The following is the latest information from federal regulators and others as of 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 6.

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.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Food and Drug Administration

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA has provided interim guidance to its regional administrators and state plan designees regarding enforcement discretion to permit the extended use and reuse of respirators, and respirators that are beyond their manufacturers’ recommended shelf life during the COVID-19 emergency.

Department of Health and Human Services/Office of the Inspector General

  • The OIG has issued a policy statement regarding the application of certain administrative enforcement authorities due to the COVID-19 crisis.  This statement conveys that the OIG will not impose sanctions under anti-kickback laws related to actions by health care providers that fit under the HHS’s previous waiver of the physician self-referral provisions of the Stark law.  The OIG also has launched a new FAQ on this policy statement to provide additional information.
  • The OIG conducted a national survey of hospitals, asking them about the challenges and needs they faced.  See a summary of the survey results here and the full report here.

The White House

During Friday’s coronavirus task force press briefing, national coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx, M.D. explained the priority in the distribution of the new COVID-19 test that yields results in 15 minutes.

American Medical Association

The American Medical Association has issued its own “guiding principles” for the protection of current medical students and medical students:  those who are graduating early to help in the fight against COVID-19 and those who are being enlisted, while still in medical school, to participate in the direct care of COVID-19 and suspected COVID-19 patients.

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