COVID-19
The Latest News
NIH says Researchers Have Confirmed There are Ways to Decontaminate N95 Masks so They Can be Reused
The New York Times (4/16, Gorman) reports the NIH announced that “researchers have confirmed that there are several effective methods for decontaminating the N95 masks worn by health professionals so that they can be used more than once.” The NIH publicized the research, which was posted on medRxiv.
The New York Times (4/16, Gorman) reports the NIH announced that “researchers have confirmed that there are several effective methods for decontaminating the N95 masks worn by health professionals so that they can be used more than once.” The NIH publicized the research, which was posted on medRxiv.
Paycheck Protection Program Runs Out of Money
On Thursday, Health News Florida ran a story about the Paycheck Protection Program running out of the initial allocation of funds from Congress. It is anticipated that Congress will take up this issue next week and many in the business and health care sector are pushing for immediate action. A large number of physician practices either have not received confirmation that their application has been approved or if approved have not yet received loan documents or funding. Employers are encouraged to check with their financial institution to see if they are still accepting applications. Some banks are still encouraging applications to be submitted while some have temporarily closed the application process. The hope is that once Congress provides additional funding, that applications already submitted will be processed in the order received by the various institutions.
Click here to read more.
On Thursday, Health News Florida ran a story about the Paycheck Protection Program running out of the initial allocation of funds from Congress. It is anticipated that Congress will take up this issue next week and many in the business and health care sector are pushing for immediate action. A large number of physician practices either have not received confirmation that their application has been approved or if approved have not yet received loan documents or funding. Employers are encouraged to check with their financial institution to see if they are still accepting applications. Some banks are still encouraging applications to be submitted while some have temporarily closed the application process. The hope is that once Congress provides additional funding, that applications already submitted will be processed in the order received by the various institutions.
Click here to read more.
White House Releases Guidelines for Opening Up America Again
Yesterday, the White House released the guidelines for States and Regions to consider as they weigh opening up portions of their local economies. The guidelines provide phases based on documented reductions in symptoms and positive cases and tests over 14-day periods. In relation to healthcare services, elective surgeries in the outpatient setting would be allowed under Phase One. And additional elective surgeries would come on line in Phase 2.
Click here to view the Federal Guidelines.
Yesterday, the White House released the guidelines for States and Regions to consider as they weigh opening up portions of their local economies. The guidelines provide phases based on documented reductions in symptoms and positive cases and tests over 14-day periods. In relation to healthcare services, elective surgeries in the outpatient setting would be allowed under Phase One. And additional elective surgeries would come on line in Phase 2.
Click here to view the Federal Guidelines.
FDA authorizes saliva test for COVID-19
The AP (4/13, Perrone) reports Rutgers University researchers “have received U.S. government clearance for the first saliva test to help diagnose COVID-19, a new approach that could help expand testing options and reduce risks of infection for health care workers.” The FDA “authorized the test under its emergency powers to quickly clear new tests and therapies to fight the outbreak.” The university “tested the accuracy of its method by taking both saliva and swab samples from 60 patients” and found “patients’ saliva samples had a 100% match with results from the swabs.” In its authorization letter, the FDA “said the test should only be performed ‘in a health care setting under the supervision of a trained health care provider."
The Hill (4/13, Coleman) reports that with this test, patients “will spit in a tube several times and give it to the health professional for testing, making it less risky for them to get infected, Andrew Brooks, the chief operating officer and director of technology development at the Rutgers’ lab, said in the university’s release.” Brooks said, “Saliva testing will help with the global shortage of swabs for sampling and increase testing of patients, and it will not require health care professionals to be put at risk to collect samples. ... Saliva testing will also be important for people who are in quarantine because they don’t know how long it will be until they are no longer infectious.”
