As urged by the AHA and other groups, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that it is extending the deadline by which hospitals and other providers that received Provider Relief Fund money after June 30, 2020, must use their COVID-19 PRF payments.
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) News
Below are links to AHA Today stories on novel coronavirus (COVID-19). For all coronavirus resources and news updates, visit our COVID-19 page.
Latest
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an emergency temporary standard for occupational exposure to COVID-19 that requires certain health care employers to help protect their workers in settings where suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients are treated.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Grand Rapids, Mich-based Spectrum Health used the full scope of its resources to enable easy vaccine access, keep its communities informed, maintain and expand access in ZIP codes bearing the brunt of infections, and fuel innovation.
Medicare will pay about $75 per dose to administer COVID-19 vaccines in a Medicare beneficiary’s home, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced.
Compared with the pre-vaccination period of Nov. 29 to Dec. 12, 2020, COVID-19 incidence during April 18 to May 1, 2021, was 69% lower among adults overall, and 79%, 71% and 66% lower among persons aged 65 and over, 50-64 and 18-49, respectively, according to a report released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
COVID Tech Connect will donate to hospitals and other care facilities up to 15 Samsung Galaxy Tab A devices each to help COVID-19 patients connect with their loved ones.
The AHA will connect hospitals and health systems with businesses interested in vaccinating their employees as part of an effort to increase COVID-19 vaccinations across the country, the White House announced.
Hospitals will no longer need to report influenza data and inventory and usage data for bamlanivimab administered alone as part of their daily data reporting related to COVID-19 effective June 10, when reporting data for those fields will become optional, the Department of Health and Human Services announced.
COVID-19 adolescent hospitalization rates from COVID-NET (Coronavirus Disease 2019-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network) peaked at 2.1 per 100,000 in early January 2021, declined to 0.6 in mid-March and rose to 1.3 in April, according a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released today. Among hospitalized adolescents, nearly one-third required intensive care unit admission and 5% required invasive mechanical ventilation; no associated deaths occurred, according to the report.
As hospitals and health care systems work to provide the best care possible while also being efficient with the transformative financial burdens brought on by COVID-19, “partnerships have been a necessary response to these pressures,” writes Kenneth Kaufman, managing director and chair of management consultancy KaufmanHall.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services May 28 issued a new informational bulletin on COVID-19 vaccines for adolescents ages 12 and older, which addresses access and eligibility, along with information on patient outreach and education.
Moderna asked the Food and Drug Administration to grant full approval of its COVID-19 vaccine for people age 18 years and older.
Six health care leaders share key insights during a recent AHA panel discussion on “Advocating for the Asian American Community during COVID-19.”
Hospitals will no longer need to report influenza data and inventory and usage data for bamlanivimab administered alone as part of their daily data reporting related to COVID-19 effective June 10, when reporting data for those fields will become optional, the Department of Health and Human Services announced.
Health care leaders discuss unique challenges facing Asian American communities and the path forward
Key insights from health care leaders nationwide on AHA’s "Advocating for the Asian American Community during COVID-19" panel discussion.
The Food and Drug Administration yesterday authorized for emergency use a new monoclonal antibody therapy, Sotrovimab, for outpatients at risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 disease.
Responding to a New York Times article about hospital finances and COVID-19 relief, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said the article "tells a misleading story” about COVID-19 funding for hospitals and health systems and the “lifeline” integration was able to offer hospitals struggling to navigate the pandemic.
FDA issues reminder on need for clear nasal sampling instructions; dogs detect COVID-19 in body odor
The Food and Drug Administration reminded health care providers to give patients who self-collect anterior nasal samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing in health care settings step-by-step instructions.
The National Academy of Medicine released separate discussion papers examining the experiences of payers and clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, lessons learned and priorities for the sectors going forward.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency released guidance to help emergency managers plan for disaster response and recovery while adhering to public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.