Updated regularly, the site provides access to demographic and economic data that may be useful in decision-making, including state and local data on at-risk populations, poverty, health insurance coverage, and employment.
COVID-19 Child Welfare and Related Health Resources
The Children’s Bureau at the Administration for Children and Families provides resources for foster care providers and the child welfare workforce in response to the COVID-19 emergency. The page includes a list of state and national resources.
CRS Report on Health Care Provisions in Coronavirus Response Act
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) provides an overview of the healthcare-related provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report focuses on coverage of COVID-19 testing and related items for individuals covered by Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE, Veterans healthcare, the IHS, and most private plans. The report also includes a discussion of changes to Medicare coverage of telehealth services.
Comments Requested: Perspectives on Pain and Pain Management
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asks the public to provide feedback on pain and pain management, including but not limited to: the benefits and harms of opioid use, from patients with acute or chronic pain, patients’ family members and/or caregivers, and health care providers who care for patients with pain or conditions that can complicate pain management (e.g., opioid use disorder or overdose). CDC will use these comments to inform its understanding of stakeholders’ values and preferences related to pain and pain management options.
Comments are due on June 16, 2020 and can be submitted here.
Comments Requested: CDC Data Collection for COVID-19 Response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seeks comments from the public on two modules being added to the National Healthcare Safety Network, which is used to track healthcare-associated infections. The new modules will be used to capture the daily, aggregate impact of COVID-19 facilities and to monitor medical capacity to respond at local, state, and national levels.
Comments are due on June 16, 2020 and can be submitted here.
CDC: Reports to National Poison Data Center Related to COVID-19
In its most recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an increase in chemical exposures related to cleaners and disinfectants for the period January-March 2020. Last week, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced $5 million to support Poison Control Centers.
Read the report here.
HHS Launches New COVID-19 Workforce Toolkit
On April 22, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response (ASPR) released a new toolkit to help state and local healthcare decision makers maximize workforce flexibilities when confronting COVID-19 in their communities. The toolkit contains a number of “Resource Collections” on topics that have been of particular interest to rural providers including scope of practice expansions, licensure, EMS resources, and volunteer workforce needs, among other workforce and training resources.
HHS Launches COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), launched a new COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal, allowing health care providers who have conducted COVID-19 testing or provided treatment for uninsured COVID-19 individuals on or after February 4, 2020 to submit claims for reimbursement. Providers can access the portal at COVIDUninsuredClaim.HRSA.gov.
Rural Development Community Facilities and Distance Learning Resources
Rural Development (RD) provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas.
Select upcoming RD deadlines:
- Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program – Application Deadline: July 13.
- Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant – Electronic Application Deadline: April 30, 2020 via grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: May 5, 2020.
- Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant: Supplemental 2019 Disaster Relief Act Funding: Deadline: April 30, 2020 via grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: May 5, 2020.
Pennsylvania Governor’s Administration Expands Food Recovery Infrastructure Grants to Help the Charitable Food System
Governor Wolf’s administration is making immediate changes to the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant Program to help ensure food banks are adequately supplied to meet the needs of Pennsylvania residents.
Increased demand on the charitable food system related to COVID-19 has demonstrated an immediate need for resources to support additional cold storage space, and more flexibility and changes to this grant program. The changes also encourage partnerships between nonprofit organizations such as food banks and farms, processors and cooperatives that continue to experience challenges within the food supply chain as a result of the COVID-19 emergency.
Changes to the grant solicitation process include:
- Closing the round of grant eligibility on May 8 to review applications and deliver awards as soon as possible;
- Expanding the list of potential partners beyond retailers and wholesalers to also include farms, processors and cooperatives; and
- Removing pre-application meeting requirements to expedite applications.
To apply, the applicant must describe its current food recovery operation and explain how the food infrastructure equipment will enhance its current program. The organization must also provide a description of the proposed program and provide what food retailers, wholesalers, farms, processors and cooperatives will be partners for the project. Additionally, the organization must provide a description of how the program will be operated by staff and or volunteers.
The deadline to apply is Friday, May 8. Learn how to apply for the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant Program.