Section 116 of the Consolidated Appropriations At, 2020 P.L., (116-260) requires CMS to conduct provider outreach and education for the Medicare-covered Cognitive Assessment & Care Plan Services (CPT code 99843) to increase awareness of this service and its eligibility requirements. In a recent “Change Request” ®, the requirements for provider outreach and education, including a direct mailing from the Medicare …
There has been a lot of discussion regarding patients experiencing blood clots post-vaccination with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Several patients have died and several others are in critical care in hospitals. In an effort to address some of the concerns and confusion, the CDC has posted a powerpoint presentation discussing this syndrome. Please click the link to access the presentation …
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on all of us, and our healthcare workers have faced unimaginable challenges and risks. It is no surprise that many employees in healthcare will need help with the mental aftermath of what they have experienced. The Emotional PPE Project is extending a hand by welcoming “any worker in a healthcare-related field that is …
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has posted a list of resources for providers to use as we look forward or take steps back during the pandemic. Times are uncertain, change is a “norm” and your resilience has been amazing. That said, it might be time to look at the systems you have in place to be sure …
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), an independent global health research center at the University of Washington, made predictions about the future of the pandemic, including that April would be a turning point for COVID-19 vaccines. That said, predicting future cases and deaths has been made even more difficult due to mutating variants of the virus, including the …
The right message at the right time from the right person can save lives. CDC’s Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) draws from lessons learned during past public health emergencies and research in the fields of public health, psychology, and emergency risk communication. CDC’s CERC program provides trainings, tools, and resources to help health communicators, emergency responders, and leaders of …
More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia and the “Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act” would help the 95% of individuals with dementia that have one or more other chronic conditions, such as hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. The bipartisan bill is expected to reduce medical complications for these patients by creating a …
The department of Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs conducted a full committee hearing on April 12, 2021. Member statements from Chairman Gary C. Peters, D (MI) and ranking member Rob Portman, R (OH) made statements. The hearings were conducted as a follow-up to the country’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic to identify lessons learned so that in the event of …
The AHRQ ECHO National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network, a partnership between AHRQ, the University of New Mexico’s ECHO Institute and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), provides free training and mentorship to nursing homes across the country to increase the implementation of evidence-based infection prevention and safety practices to protect residents and staff. Background In early Fall 2020, nearly …
A robust and responsive testing infrastructure is essential to our success in stopping the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This overview describes current information on the categories of tests used to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection and the intended strategies for use of those tests, including to diagnose infection, to screen in an effort to reduce asymptomatic or presymptomatic …
