On June 8, 2020, HHS posted additional FAQs.  One set provides additional/updated data on the number of COVID-19 cases for the period of January 1, 2020 through June 10, 2020 (see pages 27-28).  HHS is preparing for a second distribution for High Impact Area funding and is seeking updated data.  The data must be input into the portal no later than 9:00 PM Eastern Time on Monday June 15, 2020.  The FAQ document can be accessed at www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/…

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced that his administration launched an enhanced dashboard to pull Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 data and information together to inform Pennsylvanians. The dashboard further enhances data on demographics of cases, demographics of deaths and the reopening status.

The dashboard includes eight different tabs:

• Pennsylvania case data;
• County data – with a dropdown menu for specific counties;
• Case data by ZIP code;
• Hospital preparedness information;
• Case demographic information, including cases by gender, ethnicity, age and race;
• Death demographic information, including deaths by gender, ethnicity, race, age and deaths by place;
• Testing information; and
• Reopening status information.

This dashboard complements the county dashboard, available here, to provide the most up-to-date data available.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced a $225 million statewide grant program to support small businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis and subsequent business closure order.

The funding was developed in partnership with state lawmakers and allocated through the recently enacted state budget, which included $2.6 billion in federal stimulus funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, of which $225 million was earmarked for relief for small businesses.

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) will distribute the funds to the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which will then administer the funding in the form of grants.

Eligible businesses will be able to use the grants to cover operating expenses during the shutdown and transition to re-opening, and for technical assistance including training and guidance for business owners as they stabilize and relaunch their businesses.

The funds will be available through three programs:

• $100 million for the Main Street Business Revitalization Program for small businesses that experienced loss as a result of the governor’s March 19, 2020 order relating to the closure of all non-life-sustaining businesses and have or will incur costs to adapt to new business operations related to COVID-19;
• $100 million for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Revitalization Program for small businesses that experienced loss as a result of the business closure order, have or will incur costs to adapt to new business operations related to COVID-19, and in which socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51 percent interest and also control management and daily business operations.
• $25 million for the Loan Payment Deferment and Loss Reserve Program, which will allow the CDFIs the opportunity to offer forbearance and payment relief for existing portfolio businesses that are struggling due to the impact of COVID, as well as shore up the financial position of the CDFIs that are experiencing significant increased defaults in their existing loan portfolios.

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, June 9^th at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern

Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 4892554

Audio Webcast link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=6b9f9bee-37cbb2c5-6b9faad1-0cc47a6d17cc-71d1a27a3efd1e66&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2171

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, June 9^th at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern

Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 7359947 Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=00232b73-5c770258-00231a4c-0cc47a6d17cc-31afca23fe25ca11&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2160

Nursing Homes (Wednesdays at 4:30 PM Eastern)

Wednesday, June 10^th at 4:30 – 5:00 PM Eastern

Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 9782909 Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=9b60f2d6-c735fbc5-9b60c3e9-0cc47adb5650-5cc8b6ca21a0bb55&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2215

Dialysis Organizations (Wednesdays at 5:30 PM Eastern)

Wednesday, June 10^th at 5:30 – 6:00 PM Eastern

Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 6553907 Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=cb8280fa-97d69986-cb82b1c5-0cc47adc5fa2-2ac51b79b83598dd&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2225

Nurses (Thursdays at 3:00 PM Eastern)

Thursday, June 11^th at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern

Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 2863547 Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=842afbda-d87ff2c9-842acae5-0cc47adb5650-f3419d0fb8afb1c7&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2231

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.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented event that has impacted every part of the globe. All Pennsylvanians – businesses, communities, neighbors – have been affected and the Commonwealth has responded aggressively to the spread of COVID-19.

As stabilization starts to occur, Pennsylvania plans to proceed with returning to work cautiously. On April 22, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced his detailed plan for reopening Pennsylvania, categorizing the reopening with three phrases: red, yellow, and green. Phases are based on the conditions in the county, counties, or regions.

The guidance needed for businesses located in green phase counties is provided below.

Green Phase
As regions or counties move into the green phase, most restrictions will be eased, AND THE stay at home and business closure orders WILL REMAIN SUSPENDED to allow PA’s economy to strategically reopen while continuing to prioritize public health.

