State Associations Submit Requests Regarding COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
HHS
HHS Renews COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra has again issued the renewal of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) due to the continued consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The renewal became effective on October 18, 2021 and will extend the PHE into early 2022. This PHE status enables the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to keep all applicable waivers in place.
HHS Amends PREP Act for Administration of COVID-19 Vaccinations
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced an amendment to the Public Readiness and Preparedness Act (PREP), which will allow for those providers whose license has expired within the last five years or who have recently retired to prescribe, dispense, and administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Retired providers or those whose license has expired within the last five years will be required to complete a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-administered COVID-19 vaccine training and will be required to undergo an on-site vaccination supervision period by a currently practicing provider. HHS is hopeful that this expansion of the health-care workforce who can administer the vaccines will assist in ramping up vaccination efforts once vaccine supply is more widely available.
HHS Announces Intention to Extend PHE Declaration Through 2021
In a letter to United States governors, Acting Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Norris Cochran announced their intention to keep the public health emergency (PHE) declaration throughout 2021. States will be provided with a 60-day notice before the declaration is terminated or expires to allow stakeholders time to transition. Additionally, HHS has indicated renewals will be announced every 90 days.
HHS Proposes Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule
HHS Releases Updated FAQs For Provider Relief Fund
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released updated Provider Relief Fund Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for phase 3 of the general distribution of provider funds. The document includes updated questions and answers. It also includes information on corrections of data entered by recipients after application submission, use of funds for salaries and employment compensation, reporting the calculation of lost revenues attributable to COVID-19, and defining the term “health care related expenses.”
Major Senior, Health Advocates Endorse Governor Wolf’s Unified Department of Health and Human Services
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