Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources and Special Communications

We are grateful to Congress for efforts to support our nation, especially our nurses, physicians and hospitals during this global pandemic.

Building on provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded the Medicare accelerated payment program, which is intended to provide necessary funds to providers when there is a disruption in claims submission and/or claims processing.

The AHA, joined by five other organizations that represent or collaborate with individuals and institutions at the forefront of delivering health care in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, are concerned with the shortages of masks, face shields and other personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, swab kits, and testing capacity that are critically needed by frontline caregivers and patients.

At the American Hospital Association our top concern is the health and safety of patients and the physicians, nurses and clinicians who care for them.

The House today by voice vote passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748). The legislation is the third large-scale congressional effort in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The Senate passed the bill 96-0. President Trump is expected to sign it.

The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced a national initiative to secure millions of masks for the physicians, nurses and caregivers who are treating coronavirus patients and at greater risk due to a nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment. The effort will facilitate private sector partnerships to address these shortages in the fight against COVID-19.

AONL members can access two American Hospital Association (AHA) webinars with information related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To help prevent the spread in health care facilities of the virus causing COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidance this week on discharging hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Two Mayo Clinic surgeons are sharing their musical talents, providing an inspirational interlude during the COVID-19 pandemic for fellow health care workers and people in communities across the U.S. Elvis Francois, an orthopedic surgery resident who sings, and William Robinson, an orthopedic surgery resident who plays the piano, shared their rendition of “Imagine” by John Lennon on YouTube.

If you are a manufacturer able to help with the 100 Million Mask Challenge, and not already connected with your local hospital or health system, please review the information on this page and share your contact information with us.

Providence St. Joseph Health, headquartered in Washington State, launched the 100 Million Mask Challenge and has seen a tremendous outpouring of support from individuals, community organizations and local manufacturers.The American Hospital Association will now bring the initiative to scale across the country, facilitating new relationships between providers in need of surgical masks and manufacturers with the capacity to produce them.

We encourage all of our hospitals and health systems to partner and coordinate with businesses in your communities that may have the equipment and ability to help produce much needed personal protective equipment. We have provided all of our design specs to be shared widely.

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued guidance on how covered entities may disclose protected health information (PHI) to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

As part of the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced unprecedented relief this week for clinicians and facilities participating in Medicare quality reporting and payment programs.

Pandemic-related updates are now available on a dedicated COVID-19 webpage on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website.

Free tools for communicating with intubated COVID-19 patients and others unable to speak are available online from the Patient Provider Communication Forum.

In a March 19 letter, the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) urged Congress to incorporate the coalition’s priorities in COVID-19 legislative packages under consideration.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) launched a website this month to provide resources and tools for workers at risk of exposure to COVID-19.