As a fall resurgence of COVID-19 becomes more evident in Pennsylvania and across the country, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today presented an update on the COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard and case data, and asked Pennsylvanians to unite against COVID.

“The fall resurgence is here,” Gov. Wolf said. “And while we must always take this deadly virus seriously, now is the time for all of us to double down on our efforts to keep ourselves and those around us safe. We’ve seen what happens when masks aren’t worn and social distancing isn’t practiced – people get sick, so we need to stay vigilant and work together to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Last week, Dr. Levine introduced the team of public health experts leading the work to make sure all Pennsylvanians are as protected as possible from both COVID-19 and influenza. The team is prepared for the resurgence, is managing a robust testing plan, preparing for vaccine distribution when a vaccine is available, and working to track influenza (flu) cases across the state.

“Our data, including case counts, hospitalizations and percent positivity reflect the fall resurgence occurring,” Secretary Levine said. “The department and the Wolf Administration are working continuously to ensure we are prepared for this resurgence and to protect Pennsylvanians. We all must unite to protect ourselves and loved ones from COVID-19 by washing our hands, wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding large gatherings and downloading the COVID Alert PA app.”

Dr. Levine also presented the latest data from the state’s COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard, which tracks the level of community transmission as a basis for the recommendations for Pre-K to 12 schools to determine instructional models; data on cases among 5-18-year-olds; cases that reported visiting a business among potential locations where exposures may have occurred; and updated travel recommendations.

The dashboard is designed to provide early warning signs of factors that affect the state’s mitigation efforts. The data available on the early warning monitoring dashboard includes week-over-week case differences, incidence rates, test percent-positivity, and rates of hospitalizations, ventilations and emergency room visits tied to COVID-19.

This week’s update compares the period of October 9 – October 15 to the previous seven days, October 2 – October 8.

As of Thursday, October 15, the state has seen a seven-day case increase of 8,723; the previous seven-day increase was 7,398, indicating a 1,325-case increase across the state over the past week.  The statewide percent-positivity went up to 4.3% from 3.9% last week.

“COVID is tough, but together, Pennsylvanians are tougher,” Gov. Wolf said. “The last seven and a half months have shown us that when we unite, we can defeat this virus. Pennsylvanians came together to stop COVID in its tracks and we can do it again and stop this fall resurgence in its tracks if we stand united against COVID.

“You matter, and so do your actions. When we make good choices and follow health and safety measures, we see results. Let’s work together to stop the spread.

2020 Health Workforce Field Strength Numbers Increase Access to Primary and Substance Use Disorder Care

Read the full press release

There are now more than 16,000 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) members providing care to more than 17 million Americans. An additional 1.8 million patients are cared for by over 1,700 Nurse Corps clinicians. Nurse Corps also added 135 faculty to its rolls.

NHSC and Nurse Corps programs support the recruitment and retention of dedicated primary care, dental, and behavioral health providers who care for underserved patients daily in high-need areas of the U.S. and its territories.

As part of our commitment to recruiting clinicians interested in serving in underserved areas, we take an active role in connecting clinicians with employment opportunities at approved sites. After a pause this spring and summer, we recently resumed hosting Virtual Job Fairs -a live interactive platform that provides students and clinicians the opportunity to meet with hundreds of recruiters hiring in underserved communities across the country.

Share how we’re making strides to impact health equity and increase access to care for those who need it most. Forward this email and use the graphics below to share with your audiences. Follow and tag us on our NHSC and Nurse Corps Facebook, NHSC and Nurse Corps LinkedIn, and NHSC Twitter accounts.

Thank you all for the hard work you do. Your dedication and support throughout 2020 has helped communities all over the nation get through a very difficult year.

Learn about HRSA’s Coronavirus response at hrsa.gov/coronavirus

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) appreciates its long-standing partnership with immunizers, including pharmacies, to facilitate the efficient administration of vaccinations, particularly for vulnerable populations in long-term care facilities and other congregate care settings across America. Leveraging immunizers’ capabilities and expertise will play an important role in the Department’s ability to broadly distribute and administer COVID-19 vaccinations, including Medicare beneficiaries.

America is facing an unprecedented challenge. Quickly, safely, and effectively vaccinating our most vulnerable citizens in settings that have accounted for about 30 percent of U.S. COVID-19 deaths is a top-priority mission for the Trump Administration. Unfortunately, many long-term care facilities may not have sufficient capacity to receive, store, and administer vaccines. And some long-term care facility residents cannot safely leave the facility to receive vaccinations.

