In addition to the June 2020 report, MACPAC also recently published a catalog providing high level, state-specific information on telehealth policy changes during the COVID-19 pandemic pertaining to services and specialties, providers, modalities, originating site and licensure rules, and payment. Read more here.

On June 12, CMS added a new item to its list of emergency declaration waivers that provide the health care community with the flexibilities needed to care for patients during the COVID-19 public health emergency.  In the latest update, CMS is waiving the July 1 submission deadline for new Medicare GME affiliation agreements and the June 30 deadline for amendments of existing Medicare GME affiliation agreements (page 9). Find more information here. For information on rural graduate medical education more broadly, HRSA-funded resources are available from RuralGME.org.

HHS recently published a one-page summary document providing general information on the different Provider Relief Fund distributions. This includes a timeline of funding along with information on eligibility and formulas used to make distributions. Read more here.

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assessed the impact of the pandemic on pediatric vaccinations and found a noticeable decline beginning in the week after the national emergency declaration.  To help remind parents and caregivers of the need to protect children from preventable disease such as measles, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will be releasing social media messages with the hashtag #WellChildWednesdays.  Messages will address well visits, immunizations, adolescent and young adult care, and nutrition, safety, and mental health as topics to be discussed with pediatric providers.

Cases of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual exploitation in the time of COVID-19 appear to have risen in emergency rooms and health clinics across the country since March. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has published a 4-page document entitled Intimate Partner Violence and Child Abuse Considerations During COVID-19 with hyperlinks to relevant SAMHSA and non-SAMHSA resources.  If you would like to view the HRSA webinar on this subject, access the recording by registering with this link. This will redirect you to the recording where you can watch the full session and download the slide presentation and resources shared. For audio replay, please use the line 866-360-7719, with passcode 52020. Read more here.

As of Tuesday, the death toll in the U.S. from the coronavirus surpassed 116,700, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, a count roughly 200 more than the 116,516 U.S. service members who died in World War I, according to Department of Veterans Affairs data. Deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. had already topped all U.S. deaths from every war since the 1950 start of the Korean War. And deaths from COVID-19 already surpassed those from the 1968 pandemic, which claimed 100,000 lives.

On June 2, the Department of Health and Human Services released an FAQ that defines the types of expenses that are considered “attributable to the coronavirus,” and therefore an allowable use of Provider Relief Fund (PRF) funding. In addition to standard types of expenses (e.g., supplies, equipment, training, payroll), PRF funds may be used for: rent or mortgage payments; lease payments on equipment and “acquiring additional resources, including facilities, equipment, supplies, healthcare practices, staffing and technology to expand or preserve care delivery.” Allowable expenses must have been incurred after January 1, 2020, but there is currently no end date on such expenses. Read the PRF FAQs.

The 2020 Uniform Data System (UDS) Manual provides health centers with detailed instructions to complete all of the required data tables related to patients, operations and clinical performance. The 2020 UDS data reporting period for Health Center Program awardees and look-alikes will be open from Jan. 1 through Feb. 15, 2021. Key reporting changes include:

• Addition of HIV screening measure (CMS349v2)
• Addition of prescription for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 codes and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes
• Revision of Appendix D to capture information on prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and social determinants of health
• Inclusion of COVID-19 ICD-10 and CPT clinical codes, as well as codes for acute respiratory illness due to COVID-19

See Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2020-04 for a complete overview of approved CY 2020 UDS changes. Also available is the 2020 Uniform Data System (UDS) Reporting Changes TA Webinar Presentation and On Demand Recording.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), signed into law on March 27, provided for payments of up to $1,200 for every adult and $500 per dependent child. This stimulus payment does not count as income for Medicaid/CHIP or Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) determinations. It should also not be reported on any application for assistance. Some other points to keep in mind:

• Regular unemployment is always counted as income.
• The extension of unemployment of up to 39 weeks and the expansion of unemployment to new populations is counted as income.
• The additional $600/week supplemental unemployment benefit ends July 31, 2020; this benefit does not count toward Medicaid/CHIP but DOES COUNT toward income for Marketplace Coverage and APTC eligibility.

While the Federal government has not issued a special enrollment period or opened the Marketplace due to the pandemic, consumers who have lost coverage may qualify for a special enrollment period. See the Special Enrollment Period Reference Guide for more information.

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced a partnership with General Healthcare Resources to assist with the COVID-19 response. General Healthcare Resources will be deploying onsite assessment teams to assist with infection control practices, staffing and PPE training needs. The team will also assist with specimen collection and urgent staffing needs. The Department of Health (DOH) will be funding the 41 individuals who will be deployed for one year. In addition to General Healthcare Resource’s support, DOH has also been working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Since May 20, HHS assessment and action teams have been providing onsite support and training to long-term care facilities in the commonwealth.