAQ

(To receive this daily update directly, sign up for our mailing list at info@pasafetynet.org.)

 

2020-04-11T06:00:56+00:00April 11th, 2020|Uncategorized|Comments Off on COVID-19 Update: April 10, 2020

SNAP Asks PA Delegation for More COVID-19 Funding

More federal funding is needed for hospitals that serve especially high proportions of Medicaid patients and patients insured by government programs, the Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania has written to members of the state’s congressional delegation.Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania logo

This is especially important now, SNAP emphasized in its letter, because of new plans to use some of the $100 billion designated for hospitals and health care providers in the federal CARES Act to pay instead for care for uninsured patients who contract COVID-19.  Those payments, which SNAP supports, do not address the needs for which the original $100 billion was designated:  to help hospitals – including Pennsylvania safety-net hospitals – with the cost of the investments they made to prepare for the expected influx of COVID-19 patients and to help them with cash flow challenges arising from the loss of revenue associated with suspending elective procedures.

See SNAP’s letter to Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation here.

2020-04-10T13:00:10+00:00April 10th, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19|Comments Off on SNAP Asks PA Delegation for More COVID-19 Funding

COVID-19 Update: April 9, 2020

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania state and federal regulators as of 4:30 on Thursday, April 9.

Pennsylvania Update

Safety-Net Association of Pennsylvania logoSNAP Advocacy for Additional COVID-19 Funding for Safety-Net Hospitals

Yesterday SNAP wrote to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Seema Verma asking her to give special consideration to high-volume Medicaid hospitals in the distribution of additional grants from the $100 billion designated for hospitals and health care providers in the CARES Act. The previous day, Ms. Verma publicly acknowledged that the first round of that funding, to be received by hospitals later this week, may not have been entirely fair to high-volume Medicaid providers and said CMS would address shortcoming that when it plans its next round of CARES Act grants.  Find that letter here, on SNAP’s web site.

SNAP also wrote yesterday to every member of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation, asking them to work with their colleagues to ensure that additional funds for safety-net hospitals are included in any future COVID-19-related legislation.  Find that letter here.

Department of Health Daily Briefing

  • For the first time in five days the number of reported cases rose significantly: 18 percent.
  • But new deaths were less than one-third of those from the previous day.
  • 1058 residents of 168 long-term-care facilities have now tested positive.
  • As have 850 health care workers.
  • 2033 Pennsylvanians are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, still about 11 percent of the total cases.
  • 600 are on ventilators.
  • 45 percent of the state’s acute-care beds and 37 percent of its ICU beds remain unoccupied and 70 percent of its ventilators are currently available for use.
  • The state will soon be sharing more specific information about the precise location of cases with county emergency management officials.
  • The state plans to work with home health care associations to ensure that home health care workers assigned to care for COVID-19 patients in their homes have appropriate personal protective equipment.
  • Secretary Levine believes social distancing is working, noting that the curve is no longer rising as much. Problems remain, though, in southeastern and northeastern Pennsylvania.
  • A mass testing site is planned for northeastern Pennsylvania and a field hospital will be established in East Stroudsburg.
  • Amid reports that ventilator use is not as effective as originally expected, Secretary Levine said the state has no formal standards for the use of ventilators in the care of COVID-19 patients and is leaving those decisions to individual doctors.

Department of Human Services

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

DDAP has posted a COVID-19 resource guide for individuals with substance abuse disorder.

Federal Update

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

CMS has issued a news release announcing that it has approved approximately $34 billion for providers through its Accelerated and Advance Payment Program, which was created in the CARES Act.  Note: CMS is now touting this as $51 billion in payments, but has not updated the press release at this time.

See an  updated list of the section 1135 waivers CMS has granted to help states and health care providers respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

National Institutes of Health

The NIH has announced the launch of a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of adults hospitalized with COVID-19.

Department of Health and Human Services

Food and Drug Administration

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA has posted a notice that it is issuing a temporary rule to allocate certain scarce or threatened materials for domestic use so that these materials may not be exported from the U.S. without the agency’s explicit approval.  These items include ventilators, personal protective equipment, and materials used to make personal protective equipment.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page

FAQ

(To receive this daily update directly, sign up for our mailing list at info@pasafetynet.org.)

