This guidance aims provide more clarity for “parents, summer camp operators, public bathing places, part-day school-age programs, and other entities that provide necessary child care and enrichment and recreational activities for children and youth during the summer months.”

The guidance can be viewed here

These recommendations cover issues involving “shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), cloth face coverings, disinfectants, and sanitation supplies in the food and agriculture industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.”  This also provides guidance on how to source “supplies, including through private sector suppliers and state emergency management agencies.”  In addition, these recommendations provide insight on what “Food and Agriculture stakeholders should provide when ordering or requesting these supplies.”

See the release here

On April 2, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) posted an interim final rule announcing the implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act temporarily adds a new program, titled the “Paycheck Protection Program,” to the SBA’s 7(a) Loan Program. The CARES Act also provides for forgiveness of up to the full principal amount of qualifying loans guaranteed under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP is intended to provide economic relief to small businesses nationwide adversely impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). SBA posted additional interim final rules on April 3, 2020, April 14, 2020, April 24, 2020, April 28, 2020, April 30, 2020, May 5, 2020, May 8, 2020, May 13, 2020, May 14, 2020, May 18, 2020, and May 20, 2020, and the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) posted an additional interim final rule on April 27, 2020. This interim final rule supplements the previously posted interim final rules in order to help PPP borrowers prepare and submit loan forgiveness applications as provided for in the CARES Act, help PPP lenders who will be making the loan forgiveness decisions, inform borrowers and lenders of SBA’s process for reviewing PPP loan applications and loan forgiveness applications, and requests public comment.

Read the requirements for the Loan Forgiveness Program:  IFR Forgivenss FINAL

May 20, 2020

Explore County-level Coronavirus Impact Planning is a searchable data base offering demographic data snapshots of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in relation to hospital bed counts, population and businesses, and categories of people at risk for COVID-19 in each one of the nation’s counties. By hovering over each statistical icon, users can learn more about the supporting data. COVID-19 related data is updated daily.

The COVID-19 Cases in Appalachia map displays the current number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Appalachia and throughout the United States. Higher numbers of cases are marked by larger dots, while smaller numbers of confirmed cases are represented by smaller dots. By clicking on a location, users can see confirmed COVID-19 cases and any related deaths at the county level. This map is automatically updated throughout the day drawing on data collected by the Johns Hopkins University. Due to frequent changes, it is advised that users refresh their browsers often when viewing the map. As of today, May 21st, at 11:30 am (ET), there were nearly 48,000 cases in 412 Appalachian counties

ARC has notified our current grantees that they may be able to repurpose remaining balances in their ARC grants to support immediate efforts to combat the COVID-19 crisis in their communities. This allowance to repurpose derives from guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on April 9, 2020, which directs the federal government to marshal all legally available federal resources to combat the effects of COVID-19. Requests for repurposing should be discussed initially with the State ARC Program Manager and will require final approval by the State Alternate and the ARC Federal Co-Chair. Grantees should not assume that additional funds will be available should the repurposing result in shortages for the implementation of the originally approved grant.

ARC is carefully and continually monitoring the COVID-19 situation as it is impacting the Appalachian Region. We are assisting grantees who are unable to meet project goals or timelines due to the current situation. If you are a current ARC grantee experiencing such challenges, please email your ARC project coordinator and state program manager as soon as possible for help with needed accommodations regarding your project’s deliverables, timelines, budget, or other operations. (When emailing, please put your ARC project number in the subject line. This will make responding to your request easier).

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

CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls (Tuesdays at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern)

Office Hour Calls provide an opportunity for hospitals, health systems, and providers to ask questions of agency officials regarding CMS’s temporary actions that empower local hospitals and healthcare systems to:

• Increase Hospital Capacity – CMS Hospitals Without Walls;
• Rapidly Expand the Healthcare Workforce;
• Put Patients Over Paperwork; and
• Further Promote Telehealth in Medicare

This week’s Office Hours:

Tuesday, May 26^th at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern

Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 8977438

Audio Webcast link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=a9ce3c3e-f59a1515-a9ce0d01-0cc47a6d17cc-7bec62c1673fbda4&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2012

Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19 (Fridays at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern)

Lessons from the Front Lines calls are a joint effort between CMS Administrator Seema Verma, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Physicians and other clinicians are invited to share their experience, ideas, strategies, and insights with one another related to their COVID-19 response. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters.

This week’s Lessons from the Front Lines:

Friday, May 29^th at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern

Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 877-251-0301; Access Code: 6350189

Web Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=3ac0c382-6695ca52-3ac0f2bd-0cc47a6a52de-24c0c4f34c651fd8&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2075

Weekly COVID-19 Care Site-Specific Calls

CMS hosts weekly calls for certain types of organizations to provide targeted updates on the agency’s latest COVID-19 guidance. One to two leaders in the field also share best practices with their peers. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters if time allows.

