The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) will host a virtual symposium, Advancing the Response to COVID-19: Sharing Promising Programs and Practices for Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities, to highlight state, tribal, territorial and community-based efforts addressing COVID-19 among racial and ethnic minority populations. The event is on Thurs., Sept. 17, 2020, 12:00 – 6:00 pm. Register here. Learn more here.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has formed the COVID-19 Prevention Network to respond to the global pandemic. The COVID-19 Prevention Network is now enlisting volunteers to participate in clinical trials. Health centers can encourage participation by talking with patients and pointing them to reliable information about clinical trials. The COVID-19 Prevention Network’s website includes:

• Definitions of terms like “clinical study” and descriptions of available clinical studies
• A map of clinical trial locations across the nation
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• A volunteer sign-up portal

FQHCs are encouraged to share these resources with their patients and encourage them to consider joining a nearby trial.

The Trump administration said it will not join a global effort to develop, manufacture and equitably distribute a coronavirus vaccine, in part because the World Health Organization is involved, a decision that could shape the course of the pandemic and the country’s role in health diplomacy. More than 170 countries are in talks to participate in the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (Covax) Facility, which aims to speed vaccine development, secure doses for all countries and distribute them to the most high-risk segment of each population.

Relying on a public health law intended to prevent the spread of an illness, the Trump administration said it is extending a national moratorium on residential evictions. The moratorium, announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was the latest measure by the administration to get a handle on the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic absent an agreement with Congress on a more far reaching package that would have the force of law. The moratorium, which will extend through Dec. 31, applies to individuals making $99,000 or less a year and who are unable to make rent or housing payments.

As Pennsylvanians continue to fight the health risks of COVID-19, Gov. Tom Wolf called on the General Assembly to pass legislation for paid sick and family leave for workers who need to miss work for an illness or to take care of a loved one. According to the governor’s office, enacting a paid sick leave law would help an estimated 400,000 Pennsylvanians, particularly low-wage workers who are forced to work when ill, risking their health and that of the employees and customers around them. Providing paid sick leave would improve public health and help to prevent more people from getting sick.

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center has a series of webinars and other resources useful for helping students and staff cope with changes in schooling.  Find more information here.

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a summary of all current COVID-19-related waivers and flexibilities that affect Rural Health Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Critical Access Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and rural hospitals generally. It also describes the significance of each provision for these rural providers and facilities.  Read more here.

On August 26, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated their COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicare Billing to include guidance on how hospitals should treat CARES Act Provider Relief Funds (PRF) in upcoming cost reports.  Beginning in April, funds were distributed to providers, including targeted disbursements to rural providers, to support COVID-19 relief efforts.  The new guidance on pages 99-101 of the FAQs informs hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, and other providers on how to report the PRF payments on the Medicare Cost Report and whether those payments should offset expenses.  Read more here.

On September 2,  the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published an Interim Final Rule with Comment Period that includes new requirements in the hospital and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for daily reporting of COVID-19 data. These regulations are effective on September 2, 2020 and are applicable for the duration of the Public Health Emergency for COVID–19.  While many hospitals are voluntarily reporting this information now, not all are. Hospitals, including Critical Access Hospitals, will face possible termination of Medicare and Medicaid payment if unable to correct reporting deficiencies. The rule also includes updates to Extraordinary Circumstances Exceptions (ECE) for several quality reporting programs and a revised policy on repeated COVID-19 testing.  Read more here.