2020-04-09T17:22:15+00:00April 9th, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19|Comments Off on COVID-19 Update: April 9, 2020

SNAP Asks CMS to Provide Additional Funds for Safety-Net Hospitals in Round 2 of COVID-19 Grants (Letter)

SNAP asks CMS administrator Seema Verma to give special consideration to high-volume Medicaid hospitals when deciding on additional grants to be awarded from federal CARES Act funding for hospitals and health care providers.

2020-09-01T17:55:55+00:00April 8th, 2020|Advocacy|Comments Off on SNAP Asks CMS to Provide Additional Funds for Safety-Net Hospitals in Round 2 of COVID-19 Grants (Letter)

COVID-19 Update, April 7, 2020

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania state and federal officials and others as of 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7.

Pennsylvania Update

Department of Health Daily Briefing

  • Secretary Levine acknowledged that many cases are undercounted. In many situations, providers encounter patients who have all of the symptoms, conclude that they have COVID-19, but do not order testing.  This is standard practice.
  • All 67 Pennsylvania counties now have experienced cases.
  • Yesterday saw more than six times as many deaths as the day before and the number of deaths state-wide has more than doubled since last Friday.
  • Secretary Levine said there is a significant increase in deaths among patients with comorbidities.
  • 664 health care workers have been diagnosed with COVID-19, as have 674 residents of long-term-care facilities across the state.
  • 51 percent of hospital beds and 40 percent of ICU beds in the state remain unoccupied and 70 percent of ventilators are not currently in use.
  • Other states have released data on race and cases and deaths but Pennsylvania has not done so yet because hospitals are not always providing this data. Secretary Levine said the department is looking for ways to gather this information.
  • The mass testing sites in Philadelphia and Montgomery County will close after Friday. They were established by the federal government, which informed the state that it is withdrawing its funding and supplies at that time.

Department of Health

Department of Human Services

  • DHS has posted an announcement to administrators, brokers, and transit agencies that participate in the Medical Assistance Transportation Program presenting precautions necessary to ensure the safe provision of non-emergency medical transportation, including the need for drivers and passengers to wear face masks. The announcement also offers revised criteria for whether beneficiaries need to be transported or whether telehealth might be an appropriate alternative to a medical visit; it also describes how to screen would-be passengers for symptoms that suggest they may have COVID-19, in which the request for transportation should be denied and the individual advised to contact his or her medical provider.

DHS has posted questions and answers from its April 1 COVID-19 webinar. Below are selected highlights:

Q:  Will DHS reimburse for telehealth home health services? If so, which home health services will be eligible for reimbursement?

A:  Additional guidance is forthcoming that will clarify that home health providers are able to perform initial certifications and 60-day recertification visits via telemedicine and will identify which services can be provided using telemedicine. Services like home health aide services related to activities of daily living must be provided in-person, and therefore would not be able to be provided using telemedicine.

Q:  How will providers bill for the protective personal protective equipment (PPE) within the waiver? Will PPE be paid per patient, and which codes should be used?

A:  PPE will be treated as medical supplies through the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA), Appendix K waiver submitted by the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL). For the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), payment for operational needs and supplies is included in the MA fee paid for residential services. For individuals who live in private homes, Specialized Supplies is a benefit under ODP waivers that can cover some PPE. Specific billing instructions for the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver should be answered by the CHC Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). Billing guidance for the OBRA waiver is forthcoming.

PPE was not added to Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) through the 1135 waiver. PPE is not billable under the Medical Assistance (MA) FFS program. Payment for operational needs and supplies is included in the MA fee paid for the service. Providers should follow the Department of Health guidance for securing PPE. To access this guidance, please visit: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Documents/Diseases%20and%20Conditions/COVID-19%20Guidance%20PPE.pdf

Q:  Will DHS continue to process Medical Assistance (MA) renewals even after the determination that participants will not be terminated?

A:  MA renewals will continue to be mailed. DHS encourages applicants to complete the renewal if they are able. However, participants who do not complete their renewal or are unable to complete one will not have their case closed. In addition, cases open as of March 18 will not close for any reason other than voluntary withdraw, move out of state, or death.

Q:  Are CAOs still able to process applications and adequately ensure the integrity/validity of information submitted?

A:  CAOs are staffed and completing the essential work necessary to ensure individuals who are eligible receive benefits. The online COMPASS application tool allows clients to apply for benefits, compete renewals, provide required verifications, and report changes remotely without needing to come to a CAO in-person. CAO staff can accept information provided through COMPASS and take appropriate actions. Additionally, clients with smart phones can access the COMPASS mobile app – myCOMPASSPA – to report changes, upload documents, complete semi-annual renewals, and view benefit status.

