In an April 19 Lancaster Online op ed, Alisa Jones, CEO of Lancaster Health Center ,  asserts that an effective response to the COVID-19 crisis requires the public health approach of both testing and contact tracing. Citing the World Health Organization definition of contact tracing as “the systematic approach to identifying positive cases, connecting with individuals who had contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19 and regular follow-up with those contacts to monitor for symptoms,” the article shares LCH’s experience using this approach. Ms. Jones asserts, “Widespread testing and contact tracing are how we flatten the curve of COVID-19 infection and return our community to a semblance of normalcy.” Read more.

Congress is not expected back until May but is already discussing a fourth stimulus package to assist healthcare providers and others with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. NACHC is asking $73.2 billion for health centers, including $7.6 billion in emergency funding to assist with the impact of COVID-19 and $41.9 billion over five years for Health Center Program Fund reauthorization.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) released PA-HAN-499 with guidance for making decisions about return to work for healthcare personnel with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. This guidance replaces PA-HAN-489. Decisions about return to work should also be made in the context of local circumstances. Options include a test-based strategy or a non-test-based strategy. If healthcare personnel must return to work before meeting criteria, they should ideally perform non-direct care or direct care for persons confirmed to have COVID-19. Click here for all the 2020 health alerts, advisories and updates.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides daily updates and guidance. New this week is a breakdown of factors that influence racial and ethnic minority group health.  Another page updated daily has demographic characteristics of known cases in the U.S.  A CDC site for rural-specific information will have a recording of yesterday’s Coronavirus update for rural stakeholders and communities, along with an archive of previous calls.  CDC also does regular clinical calls for public health emergencies, called Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA).

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has expedited its process to release emergency grants to strengthen access to treatments for substance use disorders and serious mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. SAMHSA has also updated its list of Frequently Asked Questions about provision of methadone and buprenorphine for treatment of opioid use disorder during the emergency.

Through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) will administer grants to boost programs that deliver meals, ensure safe transitions home following hospitalizations, and provide other essential services to older Americans and Americans with disabilities during this challenging time.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded nearly $165 million to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in rural communities. These investments will support 1,779 small rural hospitals and provide additional funding to 14 HRSA-funded Telehealth Resource Centers (TRCs) to provide technical assistance on telehealth to help rural and underserved areas combat COVID-19.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides a sample telehealth consent form and guidance for health care providers to use with patients.

Click here to access the form.

 On April 19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new recommendations specifically targeted to communities that are in Phase 1 of the Guidelines for Opening Up America Again with low incidence or relatively low and stable incidence of COVID-19 cases. The recommendations update earlier guidance provided by CMS on limiting non-essential surgeries and medical procedures. The new CMS guidelines recommend a gradual transition and encourage health care providers to coordinate with local and state public health officials, and to review the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies, workforce availability, facility readiness, and testing capacity when making the decision to re-start or increase in-person care.