- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Fiscal Year 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments; and Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status; Corrections and Correcting Amendment
- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments; and Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status; Corrections and Correcting Amendment
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
- Public Inspection: CMS: Request for Information: Health Technology Ecosystem
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Reveals Virtual 2021 Pennsylvania Farm Show Schedule of Events
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today shared the schedule for the virtual 2021 Pennsylvania Farm Show. Traditionally held in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, the department announced a move to a virtual show as Pennsylvania continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In January, we will celebrate Pennsylvania agriculture together with the virtual 2021 Farm Show,” said Agriculture Secretary Russ Redding. “We have seen over this extraordinary past year that agriculture is not only an asset to our communities and our economy, but it is absolutely essential to each and every one of our lives.”
“In January, we’ll introduce you to some of the extraordinary people in the industry who have fed our commonwealth, our nation, and our world through good times and bad,” added Redding. “You could learn to cultivate your own garden, or to liven up your meals with inspiration from the virtual Culinary Connection, or how to tie-dye a t-shirt with plants. Just like our agriculture industry, this Farm Show will offer up bounty and variety to enrich your life.”
The full schedule of events is available at farmshow.pa.gov. Some staples of the show include:
- The traditional kick-off of each day with the National Anthem,
- 4-H demonstrations,
- Live ducking pond and beehive cams,
- A Cultivating Tomorrow panel discussion series,
- STEM demonstrations that can be recreated at home with kids,
- Culinary demonstrations,
- Veteran-farmer stories,
- DIY plant-based projects and activities,
- Segments about the history of Farm Show,
- Agriculturally themed bedtime stories, and more!
In addition to live and pre-recorded events that will be featured on the Pennsylvania Farm Show Facebook page and the Pennsylvania Cable Network, the Farm Show will host Virtual Exhibits at farmshow.pa.gov. These more than 180 virtual exhibits include videos, activities, and other learning opportunities that range from all things about bluebirds, gourds, and cider to how to cook dried beans, how to raise hogs, or make a blue ribbon-winning apple pie.
The full schedule of virtual events will run from Monday, January 11 through Friday, January 15, 2021, with previews and light programming running Saturday, January 9 and Sunday, January 10.
If that’s not enough opportunities to immerse yourself in Pennsylvania agriculture, you can follow the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Instagram, where they’ll host 20 takeovers that will take you behind the scenes on Pennsylvania’s farms. Follow along to learn the innerworkings of everything from goat or poultry farming, to organic agriculture or bees or rabbits. The Instagram takeovers will run from Saturday, January 9 through Saturday, January 16, 2021.
“We hope that this year’s virtual show can offer a whole new perspective on a beloved tradition,” said Redding. “We look forward to being welcomed into homes across the commonwealth as we Cultivate Tomorrow.”
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania hospitals began receiving shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine the week of December 14. Through December 20:
- 97 hospitals have received 97,500 vaccine doses.
- 17,700 doses of the vaccine have been administered.
A spreadsheet of facilities that have received vaccine can be found here.
Links to updated guidance and Frequently Asked Questions can be found below:
Frequently Asked Questions for Businesses Operating During the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency: https://www.governor.pa.gov/covid-19/business-faq/
Guidance for Businesses in the Construction Industry Permitted to Operate During the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency: https://www.governor.pa.gov/covid-19/construction-industry-guidance/
Guidance for Businesses in the Restaurant Industry Permitted to Operate During the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency to Ensure the Safety and Health of Employees and the Public: https://www.governor.pa.gov/covid-19/restaurant-industry-guidance/
COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses: https://www.governor.pa.gov/covid-19/business-guidance/
CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls-December 2020
CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the healthcare community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts.
Call details are below. Conference lines are limited so we highly encourage you to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser. You are welcome to share this invitation with your colleagues and professional networks. These calls are not intended for the press.
Calls recordings and transcripts are posted on the CMS podcast page at: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/PodcastAndTranscripts
COVID-19 Care Site-Specific Call
CMS-CDC Nursing Home Stakeholder Call
When: December 22, 2020; 1-2pm ET
Where: Participant Line: (833) 614-0820 (Conference ID: 7979889)
Overview: Please join CDC and CMS for this call with Nursing Homes focused on COVID 19 vaccination among residents and staff. During this call, you’ll receive:
- Updates on Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program;
- Critical clinical, safety, and infection prevention and control considerations associated with implementation;
- Communication resources you can use to address resident and staff questions and concerns; and
- General reminders for the holiday season.