Clients are also contacting the customer service centers, which are making changes and updates to client case records as necessary. Clients in Philadelphia with questions or information to report about their case should call the Philadelphia Customer Service Center at 215-560-7226. Clients in all other counties can call the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930. Call volumes and wait times are likely to be high, and we appreciate the public’s patience with the dedicated commonwealth employees working to assist clients under stressful circumstances.

Clients can also apply for Medicaid benefits by telephone through our contracted consumer service center at 1-866-550-4355.

Department of Aging

The Department of Aging has issued guidance informing operators of facilities that serve older adults that the Identogo/Idemia sites that facilitate the FBI background checks of individuals who work at such facilities may remain open as life-sustaining businesses during the COVID-19 crisis; that there is no change in the background check requirements or processes for applicants seeking employment in such facilities; and that there are circumstances under which individuals who are unable to obtain FBI background checks because of the closure of some Identogo/Idemia sites may qualify for provisional hiring.  See the guidance here.

Department of State

The Department of State has temporarily changed certain licensing requirements for nursing home administrators, accountants, barbers, and cosmetologists during the COVID-19 crisis.  Under a waiver the governor has granted, certain deadlines for obtaining state licenses have been extended until after the COVID-19 emergency disaster declaration ends.

General Assembly

This week the House and Senate are meeting remotely for caucus and committee meetings and to position budget vehicles and vote on crisis response legislation.  Today Chairman Saylor offered amendments to S.B. 327 in an Appropriations Committee meeting that would:

  • attempt to foster inter-branch governmental cooperation by creating a COVID-19 Cost and Recovery Task Force;
  • attempt to reduce future financial obligations by requiring the Treasury Department to conduct a review of all outstanding state debt obligations and to identify refinancing options to reduce state costs; and
  • attempt to ensure direct communication between the governor and the legislature by requiring the governor to provide legislative leadership with a list of provisions of law that he has waived related to the COVID-19 response and continue to notify them within one day of any additional waivers he might invoke.

The bill as amended in the Appropriations Committee passed along party lines on the House floor this afternoon.  The bill was sent to the Senate for its concurrence to the House amendments.

Federal Update

Department of Labor

The Department of Labor has published an advisory on unemployment insurance provisions of the CARES Act.  While the advisory memo is directed to state workforce agencies, it includes detailed information about program eligibility and benefits.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

  • The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the second major COVID-19 bill, adopted March 18) waives cost-sharing under Medicare Part B (coinsurance and deductible amounts) for Medicare patients for COVID-19 testing-related services. The latest edition of the CMS publication MLN Matters summarizes the services for which cost-sharing is waived, the types of providers to which the waived cost-sharing applies, and the coding those providers need to do to get paid.  Find the explanation here.
  • CMS has published a “Dear Clinician” letter with guidance for physicians that they may bill for e-visits for both existing and new patients; previously published guidance suggested that they could bill only for existing patients but this policy has been revised. The letter also offers guidance for how to code such telehealth visits.
  • CMS has updated its recommendations for non-emergent elective medical services and treatment. These recommendations supersede previous guidelines.
  • Earlier today CMS hosted a call to discuss CMS waivers and COVID-19 response. Find the slides used during that presentation here.
  • CMS will hold a special open door forum tomorrow, April 8, at 1:30 p.m. to discuss its actions to improve access to telehealth during the COVID-19 crisis. This one-hour call is open to everyone:  the dial-in number is 1-888-455-1397, the passcode is 3535324, and participants are asked to call in at 1:15 p.m.
  • On April 3, CMS Administrator Seema Verma, Deborah Birx, MD, White House Coronavirus Task Force, and officials from the FDA, CDC, and FEMA participated in a call on COVID-19 flexibilities. During the call physicians presented best practices from their COVID-19 experiences.

Food and Drug Administration

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The CDC will soon be providing $186 million in funding for additional resources for state and local jurisdictions to support their response to the COVID-19 emergency.  Funding will be for lab equipment, supplies, staff, and more for areas considered “hot zones” for COVID-19 and to enhance COVID-19 surveillance and tracking.  The news release announcing this new funding notes that “CDC will use existing networks to reach out to state and local jurisdictions to access this initial funding.”

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA will fund $110 million in emergency grants to provide treatment for substance use disorders/serious mental illness during the coronavirus pandemic.  The purpose of the emergency grants is to provide crisis intervention services, mental and substance use disorder treatment, and other related recovery supports for children and adults, with funding to be provided to states, territories, and tribes.