Home Health and Hospice (Tuesdays at 3:00 PM Eastern)

Tuesday, May 26^th at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern

Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 4666966 Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=07ba82da-5bef8b0a-07bab3e5-0cc47a6a52de-c3017c992953af61&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=1909

Nursing Homes (Wednesdays at 4:30 PM Eastern)

Wednesday, May 27^th at 4:30 – 5:00 PM Eastern

Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 1243649 Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=1c377fbb-4062766b-1c374e84-0cc47a6a52de-95a2149fa0fbe65d&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2034

Dialysis Organizations (Wednesdays at 5:30 PM Eastern)

Wednesday, May 27^th at 5:30 – 6:00 PM Eastern

Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 6152699 Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=efc05c42-b3955592-efc06d7d-0cc47a6a52de-90f98f30cb504b92&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2123

Nurses (Thursdays at 3:00 PM Eastern)

Thursday, May 28^th at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern

Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 2988422 Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=62ab152d-3eff3c06-62ab2412-0cc47a6d17cc-41a14602bb444499&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2128

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.

Upcoming Calls and Webinars

• Rural Stakeholder Call Invitation from ONDCP: On Tuesday June 2^nd, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy will host a call from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. eastern time for rural stakeholders to provide a comprehensive overview of the policy changes, resources, and funding that have been made available to support rural communities impacted by substance use disorder during this public health emergency. To register, please RSVP to this link:  https://ems9.intellor.com?do=register&t=1&p=901587. For more information, see attached.
• The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and USDA collaborated recently to host a Rural Health and COVID-19 webinar.  You can find the recording, audio transcript, and presentation slides here. The webinar provided an overview of the rural health focused efforts by HHS and USDA and highlighted specific tools and resources to help combat COVID-19.

Funding

• The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs announced that it has awarded more than $83 million to five states and the District of Columbia to address the public safety challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
• Applications Open for $1.5 Billion in EDA CARES Act Funds to Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic – EDA is now accepting applications from eligible grantees for $1.5 billion in economic assistance to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic using funds authorized by under the CARES Act
•  The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced the launch of the COVID Coach app, a new mobile app designed to help both veterans and civilians cope with feelings of stress and anxiety they may be experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The app includes practical tools, information and resources that can all be used from the safety of one’s home to track well-being, mood swings and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), announced a new funding opportunity announcement (FOA) that will award $5 million in fiscal year 2020 to support novel, high-impact studies that evaluate the responsiveness of health care delivery systems, health care professionals, and the overall U.S. health care system to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Delta Leadership Institute Now Accepting Applications for the 2020-2021 Executive Academy The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has launched the application cycle for the 2020-2021 Delta Leadership Institute (DLI) Executive Academy.  Since 2005, DLI has provided leadership development to more than 500 community leaders from diverse backgrounds, sectors, and industries to strengthen skills development, information sharing, regional collaboration, and improve the economic competitiveness and social viability of the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt.
• Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center:  The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) supports a national Training and Technical Assistance effort designed to enhance and promote continuous best practices and quality improvement of services for youth and families served by FYSB funded runaway and homeless youth grantees.  FYSB expects to award one cooperative agreement to enhance the programmatic and administrative capacities of public and private agencies to provide services to the targeted populations.  Closing date June 26, 2020
• INFINITE HERO FOUNDATION provides grants of up to $100,000 to nonprofit organizations offering innovative and effective programs or treatments to active duty service members, veterans, and/or military families for service-related mental and physical injuries. Grants must be applied directly to program costs and cannot be used for fundraising or administrative overhead. Deadlines: July 1, 2020 (letters of interest); invited grant applications must be submitted by Sep. 15, 2020.
• AMERICAN LEGION CHILD WELFARE FOUNDATION provides nonprofit organizations with a means to educate the public about the needs of children across the United States. The Foundation supports organizations that contribute to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual welfare of children through the dissemination of information about new and innovative programs designed to benefit youth, or through the dissemination of information already possessed by well-established organizations. Grant requests should have the potential to help American children in a broad geographic area (more than one state). Closing date July 15, 2020
• FCC High Speed Broadband/Rural Opportunity Fund: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designed the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to bring high speed fixed broadband service to rural homes and small businesses that lack access.  The first phase of the FCC reverse auction will target over six million homes and businesses in census blocks that are entirely unserved by voice and broadband with download speeds of at least 25 Mbps. Closing date October 22, 2020

Articles

• Op-Ed by Jim Carroll Director of National Drug Control Policy: Taking action to protect rural Americans struggling with addiction during COVID-19 in Agri-Pulse Communications
• Real-World Responses in Real Time: Helping Rural Schools Navigate Rising Mental Health Needs due to COVID-19 by Dept. of Education’s Research Center, Institute of Education Sciences (IES).

Reminders

• CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern); 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.  Calls recordings and transcripts are posted on the CMS podcast page.
•  Mental Health in a Time of COVID-19 Webinar Series: Part 3: Task-Shifting To Address Increasing Challenges Tues., May 26^th, 12:00 ET, Register here “Task-shifting” is a term used to describe when non-mental health professionals are trained to use specific skills when addressing mental health concerns. With the expected increase of mental health challenges related to COVID-19, our third webinar in this series will highlight faith-based and community groups that are using online training and resources to develop mental health skills in their leaders.