On December 11, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID‑19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 for individuals 16 years of age and older. Review Pfizer’s Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) regarding the limitations of authorized use.

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), Medicare will cover and pay for the administration of the vaccine (when furnished consistent with the EUA). Review our updated payment and HCPCS Level I CPT code structure for specific COVID-19 vaccine information. Only bill for the vaccine administration codes when you submit claims to Medicare; don’t include the vaccine product codes when vaccines are free.

Related links:

• CMS COVID-19 Provider Toolkit
• CMS COVID-19 FAQs
• CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Toolkit for medical centers, clinics, and clinicians
• FDA COVID-19 Vaccines webpage

NRHA highlighted the fantastic work by a group of bipartisan Senators led by Senators Manchin (D-WV), Collins (R-ME), Cassidy (R-LA), Murkowski (R-AK) and others to work toward a COVID-19 relief package. The framework of this package was made public. Included in the framework was a 20 percent carveout for rural providers in new Provider Relief Fund (PRF) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Telehealth Program funding. Additionally, the framework provides updated language on PRF use requirements, so it is more provider friendly. Further, the framework includes a one-year extension of current telehealth flexibilities.

On December 7, 2020, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) disbursed $9.3 million to support COVID-19 testing at Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). HRSA used updated data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify 188 previously unsupported RHCs and calculate more than $49,000 per site for the December 2020 payment. The terms and conditions for recipients of this round of funding remain the same as those for RHCs previously funded in May 2020. Recently posted Frequently Asked Questions about the program provide more details. 

On Monday, HHS released new hospital COVID-19 capacity data at the facility level. Previously released data about hospital capacity that had been released was aggregated at the state level. This new, more granular, data release aggregates daily hospital reports into a “week at a time” picture to protect patient privacy, while providing a view of how COVID-19 is impacting hospitals and local communities across the country.

On Dec. 15 at 12:00 pm, Life Unites Us will host a webinar to educate participants on new ways to treat patients struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD) during the pandemic. Attendees will hear from experts in the recovery community who will share their experiences of how they are navigating these unique challenges. Register here.

To assist providers in maximizing protection for their patients, the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) in collaboration with Seqirus, has updated the 65+ Flu Defense website. This helpful site includes information, tools and tips for communicating with adults, 65+, about the scope and severity of influenza. A new handout on the site, The Importance of Preventing Influenza during a Pandemic, offers responses to help guide discussions with patients on the increased importance of flu vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Modern Healthcare reported on Dec. 3, 2020, that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) authorized healthcare practitioners to provide telehealth services like COVID-19 diagnostic testing and other countermeasures across state lines for the duration of the public health emergency. HHS also made it easier for providers to get immunity from liability for COVID-related medical countermeasures.

As of this moment, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2020. Considering the tense atmosphere in Washington D.C., renewal of FFCRA is not guaranteed. However, in these last weeks of 2020, it’s important to remember that FFCRA regulations were revised in mid-September due to a U.S. District Court decision. The U.S. Department of Labor regulations revised the definition of “healthcare provider” to “include only employees who meet the definition of that term under the Family and Medical Leave Act regulations or who are employed to provide diagnostic services, preventative services, treatment services, or other services that are integrated with and necessary to the provision of patient care which, if not provided, would adversely impact patient care.” Roles such at IT, HR, billing and maintenance may affect the provision of patient care, but they are not integrated with patient care. For more information, contact Andrea Wandling, Manager, PACHC Member Relations and Human Resources or Judd Mellinger-Blouch, Director of Pennsylvania Primary Care Career Center.