The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing examining the federal COVID-19 response. Witnesses Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Dr. Janet Woodcock and Dawn O’Connell testified on behalf the NIAID, NIH, CDC, FDA, and HHS. The hearing focused on clarification of new guidance and guidelines for COVID-19 exposure and isolation. HELP Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) is working on putting together another small, targeted public health package to address issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and help prepare the public for the next public health emergency.
Biden Administration to Distribute Free, At-Home Rapid COVID-19 Tests
President Biden announced that, starting January 19th, the Administration will begin distributing at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests to American homes for free at COVIDTests.gov. This program will ensure that Americans have at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests available in the weeks and months ahead—in addition to the number of other ways they can get tested. The Administration is quickly completing a contracting process for the unprecedented purchase of one billion at-home, rapid tests to distribute as part of this program. You can find more details below about how to order an at-home test, and we encourage you to share this information broadly with your communities.
- Ordering Process: Starting on January 19, Americans will be able to order a test online at COVIDTests.gov. To ensure broad access, the program will limit the number of tests sent to each residential address to four tests. Tests will usually ship within 7-12 days of ordering.
- Distribution and Delivery Process: The Administration will partner with the United States Postal Service to package and deliver tests to Americans that want them. All orders in the continental United States will be sent through First Class Package Service, with shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. Territories and APO/FPO/DPO addresses sent through Priority Mail.
Ensuring Equity and Reaching Hardest-Hit Communities: The Administration is taking a number of steps to ensure this program reaches our hardest-hit and highest-risk communities. This includes prioritizing processing orders to households experiencing the highest social vulnerability and in communities that have experienced a disproportionate share of COVID-19 cases and deaths, particularly during this Omicron surge; launching a free call line, so that Americans who have difficulty accessing the internet or need additional support can phone-in orders for their tests; and, working with national and local organizations with deep experience serving communities of color, people living with disabilities, and other high-risk communities to serve as navigators, raise awareness about the program, and help people submit requests.
CDC Launches New Health Equity in Cancer Website
The new Health Equity in Cancer website features CDC’s health equity work in cancer prevention and control. The site also focuses on disadvantages some groups of people face in preventing cancer. Health equity in cancer is when everyone has an equal opportunity to prevent cancer, find it early, and get good treatment and follow-up after treatment is completed.
CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program is a champion for health equity. Its purpose is to support access to screening for people who are medically underserved and have low incomes.
NEW: Accessibility for People with Limited English Proficiency
Many public health agencies and healthcare systems use websites and other digital platforms (e.g., social media, videos, podcasts) to provide information and services to the public. Limited English proficiency should not prevent people from accessing these resources.
Improving Access to Public Websites and Digital Services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Persons is a new and valuable publication filled with best practices that can help you break down digital barriers for people whose primary language is not English. The publication also shows examples of websites, site navigation patterns, language selectors, and more. Use this resource to ensure that people with LEP can access your information and services.
Pennsylvanians Encouraged to Test for Radon
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Executive Deputy Secretary Ramez Ziadeh and Pennsylvania Second Lady Gisele Fetterman encouraged Pennsylvanians to test their homes for radon as part of National Radon Action Month.
Check out the press release here: https://filesource.wostreaming.net/commonwealthofpa/press_releases/20375_dep_radonAction2_release.pdf
In Pennsylvania: LGBTQ+ Cancer Screening Disaparities
According to the 2020 Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ Health Needs Assessment, many LGBTQ+ individuals never receive proper cancer screening services. For example, compared to the general population, LGBTQ+ individuals eligible for pap smears were more than 3 times as likely to never have one. A resource that is available to address this need is the PA Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (PA-BCCEDP), a program that provides free breast and cervical cancer screening to those who qualify including Pap tests, HPV tests, mammograms, and follow-up diagnostics for abnormal screening results. Clients must have income less than 250% of the federal poverty income guidelines, be uninsured or underinsured (high co-pays or deductibles) and live in Pennsylvania.
The age range for breast services is 40-64 and cervical services is 21-64. Younger high-risk clients may also be eligible. Transgender individuals may also be eligible. PA-BCCEDP does not cover the costs of HPV vaccines; however, the HPV vaccine is cervical cancer prevention. The vaccine is nearly 100% effective in preventing HPV-related cancers; it is recommended for ages 11-12 and is available for people up to 45 with clinician recommendation. Free HPV vaccines may be available for up to age 18 through the Pennsylvania Vaccines for Children Program. For more information regarding LGBTQ+ populations and cancer planning, please visit the National LGBT Cancer Network website.
Health Plans Can No Longer Impose Cost Sharing for Follow-up Colonoscopy
The policy loophole that allowed patients to be charged for colonoscopy following a positive non-colonoscopy screening text has been plugged. On January 10, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Treasury issued FAQs regarding coverage of colonoscopies pursuant to USPSTF recommendations. The FAQ specifies that plans are required to cover without cost-sharing, a follow-up colonoscopy performed to evaluate a positive non-invasive stool-based screening test or direct visualization test. Plans and issuers must provide coverage without cost sharing for plan or policy years beginning on or after May 31, 2022.
There are some limitations, to find out more visit View the FAQs (see questions seven and eight on pages 11-12). You can also visit the American Cancer Society’s CAN press release to learn more at: New Guidance from Administration Helps Ensure Coverage for Follow-up Colonoscopies, Will Save Lives from Colon Cancer.
Rural Hospitals that Closed between 2017‐20: Profitability and Liquidity in the Year Before Closure
Researchers at the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center used data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Healthcare Cost Report Information System to compare the pre-closure profitability of rural hospitals that closed between 2017 and 2020 with the performance of rural hospitals that remained open.
Click here to read the results of the analysis: Rural Hospitals that Closed between 2017‐20: Profitability and Liquidity in the Year Before Closure
New Research Brief: The High Performing Rural Health System
This brief presents the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Health Panel’s vision for a high-performing rural health system and specific pillars of such a system. The RUPRI Health Panel envisions rural health services that are affordable and accessible for all rural residents through a sustainable health system that delivers high quality, high value services. A high-performing rural health system informed by the needs of each unique rural community and population groups will improve community health and well-being.
Click here to access the brief: High Performing Rural Health System.
Updated Materials Available – Visiting Nursing Homes During Omicron Surge
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated our Nursing Home Resource Center with two new informational products.
As of January 6, 2022, the Nursing Home Visitation FAQs have been updated to provide additional guidance about visitation during the Omicron surge. CMS has also created an infographic to graphically represent how to safely conduct visits to nursing homes during this time of spiking COVID cases around the country. These two new resources are available for nursing home providers, patients, caregivers, and CMS partners to stay informed about CMS’ latest thinking for keeping nursing homes safe in the current COVID climate.
USDA Seeks Applications to Improve Rural Transportation Systems
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is accepting applications to enhance the operation of rural transportation systems. These investments in rural transportation build opportunity and prosperity for the people who live in rural communities by connecting them to economic resources they may not otherwise be able to access.
The grants are part of the Rural Business Development program https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-business-development-grants. Eligible applicants are qualified national organizations seeking to provide rural communities with training and technical assistance to improve passenger transportation services and facilities. USDA does not provide funding directly to individuals under this program.
USDA is offering priority points to projects that advance key priorities under the Biden-Harris Administration to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, advance equity and combat climate change. These extra points will increase the likelihood of funding for projects seeking to address these critical challenges in rural America.
Applications will be scored, reviewed, and selected on a competitive basis. Applications must be submitted to the applicant’s nearest USDA office by April 14, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. local time.