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 Preparedness and Response sponsors COVID-19 Clinical Rounds Peer-to-Peer Virtual Communities of Practice that are interactive virtual learning sessions that seek to create a peer-to-peer learning network in which clinicians from the U.S. and abroad who have experience treating patients with COVID-19 share their challenges and successes. These webinar topics are covered every week:
- EMS: Patient Care and Operations (Mondays, 12:00-1:00 PM eastern)
- Critical Care: Lifesaving Treatment and Clinical Operations (Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00 PM eastern)
- Emergency Department: Patient Care and Clinical Operations (Thursdays, 12:00-1:00 PM eastern)
Go here for information about signing up to participate in the sessions and go here for access to materials and video recordings of past sessions.
CMS Stakeholder Calls
CMS hosts recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information about 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 participants an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts.
CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls
Tuesday, February 23 at 5:00 – 6:00 PM (eastern)
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 2528725
Audio Webcast link: go here
Tuesday, March 16 at 5:00 – 6:00 PM (eastern)
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 4177586
Audio Webcast link: go here
Tuesday, April 6 at 5:00 – 6:00 PM (eastern)
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 2769397
Audio Webcast link: go here
CMS National Training Program Medicare Update & Education Webinar
Thursday, February 11, 2021 1:00 – 2:30 P.M. (eastern)
CMS shares Medicare updates and coverage information related to the COVID-19 emergency and discusses partner resources, Medicare coverage for related services, testing, and the COVID-19 vaccine. To register for this webinar, go here.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- The CDC has updated its collection of key things to know about COVID-19 vaccines in general and the currently available COVID-19 vaccines.
- The CDC has published a study on why, before COVID-19 vaccines were even available, some people in groups targeted for early vaccinations were indicating that they did not want to be vaccinated.
- The CDC has updated its COVID-19 toolkit for the employers of essential workers and those essential workers themselves.
- The CDC has updated its resources for managing health care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The CDC has updated its strategies and guidance for managing health care resources when there is a surge in demand for services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The CDC has updated its guidance for assisting with assessing risk and applying work restrictions for asymptomatic health care personnel who have been exposed to patients, visitors, or other personnel with confirmed COVID-19.
- The CDC has updated its strategies to help providers optimize their N95 respirator supply during the COVID-19 emergency.
- The CDC has updated its information about liver disease and COVID-19.
Department of Labor
- The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued stronger worker safety guidance to help employers and workers implement COVID-19 prevention programs and better identify risks that could lead to exposure and contracting the virus. Go here to see the announcement of the new guidelines and go here for the guidelines themselves.