Outside immunizers can help fill that urgent need and provide onsite vaccinations at skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”). But to do so during this global emergency, Medicare-enrolled vaccinators must be able to bill directly and receive direct reimbursement from the Medicare program. However, the Social Security Act requires SNFs to bill for certain services, including vaccine administration, even when SNFs rely on an outside vendor to perform the service. See Social Security Act §§ 1862(a)(18), 1842(b)(6)(E).

Therefore, in order to facilitate the efficient administration of COVID-19 vaccines to SNF residents, CMS will exercise enforcement discretion with respect to these statutory provisions as well as any associated statutory references and implementing regulations, including as interpreted in pertinent guidance (collectively, “SNF Consolidated Billing Provisions”). Through the exercise of that discretion, CMS will allow Medicare-enrolled immunizers, including but not limited to pharmacies working with the United States, to bill directly and receive direct reimbursement from the Medicare program for vaccinating Medicare SNF residents.

CMS will exercise such discretion (1) during the emergency period defined in paragraph (1)(B) of section 1135(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1320b-5(g)) and ending on the last day of the calendar quarter in which the last day of such emergency period occurs; or (2) so long as CMS determines that there is a public health need for mass COVID-19 vaccinations in congregate care settings—whichever is later. While CMS exercises this enforcement discretion, compliance with SNF Consolidated Billing Provisions is not material to CMS’ decision to reimburse for COVID-19 vaccine administration. If CMS decides in the future to cease exercising this enforcement discretion, CMS will provide public notice in advance and allow at least 60 days for affected outside immunizers to modify their business practices.

On October 14, CMS expanded the list of telehealth services that Medicare Fee-for-Service will pay for during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). CMS is also providing additional support to state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies in their efforts to expand access to telehealth. The actions reinforce President Trump’s Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access to improve the health of all Americans by increasing access to better care.

“Responding to President Trump’s Executive Order, CMS is taking action to increase telehealth adoption across the country,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “Medicaid patients should not be forgotten, and today’s announcement promotes telehealth for them as well. This revolutionary method of improving access to care is transforming health care delivery in America. President Trump will not let the genie go back into the bottle.”

Expanding Medicare Telehealth Services:

For the first time using a new expedited process, CMS added 11 new services to the Medicare telehealth services list since the publication of the May 1 COVID-19 Interim Final Rule with comment period (IFC). Medicare will begin paying eligible practitioners who furnish these newly added telehealth services effective immediately and for the duration of the PHE. These new telehealth services include certain neurostimulator analysis and programming services, and cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services. The list of these newly added services is available on the List of Telehealth Services webpage.

In the May 1 COVID-19 IFC, CMS modified the process for adding or deleting services from the Medicare telehealth services list to allow for expedited consideration of additional telehealth services during the PHE outside of rulemaking. This update to the Medicare telehealth services list builds on the efforts CMS has already taken to increase Medicare beneficiaries’ access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 PHE.

Since the beginning of the PHE, CMS added over 135 services to the Medicare telehealth services list – such as emergency department visits, initial inpatient and nursing facility visits, and discharge day management services. With this action, Medicare will pay for 144 services performed via telehealth. Between mid-March and mid-August, over 12.1 million Medicare beneficiaries – over 36% – of people with Medicare Fee-for-Service received a telemedicine service.

Preliminary Medicaid and CHIP Data Snapshot on Telehealth Utilization and Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth Toolkit Supplement:

In an effort to provide greater transparency on telehealth access in Medicaid and CHIP, CMS released, for the first time, a preliminary Medicaid and CHIP data snapshot on telehealth utilization during the PHE. This snapshot shows, among other things, that there have been more than 34.5 million services delivered via telehealth to Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries between March and June of this year, representing an increase of more than 2,600% when compared to the same period from the prior year. The data also shows that adults ages 19-64 received the most services delivered via telehealth, although there was substantial variance across both age groups and states.

To further drive telehealth, CMS released a new supplement to its State Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth Toolkit: Policy Considerations for States Expanding Use of Telehealth, COVID-19 Version that provides numerous new examples and insights into lessons learned from states that implemented telehealth changes. The updated supplemental information is intended to help states strategically think through how they explain and clarify to providers and other stakeholders which policies are temporary or permanent. It also helps states identify services that can be accessed through telehealth, which providers may deliver those services, the ways providers may use in order to deliver services through telehealth, as well as the circumstances under which telehealth can be reimbursed once the PHE expires.

The toolkit includes approaches and tools states can use to communicate with providers on utilizing telehealth for patient care. It updates and consolidates in one place the FAQs and resources for states to consider as they begin planning beyond the temporary flexibilities provided in response to the pandemic.