Work & Congregate Setting Restrictions

• Telework strongly encouraged
• In-person business operations must follow the COVID-19 Business Guidance
• All businesses operating at 50% occupancy in the yellow phase may increase to 75% occupancy
• Child care may open complying with guidance
• Congregate care restrictions in place
• Prison and hospital restrictions determined by individual facilities
• Schools subject to CDC and Commonwealth guidance

Social Restrictions

• Large gatherings of more than 250 prohibited
• Restaurants and bars open at 50% occupancy with continued implementation of the Restaurant Industry Guidance
• Personal care services (including hair salons and barbershops) open at 50% occupancy by appointment only
• Indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities, and personal care services (such as gyms and spas) open at 50% occupancy with appointments strongly encouraged
• All entertainment (such as casinos, theaters, and shopping malls) open at 50% occupancy
• Construction activity may return to full capacity with continued implementation of the Construction Guidance

Requirements for COVID-19 Safety Communication

Businesses conducting in-person operations or serving the public are required to make employees and customers aware of the guidance provided by the Commonwealth to keep people at their establishment safe. Businesses must print, sign and post the “COVID-19 Safety Procedures for Businesses” flyer and post it on their premises in employee common spaces and near the business’s public entrance(s).

The flyer is available in English or Spanish and larger sizes can be found on the DCED website.

PPE & Supplies Directory

As businesses reopen, it is imperative they equip their employees with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and keep their workers and customers safe.

If your business needs PPE, visit the COVID-19 PPE & Supplies Business-2-Business (B2B) Interchange Directory to connect with manufacturers that have masks, thermometers, hand sanitizer, face shields, medical gowns, and cleaning disinfectants available.

Questions?
For any questions, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development at 1.866.466.3972 or stay up-to-date with COVID-19 information by visiting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Responding to COVID-19 Guide

On behalf of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin announced that 133 companies have been approved for funding in the final disbursement of the COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program (CWCA). The latest cohort of businesses to receive funding includes chiropractors, restaurants, breweries and wineries, salons, fitness facilities. Over the course of the program, nearly $61 million was awarded to businesses across Pennsylvania.

In total, 745 businesses were approved for loans totaling $60,722,641.

A list of approved projects can be found on the website. New projects are highlighted in yellow.

DCED continues to update its website with financial and other resources.

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) has awarded over $11.2 million to 15 recipients for the 2020-2025 Black Lung Clinics Program (BLCP).  The purpose of this program is to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with occupationally-related coal mine dust lung disease through the provision of quality medical, outreach, educational, and benefits counseling services for active, inactive, retired, and disabled US coal miners.  In an effort to address current disease trends, the program includes an emphasis on Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis & Progressive Massive Fibrosis.

Additionally, one cooperative agreement has been awarded to the University of Illinois at Chicago for the Black Lung Data and Resource Center (BLDRC).  The purpose of this program is to strengthen the operations of BLCP recipients through programmatic assistance and improved data collection and analysis related to the health status and needs of U.S. coal miners.

Becker’s Hospital Review

The number of CMS beneficiaries has grown from 12,000 weekly telehealth visits to “well into six figures” during the pandemic, and both President Donald Trump and CMS Administrator Seema Verma aim to continue those benefits.

Kellyanne Conway, assistant to the president and senior counselor, and Ms. Verma spoke at a recent news teleconference and discussed, among other topics, their efforts regarding telehealth. During the pandemic, CMS has expanded access to telehealth visits so all beneficiaries are covered for audio and video visits during the pandemic. The agency also updated coverage rates to pay the same rate as in-person visits for the duration of the crisis. Previously, telehealth visits had lower reimbursement rates.

Ms. Conway said that the president would like telehealth access to continue “long after the virus is completely vanquished.”  Ms. Verma echoed that sentiment, saying that the president “has made it clear that he wants to explore extending telehealth benefits more widely.”  She also said that the administration had made strides toward expanding access to telehealth before the pandemic.

“We had increased the amount of services that qualify for telehealth and even provided small, kind of, short visits over the phone or through Skype, even before the coronavirus,” she said. “So we’re looking at all of the waivers that we provided. We’re evaluating them to determine whether they should be extended past the coronavirus.”  She also said that the agency is in the process of rulemaking and she expected some provisions that had been extended during the pandemic temporarily to become permanent.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new Guidance that specifies what additional data must be reported to HHS by laboratories along with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) test results. The Guidance standardizes reporting to ensure that public health officials have access to comprehensive and nearly real-time data to inform decision making in their response to COVID-19. As the country begins to reopen, access to clear and accurate data is essential to communities and leadership for making decisions critical to a phased reopening.

Full press release