A questions and answer session will follow updates.
Acute Hospital at Home Q&A Session
When: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 10:30 AM-11:00 AM
Where: Participant Line: (833) 614-0820 (Conference ID: 3985903)
Join CMS for an Acute Hospital Care at Home Q&A Session. This call provides an opportunity for health systems interested in participating as well as hospitals currently enrolled in the program to seek clarification from CMS subject matter experts. Prior to the call, please review the publicly posted FAQs to verify if an answer to your question is available. Acute hospital care at home FAQs (PDF)
For the most current information including call schedule changes, please click here
To keep up with the important work the White House Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19 click here: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=36fa2226-6aae0b0d-36fa1319-0cc47a6d17cc-2d06c219f858d641&u=http://www.coronavirus.gov/. For information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.
FDA Announces an Emergency Use Authorization for Moderna Vaccine Candidate
The FDA has determined that the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine has met the statutory criteria for issuance of an EUA. The totality of the available data provides clear evidence that the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine may be effective in preventing COVID-19. The data also support that the known and potential benefits outweigh the known and potential risks, supporting the vaccine’s use in millions of people 18 years of age and older, including healthy individuals. In making this determination, the FDA can assure the public and medical community that it has conducted a thorough evaluation of the available safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality information.
A link to the full FDA press release is here. The press release also provides information and discussion on available safety and effectiveness data.
You can review the full Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Letter of Authorization here.
In addition to the EUA letter, below are links to fact sheets from the FDA:
Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccine Providers)
Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers
Operation Warp Speed and private sector partners now begin distributing the first allocation of doses to sites designated by the public health jurisdictions and five federal agencies with which OWS and CDC have been working to plan distribution. HHS Secretary Alex M Azar II and Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller have issued statements on this next step, and they can be viewed here.
For more information on COVID-19 vaccines, the EUA process, and guidance to industry for developing a COVID-19 vaccine please visit:
Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines Explained
Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19; Guidance for Industry
Development and Licensure of Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19; Guidance for Industry
A Crisis of Connectivity: Internet Access in Rural Pennsylvania
By Jordan Wolman / Editor-in-Chief of The Brown and White, Lehigh University. This story was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
Tim Westgate walks down from his house, cell phone in hand, to his dock on Lake Underwood.
He then gets into his pontoon boat. It’s quiet on the water. It’s quiet almost everywhere in this corner of rural Pennsylvania’s Wayne County.
If he holds his phone up while he’s out on the water where there’s a clearing, Westgate says, he might get two or three bars of signal. It’s the closest place he can go to connect to the outside world.
Westgate has no internet at home. Instead, he regularly makes the 1.5-mile drive to the nearest library, where he can sit in the parking lot and access free Wi-Fi.
But when COVID-19 hit, those challenges only grew.
Westgate said his son moved up to Wayne County with him this past May after graduating from a technical school in Delaware for physical therapy. But once he arrived, applying for a license to practice physical therapy in Pennsylvania became a chore because of their lack of internet and the closure of state offices due to the pandemic.
Westgate said his son would join him at Sunday church extra early to access the building’s Wi-Fi to work on his cover letters and job applications.
As for Westgate himself, a retired optometrist, his weekly Bible study classes have been moved to Zoom since the pandemic began. In order for Westgate to tune in on Tuesday nights at 7:30 p.m., he not only needs to drive to the library, he needs to find a street light to park under — so people on the call are able to see him.
Westgate then climbs in the backseat, resting his device on the truck’s center console.
“There’s no access here,” he said of the area.
Westgate isn’t the only one with no internet.
Honesdale is Wayne County’s most populous municipality and home to 5,000 people. It’s known for its homey Main Street, where residents come in to eat at one of the town’s classic diners and greet the wait staff by name.
The pace is slow but comfortable. On one end of Main Street, there’s a picturesque bridge crossing over a river with mountains rising gently behind it. The fall colors are radiant in this part of the state.
But walk five minutes, and Bruce Johnson doesn’t have the internet connection he needs to work from home.