The AP (4/13, Perrone) reports Rutgers University researchers “have received U.S. government clearance for the first saliva test to help diagnose COVID-19, a new approach that could help expand testing options and reduce risks of infection for health care workers.” The FDA “authorized the test under its emergency powers to quickly clear new tests and therapies to fight the outbreak.” The university “tested the accuracy of its method by taking both saliva and swab samples from 60 patients” and found “patients’ saliva samples had a 100% match with results from the swabs.” In its authorization letter, the FDA “said the test should only be performed ‘in a health care setting under the supervision of a trained health care provider."
The Hill (4/13, Coleman) reports that with this test, patients “will spit in a tube several times and give it to the health professional for testing, making it less risky for them to get infected, Andrew Brooks, the chief operating officer and director of technology development at the Rutgers’ lab, said in the university’s release.” Brooks said, “Saliva testing will help with the global shortage of swabs for sampling and increase testing of patients, and it will not require health care professionals to be put at risk to collect samples. ... Saliva testing will also be important for people who are in quarantine because they don’t know how long it will be until they are no longer infectious.”
Private insurers required to provide free COVID-19 antibody tests
Politico (4/11, Ravindranath) reported that the Administration said “it will require health insurers to provide free antibody tests that could provide better insight into the scale of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak.” Congress has “required that all Americans, including people without health insurance, receive free diagnostic tests to determine whether they are sick with coronavirus.” The Administration “said it had authority from recent emergency rescue packages to mandate private insurers also provide antibody testing without out-of-pocket costs.”
Politico (4/11, Ravindranath) reported that the Administration said “it will require health insurers to provide free antibody tests that could provide better insight into the scale of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak.” Congress has “required that all Americans, including people without health insurance, receive free diagnostic tests to determine whether they are sick with coronavirus.” The Administration “said it had authority from recent emergency rescue packages to mandate private insurers also provide antibody testing without out-of-pocket costs.”
Billions Going To Hospitals Based On Medicare Billings, Not COVID-19
Content Provided by: Health News Florida
Probably few hospital systems need the emergency federal grants announced this week to handle the coronavirus crisis as badly as Florida’s Jackson Health does.
Miami, its base of operations, is the worst COVID-19 hot spot in one of the most severely hit states. Even in normal years, the system sometimes barely makes money. At least two of its staff members have died of the virus.
But in a scathing letter to policymakers, system CEO Carlos Migoya said the way Washington has handled the bailout “could jeopardize the very existence” of Jackson, one of the nation’s largest public health systems, and similar hospital groups.
“We are here for you right now,” Migoya, who has tested positive for COVID-19 himself, said in a Thursday letter to Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services. “Please, be here for us right now.”
Migoya and executives at other beleaguered systems are blasting the government’s decision to take a one-size-fits-all approach to distributing the first $30 billion in emergency grants. HHS confirmed Friday it would give hospitals and doctors money according to their historical share of revenue from the Medicare program for seniors — not according to their coronavirus burden.
That method is “woefully insufficient to address the financial challenges facing hospitals at this time, especially those located in ‘hot spot’ areas such as the New York City region,” Kenneth Raske, CEO of the Greater New York Hospital Association, said in a memo to association members.
Read more here.
Content Provided by: Health News Florida
Probably few hospital systems need the emergency federal grants announced this week to handle the coronavirus crisis as badly as Florida’s Jackson Health does.
Miami, its base of operations, is the worst COVID-19 hot spot in one of the most severely hit states. Even in normal years, the system sometimes barely makes money. At least two of its staff members have died of the virus.
But in a scathing letter to policymakers, system CEO Carlos Migoya said the way Washington has handled the bailout “could jeopardize the very existence” of Jackson, one of the nation’s largest public health systems, and similar hospital groups.
“We are here for you right now,” Migoya, who has tested positive for COVID-19 himself, said in a Thursday letter to Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services. “Please, be here for us right now.”
Migoya and executives at other beleaguered systems are blasting the government’s decision to take a one-size-fits-all approach to distributing the first $30 billion in emergency grants. HHS confirmed Friday it would give hospitals and doctors money according to their historical share of revenue from the Medicare program for seniors — not according to their coronavirus burden.