Department of Health and Human Services

HHS has announced that it will purchase for the Strategic National Stockpile the new COVID-19 test that produces results in less than 13 minutes.  HHS will provide the tests to public health labs in every state and territory and to Indian Health Services sites.

White House

President Trump has signed a memorandum directing the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security to make available the National Guard to the states of Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas and the territory of the U.S. Virgin Island to provide emergency assistance with addressing the COVID-19 crisis and for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to pay 100 percent of the cost of such assistance.

National Association of Medicaid Directors

The National Association of Medicaid Directors has written to CMS and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) urging them “…to allow states to make retainer payments to essential Medicaid providers through Section 1115 waivers during this emergency.”  See the letter here.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page

FAQ

(To receive this daily update directly, sign up for our mailing list at info@pasafetynet.org.)

 

2020-04-07T17:29:51+00:00April 7th, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19|Comments Off on COVID-19 Update, April 7, 2020

COVID-19 Update: April 6, 2020

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania state and federal regulators and others as of 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 6.

Pennsylvania Update

The Governor Wolf/Department of Health Daily Briefing

  • The number of newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania has remained relatively constant for the past three days. Secretary Levine said this gives her “hope” but is not yet indicative of a bending of the curve.
  • The number of COVID-19-related deaths is not so constant: it has more than doubled since last Wednesday.
  • 598 health care workers have now tested positive for COVID-19, as have 518 patients in nursing homes across the state.
  • Two weeks ago Secretary Levine ordered hospitals to submit certain utilization data to the Department of Health daily. From this data she reported that 51 percent of hospital beds and 40 percent of ICU beds are currently unoccupied and 70 percent of ventilators are still not in use.
  • 533 Pennsylvania COVID-19 patients have required ventilator care to date. This is more than three times the number reported on Friday (147).
  • Pennsylvania has more than 5000 ventilators in hospitals today. This is more than the state realized its hospitals had.  The state still has a stockpile of ventilators to share and expects more to arrive shortly.
  • In response to a question, Secretary Levine said that federal coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birks, MD probably mentioned Pennsylvania as a next possible COVID-19 hot spot because of the combination of continued large numbers of new cases, rising death totals, and proximity to New York and New Jersey, both of which are hot spots.
  • In response to a question, Governor Wolf said while the state has not provided case data for municipalities, such a possibility is now being discussed.
  • In response to a question, Governor Wolf acknowledged that the state’s revenue projections for the current fiscal year have “fallen to pieces” and the state is doing everything it can to reduce operating expenses. He said he hoped federal stimulus money will help and that he will be working with the legislature to address next year’s budget.

Department of Health

Department of Human Services

  • In conjunction with the state Department of Education, DHS has issued a memo to local education agencies that participate in the school-based ACCESS Program encouraging the use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 emergency.
  • DHS has published a notice limiting the prescription of hydroxychloroquine in the state’s physical HealthChoices, Community HealthChoices, and Medicaid fee-for-service program to prevent shortages and stockpiling of the drug. DHS reinforced this message in a memo on the same subject to all physical health HealthChoices plans.
  • DHS’s Bureau of Managed Care Operations has sent a memo to all physical health HealthChoices managed care organizations with guidelines on performing elective surgeries during the COVID-19 emergency. The MCOs are directed to “continue to accept and review prior authorization requests for inpatient and outpatient elective procedures, elective interventional radiology and dental procedures.  All requests need be reviewed for medical necessity.”  The memo includes criteria for approving surgery under current circumstances.

Office of the Treasury

Pennsylvania’s Treasury Department has announced a bond purchasing program that seeks to provide financial relief to Pennsylvania health care systems.  The program’s objective is to provide liquidity to health care systems while reducing their borrowing costs.

Federal Update

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Food and Drug Administration

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA has provided interim guidance to its regional administrators and state plan designees regarding enforcement discretion to permit the extended use and reuse of respirators, and respirators that are beyond their manufacturers’ recommended shelf life during the COVID-19 emergency.

Department of Health and Human Services/Office of the Inspector General

  • The OIG has issued a policy statement regarding the application of certain administrative enforcement authorities due to the COVID-19 crisis.  This statement conveys that the OIG will not impose sanctions under anti-kickback laws related to actions by health care providers that fit under the HHS’s previous waiver of the physician self-referral provisions of the Stark law.  The OIG also has launched a new FAQ on this policy statement to provide additional information.
  • The OIG conducted a national survey of hospitals, asking them about the challenges and needs they faced.  See a summary of the survey results here and the full report here.

