COVID-19

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2. White House The White House has posted a transcript of the March 1 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials.   Department of Health and Human Services HHS has announced a new round of appointments to positions in the department.  The new appointees are: Office of the Secretary Rachel Pryor, Counselor for Health Policy Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Florence Elizabeth “Beth” Lynk, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (Health Care) Office of [...]

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, February 25. The White House President Biden has extended the declaration of a national health emergency because of COVID-19. The White House announced a new effort to make masks more available in communities hard hit by the pandemic.  The administration will deliver more than 25 million masks to more than 1300 community health centers and 60,000 food pantries and soup kitchens. The White House COVID-19 response team and public health officials held a press briefing on Monday, February 22.  See a transcript of [...]

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Monday, February 22. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS has updated its FAQ on Medicare COVID-19 billing issues with 13 new questions addressing vaccines, monoclonal antibody treatments, and ambulatory surgery centers functioning as acute-care hospitals during the public health emergency.  The questions, all labeled “2/19/2021,” can be found on pages 27-28, 135-137, and 152-153. Department of Health and Human Services HHS has updated its Provider Relief Fund FAQ with an updated question about how applicants should set up an account of behalf of [...]

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Friday, February 19. The White House The White House announced that it is increasing the vaccine supply sent weekly to states to 13.5 million doses a week.  This is a 57 percent increase over weekly shipments a month ago.   Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS has updated its “COVID-19 Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies” web page.  The page includes: information about Medicare Part B payments for COVID-19 and certain monoclonal antibodies during the public health emergency information about payment allowances and effective dates [...]

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 11. The White House The White House has announced the membership of its COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force.  See this White House fact sheet to learn more about the task force, its objectives, and its members. The White House has announced the introduction of a community health center vaccination program next week, with doses of vaccines to be sent directly to such facilities, and an increase in the supply of vaccines to be shared with states, tribes, and territories.  Learn more from [...]

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS has updated its “COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Billing” document with three updated answers addressing data reporting requirements for ambulance service providers and changes in those requirements and payments for services in response to the COVID-19 emergency.  The new information can be found on pages 55 and 56.   HHS and CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Calls HHS Clinical Rounds Peer-to-Peer Virtual Communities of Practice HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for [...]