- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will exempt all Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)-eligible clinicians (EC) from the nine percent negative payment adjustment for the 2020 reporting year (2022 payment year). CMS explains the new extreme uncontrollable circumstances (EUC) policy in its QPP COVID-19 Response Fact Sheet.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated many of its guidances including Steps Healthcare Facilities Can Take Now to Prepare for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.
- The FDA could issue an emergency use authorization for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as early as Saturday. Ahead of an anticipated FDA approval for its vaccine, Johnson & Johnson will have between 3 and 4 million doses ready to ship next week.
- Both Pfizer and Moderna outlined plans to test booster doses of their vaccines to address new variants of COVID-19. The FDA will allow Pfizer’s vaccine to be stored at temperatures that most medical refrigerators can handle.
- Novavax expects to have enough clinical trial data for its COVID-19 vaccine to submit to the FDA by early April.
Congress
- On Friday, the House of Representatives plans to vote on the budget reconciliation bill that will provide $1.9 trillion in new COVID-19 relief.
- Executives from pharmaceutical companies developing and producing COVID-19 vaccines told Congress that a significant increase in vaccine supply is coming soon.
White House and Federal Agencies
- President Biden announced the Small Business Administration (SBA) will make some changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to make loans more available to smaller and minority owned businesses.
- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will exempt all Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)-eligible clinicians (EC) from the nine percent negative payment adjustment for the 2020 reporting year (2022 payment year). CMS explains the new extreme uncontrollable circumstances (EUC) policy in its QPP COVID-19 Response Fact Sheet.
- The federal government will begin sending 25 million masks to 1,300 community health centers and 60,000 food banks.
- The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci said new CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people could be published in the near future.
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) will not enforce fines for Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) violations for vaccine scheduling tools.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates
- The CDC updated its websites for:
- Overall U.S. COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Administration Update as of Thurs., 25 Feb 2021 06:00:00 EST.
- Selected Adverse Events Reported after COVID-19 Vaccination.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Toolkit for Community-Based Organizations: Getting Started.
- Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination.
- Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes.
- Steps Healthcare Facilities Can Take Now to Prepare for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- Coronavirus Self-Checker.
- For Parents: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19.
- Testing Data in the U.S.
- How CDC is responding to SARS-CoV-2 variants globally.
- Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.
Economy, Vaccines, Testing and Treatment
-
- Both Pfizer and Moderna outlined plans to test booster doses of their vaccines to address new variants of COVID-19.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff review indicates Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 was effective. The FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will meet on Friday. This is expected to be the final step in the approval process. The FDA could issue an emergency use authorization for the vaccine as early as Saturday.
- Ahead of an anticipated FDA approval for its vaccine, Johnson & Johnson will have between 3 and 4 million doses ready to ship next week.
- The FDA will allow Pfizer’s vaccine to be stored at temperatures that most medical refrigerators can handle. Originally, the vaccine needed ultra-cold storage, requiring facilities to increase their refrigeration capabilities.
- Novavax expects to have enough clinical trial data for its COVID-19 vaccine to submit to the FDA by early April.
- The military began delivering shots at mass vaccination centers.
- HHS will stop serving as the sole distributer of COVID-19 antibody treatments. HHS now says that providers should order the drugs directly from manufacturers.
