Q-Sights Key Insights – Volume 33
1/18/20220 – 1/22/2020
Here are the key topics you need to know about COVID-19 this week. To help you stay abreast of the latest COVID-19 news, guidelines and best practices from Federal, State, National Health Agencies and QHR Health, visit the QHR Health COVID-19 Online Resource Center.
Supply Chain and Pharmacy
- Please continue to monitor the HealthTrust COVID-19 Resource Center for the latest information on supply chain and pharmacy, treatments, vaccines, instructions, training webinars, and much more.
Clinical Care
FDA Statement on Following the Authorized Dosing Schedules for COVID-19 Vaccines
- The FDA has issued an official statement urging the healthcare professionals administering vaccines to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for dosing and schedules.
- The FDA has been following the discussions and news reports about reducing the number of doses, extending the length of time between doses, changing the dose (half-dose), or mixing and matching vaccines to immunize more people against COVID-19. While the FDA states that these are all reasonable questions to consider, they need to be evaluated in clinical trials.
CMS Policy Memorandum
- In response to the continued Public Health Emergency (PHE) of COVID-19, CMS released a policy memorandum concerning hospital accreditation surveys on January 20, 2021. To ensure quality of care oversight, while providing hospitals the ability to focus on serving their patients and communities, CMS is issuing the following hospital survey limitations in effect for thirty (30) days from the date of this issuance (with potential for 30-day renewals following additional notice):
- Hospital Complaint Surveys will be restricted to immediate jeopardy complaint allegation.
- Hospital Recertification Surveys will be suspended, except for a subset of hospital reaccreditation surveys, per additional guidance that will be forthcoming. Hospitals due to receive a recertification or reaccreditation survey will have their certification automatically extended for at least 30 days.
- Hospital Enforcement Actions for deficiencies that do not represent Immediate Jeopardy will have their termination date extended for at least 30 days.
- This policy memorandum also outlines expectations for states to contact their CMS Survey Operations Group location when their hospitals implement Crisis Standards of Care.
Finance/Reimbursement/FEMA
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services delays reporting deadline for Provider Relief Funds.
- HHS delaying publication of reporting instructions and forms.
- HHS is incorporating new provisions within the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
- Policy guidance published by HHS on January 15, 2021, appears to provide additional clarity on lost revenue determinations and COVID-19 expenses.
- Small Business Administration reopens Paycheck Protection Program.
- Interim final rules published by SBA. Visit the SBA website for fact sheets, applications, etc.
- Generally, Paycheck Protection Program II follows Paycheck Protection Program I eligibility requirements, with the following notable exceptions:
- Hospital cannot have more than 300 employees.
- Revenues must have decreased by 25% for at least one quarter in 2020.
- Eligible qualified expenditures of the Paycheck Protection Program now include protective equipment and other items related to COVID-19 prevention and preparation.
Visit the QHR Health COVID-19 Online Resource Center site as often as you’d like as we are providing live news feeds from the CDC and CMS to keep all of us updated on the latest news. There is also a document library link located in the bottom right-hand corner of the page where information is being organized by subject categories.
If you need assistance, please reach out to your QHR Health representative.