News

National health expenditures are projected to grow an average 5.4% annually during 2019-2028, outpacing average projected growth in gross domestic product by 1.1 percentage points, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of the Actuary reported in Health Affairs.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights issued guidance on disclosing protected health information about individuals who have been infected with or exposed to COVID-19.

The National Uniform Billing Committee has issued guidance to help health care providers flag claims for COVID-19-related services.

The Joint Commission Tuesday issued the following FAQs related to COVID-19: 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued an FAQ to address a temporary 6.2% increase to qualifying states’ and territories’ Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, enacted as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act signed into law on March 18.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued an FAQ to outline COVID-19-related payment and grace period flexibilities for issuers offering coverage on the federally-facilitated exchanges and state-based exchanges on the federal platform.

The Senate released updated legislation as part of a widespread stimulus package to respond to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, has launched a website offering COVID-19 safety training resources for frontline responders, including hospital and other health care workers.

FDA said it is partnering with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on regulatory strategies to facilitate the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

The Food and Drug Administration adjusted its import screening to expedite personal protective equipment and clarified types of PPE that can be imported without engaging with FDA.

The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission announced expedited procedures for reviewing the antitrust impact of joint efforts among competitors related to the novel coronavirus.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services awarded Section 1135 waivers to 11 more states, bringing the national total to 13 states who can receive relief for their Medicaid programs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated prevention tactics for populations at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention March 23 issued updated guidance clarifying that patients with COVID-19 can be discharged from a health care facility when clinically indicated.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said that the Defense Production Act is being used to access 60,000 test kits, each with the capacity to serve approximately 300-400 patients.

The AHA, American Medical Association and American Nurses Association urged the public to stay home as the nation continues efforts to combat COVID-19.

The Federal Communications Commission March 20 issued a ruling confirming that the COVID-19 pandemic qualifies as an “emergency” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

A report by Premier, Inc., indicates dramatic spikes in demand for two antimalarial drugs that may influence positive COVID-19 outcomes.

The first Americans Sunday joined a nightly, worldwide movement that began in Europe to show support and gratitude to the nurses, physicians and other health care workers caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As requested by AHA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a corrected announcement regarding the Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Group Grouper to recognize the new ICD-10-CM diagnosis code, U07.1, for COVID-19.