CDC Launches Vaccine Inquiry Center for Health Care Providers
The CDC’s Vaccine Inquiry Center for all health care providers is now available to answer vaccine questions. You may send all inquiries to: eocevent168@cdc.gov
The CDC is also pointing people to this HRSA resource: COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured | Official web site of the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (hrsa.gov)
Pennsylvanians Working with Children: Deadline is December 31 to Renew FBI Background Checks for those Extended Under Act 18 2020
The deadline for Pennsylvanians needing Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal history background checks as a condition of employment is December 31, 2020. Earlier this year, Pennsylvania Governor Wolf signed Act 18 of 2020, which extended the time period for certain professions required by the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) to obtain an FBI background check upon hiring.
In order to receive an FBI background check:
- Fingerprints must be submitted as part of the criminal history check.
- Fingerprint scans can be taken at any IdentoGO location in the commonwealth.
Under Act 18 of 2020, some individuals who are required to obtain an FBI background check were given additional time to meet this requirement because of closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. New hires and individuals seeking a renewal of the FBI Criminal History Background Check have until December 31, 2020, to obtain the check. All individuals required to obtain additional clearances, including the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check and the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, must still obtain these clearances prior to employment. Both of these clearances can be obtained online.
As of January 1, 2021, failure to obtain the FBI background check prior to employment and every 60 months thereafter will result in noncompliance with the CPSL and will prohibit individuals from working with children.
IdentoGo Locations
- A map of all open IdentoGO locations is available here.
Many IdentoGO locations were temporarily closed in the spring, and this map is updated as offices reopen or new offices open. Anyone seeking fingerprinting services should call IDEMIA’s customer service at 844-321-2101, to ensure the location is still operating, schedule an appointment, and discuss necessary COVID-19 safety precautions.
For Employers
If employers have a large number of employees needing new or renewed clearances, arrangements can be made to have fingerprinting occur at the workplace. Mobile fingerprinting services are available for an additional fee through IDEMIA for groups of 20 or more needing clearances. Agencies with this need should contact IDEMIA to schedule.
COVID-19: Add-on Payment for New Treatments
CMS issued an Interim Final Rule with Comment Period, which established the New COVID-19 Treatments Add-on Payment (NCTAP) under the Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS), effective from November 2, 2020, until the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19. To mitigate potential financial disincentives for hospitals to provide new COVID-19 treatments during the COVID-19 PHE, the Medicare program will provide an enhanced payment for eligible inpatient cases that involve use of certain new products with current Food and Drug Administration approval or emergency use authorization to treat COVID-19. Visit the NCTAP webpage for more information.
CMS: Monitoring for Hospital Price Transparency
Hospital Price Transparency requirements go into effect January 1, 2021. CMS plans to audit a sample of hospitals for compliance starting in January, in addition to investigating complaints that are submitted to CMS and reviewing analyses of non-compliance, and hospitals may face civil monetary penalties for noncompliance.
Is your institution prepared to comply with the requirements of the Hospital Price Transparency Final Rule? Effective January 1, 2021, each hospital operating in the United States is required to provide publicly accessible standard charge information online about the items and services they provide in 2 ways:
- Comprehensive machine-readable file with all items and services
- Display of 300 shoppable services in a consumer-friendly format
In the final rule, CMS outlined a monitoring and enforcement plan to ensure compliance with the requirements. We finalized a policy that CMS monitoring activities may include, but would not be limited to, the following, as appropriate:
- Evaluation of complaints made by individuals or entities to CMS
- Review of individuals’ or entities’ analysis of noncompliance
- Audit of hospital websites
If we conclude a hospital is noncompliant with one or more of the requirements to make public standard charges, we may take any of the following actions, which generally, but not necessarily, will occur in the following order:
- Provide a written warning notice to the hospital of the specific violation(s)
- Request a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) if noncompliance constitutes a material violation of one or more requirements
- Impose a civil monetary penalty not in excess of $300 per day and publicize the penalty on a CMS website if the hospital fails to respond to our request to submit a CAP or comply with the requirements of a CAP
See 45 CFR part 180 Subpart C- Monitoring and Penalties for Noncompliance.
Visit the Hospital Price Transparency website for additional information and resources to help hospitals prepare for compliance, including:
COVID Impacts on Rural Dental Care System
Access to oral health care has become a growing concern over the past decade, and the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on all aspects of the oral health care system. Patients, dental providers, educators, and regulators are being asked to rapidly adjust to the COVID-19 crisis with almost no roadmap. To provide some guidance, the Oral Health Workforce Research Center has developed a new section of their website dedicated to sharing information on immediate impacts to the dental care system as a result of COVID-19, including care delivery, financing, regulation, and education.