View the Medicaid and CHIP data snapshot on telehealth utilization during the PHE.

Some of the country’s least populous states are facing major COVID-19 surges in what North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum called “a regional COVID storm,” according to The New York Times. North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana are among the states with the highest number of cases per capita, while other rural states like Wyoming, Idaho and Nebraska have recently seen their highest seven-day case average of the pandemic.

Now more than ever, everyone needs to do their part to prevent the spread of illnesses like the flu. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer people are getting vaccines which puts their communities at greater risk for other preventable diseases.  When people get the flu shot, it helps protect them and keep them from spreading the flu to others.

Medicare and most health plans cover the cost of the flu shot, which is available at most health care provider offices, local pharmacies, senior centers, health centers, and other places in the community.

This year, we’re developing many new flu vaccination resources for people with Medicare, partners, providers, and others who can share our message.  Please use our resources to encourage your patients and partners to get their flu shot so they and their communities can stay healthy.

Racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected when it comes to receiving recommended vaccines. Many factors can contribute to lower vaccination rates, including concerns about vaccine safety and limited access to care and health coverage. The CMS Office of Minority Health created a website of Federal resources to help our partners find resources for minority populations and in additional languages.

Visit go.cms.gov/omhflu.

CMS.gov Partner and Provider Resources

• Visit cms.gov/flu for a one-stop shop to help you find CMS’s flu vaccination information and resources.
• Find vaccination resources for racial and ethnic minority patients, as well as resources for providers and partners that serve these populations at cms.gov/omhflu.
• Looking for additional languages? Find Medicare postcards in 18 languages.
• Visit our Outreach & Media Materials page for flu vaccination materials you can share within your partner networks and use to reach people with Medicare, plus other audiences across our health care programs. We will continue to update this page with additional resources.
• Use this social media toolkit with posts and graphics to spread the word about the importance of getting a flu shot this year (in English & Spanish).
• For partners, we launched a Flu Vaccine Partner Toolkit with flu and other immunization resources.
• For health care providers, we launched a new website, cms.gov/flu-provider, with flu coverage and billing information.

Medicare.gov Consumer Resources

• Medicare Blog
• Flu Shot Coverage
• Preventive & Screening Services

Your Medicare Coverage

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced today the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency is improving the COVID Relief Mortgage and Rental Assistance Grant Program to help more renters and homeowners remain in their homes. Effective Oct. 17, landlords and mortgagees will have a new option to reach agreements with renters and homeowners for repayment of rent and mortgage payments above the program’s $750 monthly cap. The program previously required them to forgive the balance of the payment.

Earlier this week the governor signed an executive order extending the application deadline to Nov. 4.

“We cannot allow thousands of families to become homeless because of the pandemic,” said Gov. Wolf.  “Improving the program and giving people more time to apply will help families to stay in their homes. That will reduce the strain on social services and help landlords to pay their mortgages.

“These are positive steps, but we still need a larger solution. I continue to urge the legislature to fix the program’s other flaws so more struggling families have a place to live.”

The program has been helping fewer renters and homeowners than intended. Under the new guidance, landlords can still forgive the balance of rent and mortgage payment above $750, but creating the option to enter into repayment agreements with tenants and homeowners, and therefore recoup balance of payments, should encourage more participation in the relief program.

The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed by Congress in March, provided $3.9 billion for Pennsylvania. As part of Pennsylvanian’s response to the pandemic, the governor signed legislation in May directing $175 million of the CARES funds to PHFA to provide $150 million for rental assistance and $25 million for mortgage assistance.

Governor Tom Wolf has repeatedly urged the General Assembly to remove the barriers so more Pennsylvanians can qualify.

The governor’s proposal would:

• Raise the $750 monthly cap on rent relief to at least 130% of HUD limits – In some parts of the state rent payments exceed $750 a month, therefore landlords decline to participate, leaving tenants without payment assistance.
• Eliminate the requirement that households be 30 days behind on rent to be eligible for assistance – The requirement creates an unfair burden on applicants who prioritize rent and mortgage payments over paying for food, medicine or other bills.
• Eliminate verification that applicants applied for unemployment compensation – The added administrative step creates unnecessary processing delays of applications and availability of assistance.

“Program changes are still needed to keep people in their homes, but in the meantime, these changes will let more people get rental assistance and avoid eviction,” said Gov. Wolf. “I continue to urge the General Assembly to make changes to allow more affected residents to qualify because, now more than ever, all Pennsylvanians need and deserve an affordable and safe place to live.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention halted some rental evictions nationwide until Dec. 31; however, some tenants and all homeowners are still at risk.