Coronavirus update for Tuesday, June 30 as of 2:30 p.m.
Department of Health and Human Services
- An HHS spokesperson tweeted yesterday that “@HHSGov expects to renew the Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19 before it expires.”
- HHS announced that it has entered into an agreement to secure a supply of remdesivir, a drug used to treat COVID-19. Hospitals will have to purchase the drug from the pharmaceutical company and its distributor at the negotiated price of about $3200 a treatment, with the amount each hospital can purchase to be determined by the federal government and state health departments based on recent COVID-19 caseloads. Those allocation decisions will be made every two weeks, and beginning on July 6 hospitals will be asked to submit their data through the TeleTracking web portal by Monday at 8 p.m. ET every two weeks.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
CMS has updated its toolkit on state actions to mitigate the prevalence of COVID-19 in nursing homes.
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.
CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls
Tuesday, June 30th at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 5125839
Audio Webcast link: go here.
Tuesday, July 7th at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 3048844
Audio Webcast link: go here.
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 8th at 4:30 – 5:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 2997138
Audio Webcast Link: go here.
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.
Home Health and Hospice Calls
Tuesday, July 7th at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 9480618
Audio Webcast Link: go here.
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.
Dialysis Organizations Call
Wednesday, July 8th at 5:30 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 8481378
Audio Webcast Link: go here.
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 updated its list of authorized ventilators, ventilator tubing connectors, and ventilator accessories that have been issued emergency use authorization (EUA) in response to the COVID-19 emergency.
- The FDA has issued two EUAs for new commercial diagnostic tests for COVID-19. Find them here and here.
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
- The CDC has posted updated information about the use of cloth face coverings as a means of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
- The CDC has updated its strategies for optimizing the supply of N95 respirators.
- The CDC has updated its FAQ addressing clinical questions about COVID-19.
- The CDC has updated its guidance for direct service providers caring for people with disabilities.
- The CDC has updated its strategies for optimizing the supply of face masks and eye protection.
- The CDC has updated its interim guidance for providing home care for people not requiring hospitalization for COVID-19.
- The CDC has published standardized procedures for broad-based testing for COVID-19 in congregate settings.
- The CDC has published interim considerations for institutions of higher education administrators for COVID-19 testing.
- The CDC has posted information about preventing the spread of COVID-19 in retirement communities and independent living facilities and other information specifically about retirement communities.
Department of Labor
The Department of Labor has issued guidance on child labor, paid sick leave, and expanded family and medical leave amid school and camp closures necessitated by COVID-19. See the announcement, which includes links to department policy bulletins.
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association has announced a new CPT code for antigen tests in the fight against COVID-19.
Federal Funding Opportunities for Hospitals
The National Alliance of Safety-Net Hospitals has prepared a document that collects and presents in one place the various new federal funding opportunities for hospitals resulting from legislation addressing the COVID-19 public health emergency. Find that document here.