The following is the latest information from the federal government as of 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2.

Reminder:  Submit COVID-19 Case Data

• Hospitals interested in obtaining supplies of the drug remdesivir from the federal government must submit data on their current COVID-19 caseloads to the federal government every two weeks.  The first reporting deadline is Monday, July 6 at 8:00 p.m. (eastern).  Hospitals must submit their data through HHS’s teletracking portal.
• In support of its future distribution of remdesivir, HHS has prepared a fact sheet describing the process that will be used to allocate and distribute the approximately 500,000 doses of the drug it will receive over the next three months.

Department of Health and Human Services

• HHS has updated its CARES Act Provider Relief Fund FAQ.  The most recent changes are labeled “6/30/2020.”  Many focus on the Medicaid-only portal while others cast light on how HHS’s recent CARES Act Provider Relief Fund distribution to safety-net hospitals was calculated.
• HHS has extended its relationship with several national pharmacy and grocery retail chains to make COVID-19 testing available at more locations.
• HHS has updated its health care resilience task force’s “Alternative Care Site Toolkit,” which seeks to help state, local, tribal, and territorial entities address gaps in health care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing medical operations guidance and technical assistance with establishing and operationalizing alternative care settings for COVID-19-positive patients.
• HHS will hold a webinar on the use of telemedicine in alternative care settings on Tuesday, July 28 at 2:00.  For more information on the webinar, the speakers, and how to register to participate, go here.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

• CMS has posted new FAQs for state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs.  The new FAQs cover a variety of Medicaid and CHIP topics, including:
  • eligibility and enrollment
  • notice and fair hearings
  • optional COVID-testing group FAQs
  • premiums and cost-sharing
  • benefits
  • non-emergency medical transportation
  • information technology
  • financing

• CMS has updated its compendium of the operational flexibilities it has authorized for skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• CMS updated its MLN Matters article “Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)” to clarify instructions for skilled nursing facilities on the need to readmit the beneficiary on day 101 to take advantage of the skilled nursing facility benefit period waiver.
• CMS and its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have posted a document on leveraging existing health and disease management programs to provide mental health and substance use disorder resources during the COVID-19 emergency.
• In the past week CMS issued three section 1135 waivers to give states greater flexibility to serve their Medicaid beneficiaries during the COVID-19 public health emergency.  It issued waivers to Montana, New Hampshire, and New Mexico.

Food and Drug Administration

• The FDA has issued emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for three new commercial diagnostic tests for COVID-19.  Find them here, here, and here.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

• The CDC has updated its interim clinical guidance for managing patients with confirmed COVID-19.
• The CDC has updated its framework for health care systems providing non-COVID-19 clinical services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal Funding Opportunities for Hospitals

• NASH 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.

To receive this daily update directly, sign up for our mailing list at info@safetynetalliance.org.)