The White House

During Friday’s coronavirus task force press briefing, national coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx, M.D. explained the priority in the distribution of the new COVID-19 test that yields results in 15 minutes.

American Medical Association

The American Medical Association has issued its own “guiding principles” for the protection of current medical students and medical students:  those who are graduating early to help in the fight against COVID-19 and those who are being enlisted, while still in medical school, to participate in the direct care of COVID-19 and suspected COVID-19 patients.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page

FAQ

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2020-04-06T17:39:05+00:00April 6th, 2020|Coronavirus, COVID-19|Comments Off on COVID-19 Update: April 6, 2020

COVID-19 Update: April 3, 2020

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from Pennsylvania state and federal regulators and others as of 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 3.

Pennsylvania Update

The Governor Wolf/Department of Health Daily Briefing

  • Governor Wolf recommended that all Pennsylvanians wear masks outside the home. He elaborates on this recommendation in a news release.
  • The Department of Health offers guidance on homemade masks on its web site.
  • The number of new COVID-19 cases rose 16 percent over yesterday’s total of new cases.
  • 63 Pennsylvania counties now have at least one case, as do 12 percent of the state’s nursing homes.
  • State-wide deaths have climbed past 100.
  • 78 percent of hospitalized patients have been 50 years of age or older and 50 percent have been more than 65.
  • 241 patients have been treated in ICUs and 147 have required the assistance of a ventilator.
  • 419 of the state’s total cases have been health care workers – just less than five percent of total cases.

Department of Health

The Department of Health has updated its guidance to hospitals to include information on steps hospitals should take when a need arises to use new space or alter or renovate existing space in their response to COVID-19.  Department approval is not needed to take these actions as long as hospitals maintain the documentation discussed in the guidance document.

Department of Human Services

DHS’s today announced the launch of a statewide support and referral helpline that will operate 24/7 to assist Pennsylvanians struggling with anxiety and other challenging emotions due to the COVID-19 emergency and refer them to community-based resources that can further help to meet individual needs.  The toll-free number for the helpline, which is up and running, is 1-855-284-2494.  For TTY, dial 724-631-5600.

Department of State

The Department of State has issued a temporary waiver of the requirement that applicants for a temporary respiratory therapist permit be within 30 days of their anticipated graduation date.  Instead, for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, students in respiratory care education programs who wish to apply for a temporary permit must be within 90 days of their anticipated graduation date.  Those impending graduates who already applied for a full license but cannot take their exam because of the closure of test centers may now apply for a temporary permit.

Federal Update

Department of Labor

The Labor Department has published a program letter with a summary of key unemployment insurance provisions of the CARES Act and guidance regarding temporary emergency state staffing flexibility.

Federal Communications Commission

The FCC has adopted a $200 million telehealth program to support provider responding to the COVID-19 crisis.  The money will help providers purchase telecommunications, broadband connectivity, and devices necessary for providing telehealth services.  See the FCC’s news release and its formal report and order.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Food and Drug Administration

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Department of Health and Human Services

  • HHS’s Office of Civil Rights has announced that it will not impose penalties for violations of certain provisions of the HIPAA privacy rule against health care providers or their business associates for the good faith uses and disclosures of protected health information by business associates for public health and health oversight activities during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency.  See the Office of Civil Rights announcement of this temporary policy and a pre-publication version of the formal notice of this policy that will appear shortly in the Federal Register.
  • Along with the Department of Justice, HHS has announced that the two agencies have ordered the distribution of medical supplies that in their judgment were being hoarded.  The federal government paid fair market value for 192,000 N95 masks, nearly 600,000 pairs of medical grade gloves, and 130,000 other types of masks, surgical gowns, disinfectant towels, and other supplies and is sending these supplies to the New Jersey Department of Health, the New York state Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The White House

President Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act to compel companies to undertake the manufacture of N95 respirators and ventilators.

Resources to Consult

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Main COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 Provider Resources

Press Releases

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Main COVID-19 Page

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Main COVID-19 Page

FAQ

(To receive this daily update directly, sign up for our mailing list at info@pasafetynet.org.)

 

2020-04-03T17:25:50+00:00April 3rd, 2020|Uncategorized|Comments Off on COVID-19 Update: April 3, 2020
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