That method is “woefully insufficient to address the financial challenges facing hospitals at this time, especially those located in ‘hot spot’ areas such as the New York City region,” Kenneth Raske, CEO of the Greater New York Hospital Association, said in a memo to association members.
Read more here.
How doctors can keep their families safe after providing COVID-19 care
One of the nation’s most distinguished infection-control experts advises physicians on how to minimize the risk for their loved ones.
The rise in COVID-19 cases creates anxiety among physicians and other health professionals who worry they might carry the virus home to their families. This remains top of mind for many people in the medical field, leaving them wondering: How do I keep my family safe after caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Read more from the AMA.
One of the nation’s most distinguished infection-control experts advises physicians on how to minimize the risk for their loved ones.
The rise in COVID-19 cases creates anxiety among physicians and other health professionals who worry they might carry the virus home to their families. This remains top of mind for many people in the medical field, leaving them wondering: How do I keep my family safe after caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Read more from the AMA.
Lasting Impacts on Health Insurance Market Projected Due to the Coronavirus Crisis
More than seven million Americans expected to lose insurance during coronavirus pandemic, study predicts
Large Hikes in Health Insurance Premiums Projected: Will Self Funded Insurance Plans Become More Attractive as Costs of Covid Crisis Wash Through the Fully Insured Market
More than seven million Americans expected to lose insurance during coronavirus pandemic, study predicts
- Newsweek (4/8, Lemon) reports “more than 7 million Americans are expected to lose their health insurance during the coronavirus pandemic, while more than 1.5 million are already estimated to have lost coverage, according to a new study.” The study authors wrote, “Coverage losses are likely to be steepest in states that have turned down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. In expansion states, the share of persons who have lost or left a job who lacked coverage was 22.1% versus 8.3% for employed persons – a difference of 13.8 percentage points.” The analysis was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Read more here.
Large Hikes in Health Insurance Premiums Projected: Will Self Funded Insurance Plans Become More Attractive as Costs of Covid Crisis Wash Through the Fully Insured Market
- Over the past year our organizations launched a Self-Funded Captive Health Insurance Program through our partners with FBMC and Danna-Gracey. We have leaned on our partners to track the impact of the crisis on employee health insurance programs to see if evidence emerges to assist our members in dealing with future crisis. We will periodically share information they discover through this forum. Below is an article that discusses projections of 40% increases in premiums due to the crisis unless the government provides assistance to stabilize premiums. Could your business budget for and sustain such an increase in your employee benefits? Will this drive more to consider a captive program or something like it as an essential component of their business plan? Read more here.
CMS Approves Approximately $34 Billion for Providers with the Accelerated/Advance Payment Program for Medicare Providers in One Week
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has delivered near $34 billion in the past week to the healthcare providers on the frontlines battling the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The funds have been provided through the expansion of the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to ensure providers and suppliers have the resources needed to combat the pandemic.
“Healthcare providers are making massive financial sacrifices to care for the influx of coronavirus patients,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “Many are rightly complying with federal recommendations to delay non-essential elective surgeries to preserve capacity and personal protective equipment. They shouldn’t be penalized for doing the right thing. Amid a public health storm of unprecedented fury, these payments are helping providers and suppliers – so critical to defeating this terrible virus – stay afloat.”
Read the full article here.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has delivered near $34 billion in the past week to the healthcare providers on the frontlines battling the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The funds have been provided through the expansion of the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to ensure providers and suppliers have the resources needed to combat the pandemic.
“Healthcare providers are making massive financial sacrifices to care for the influx of coronavirus patients,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “Many are rightly complying with federal recommendations to delay non-essential elective surgeries to preserve capacity and personal protective equipment. They shouldn’t be penalized for doing the right thing. Amid a public health storm of unprecedented fury, these payments are helping providers and suppliers – so critical to defeating this terrible virus – stay afloat.”
Read the full article here.