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COVID-19 Public Resources 

May 26, 2020
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Below is a catalog of COVID-19 resources specifically for non-acute sites, businesses and hospitality. The list is comprised of general resources, class of trade specific articles as well as funding information. 

If you are a Provista member and would like access to information about what Provista is doing during this time please click here. 

For inquiries, please contact your Provista Account Executive.


INDUSTRY RESOURCES

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC)

Emergency Operations Center: (770) 488-7100)

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA)

Diagnostic Test Hotline- For test developers and labs who have questions about the EUA process or spot shortages of testing supplies. Contact our toll-free line 24 hours a day: 1-888-INFO-FDA, choose option *

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (OSHA)
THE JOINT COMMISSION (JC)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS)

AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS

ARTICLES

senior living

RESOURCES

HOSPITALITY & BUSINESS

CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION GUIDELINES
STATE AND COUNTY GUIDELINES
DISTRIBUTORS
ASSOCIATIONS
ARTICLES
TEMPORARY SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION FUNDING OPTIONS

The CARES Act provides relief in the amount of $376B for small businesses and workers. A number of programs are included as funding options administered through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). 

  • Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – In consultation with the Department of Treasury, the PPP is designed to incentivize small businesses to retain employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.  An SBA-approved lender can loan a small business up to 250% of an organization’s average monthly payroll.  These loans will be forgiven if all employees are retained for eight weeks and the funds are used specifically for payroll, health benefits, rent, mortgage interest or utilities.  At a minimum, 75% of the loan must be used for payroll costs.  Eligible small businesses and non-profit organizations include those with 500 or fewer employees as well as businesses that satisfy the statutory and regulatory definitions of a small business even if the business employees more than 500 workers. Other eligible businesses include veteran and tribal organizations, sole proprietors, independent contractors, and qualified businesses in the food or hospitality industry. A comprehensive question and answer document about eligibility requirements and other qualified expenses can be found here.
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance (EIDL) – Small businesses can apply for an EIDL grant for up to $10k. These emergency grants are intended for small businesses with less than 500 employees including sole proprietorships, independent contracts and self-employed workers, as well as private non-profit organizations and veterans organizations. The loan is provided within days of the application and do not have to be repaid as long as the funds are used for rent, utilities, payroll, employee sick leave and other defined business operations. Businesses can apply for both the PPP and EIDL but cannot use the funds for the same purposes. In addition, businesses cannot receive both the PPP and the employee retention payroll tax credit (see FFCRA below). Finally, if a business received a PPP loan, which is then forgiven, any EIDL advance payment would be deducted from the amount forgiven in the PPP loan.

COVID-19 relief funding

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)
  • On April 27, HHS, through the Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA), launched a new COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal. The portal allows health care providers who conducted COVID-19 testing or provided treatment of uninsured COVID-19 individuals (on or after February 4, 2020) to submit claims for reimbursement, generally at Medicare rates.
  • On April 22, provided additional information regarding how the $100 billion of CARES Act funds would be allocated. HHS indicated there would be a $50 billion “General Allocation”; $10 billion “Targeted Relief” for hospitals in hot spots; $10 billion “Targeted Relief” for rural hospitals, and $400 million “Targeted Relief” for the Indian Health Service. In addition, the Provider Relief Fund will also reimburse health care providers (at Medicare rates) who provided COVID-19 related treatment for the uninsured on or after February 4, 2020.
  • On April 21, HHS officially published notice that it is exercising enforcement discretion in how it applies the Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules under HIPAA. In relation to the provision of telehealth during the public health emergency, the notice clarifies the HHS Office for Civil Rights will not impose penalties for noncompliance with the regulatory requirements under the HIPAA rules against covered health care providers.
CENTERS OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS)
  • On April 30, CMS announced additional waivers and another interim final rule. In the interim rule, which has a 60-day comment period, CMS makes several policy changes that build on previous telehealth policies, provides additional flexibilities to teaching hospitals, addresses some testing concerns, and provides clarity regarding the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program.
  • On April 30, announced an independent commission will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the nursing home response to COVID-19 and provide recommendations.
  • On April 28, released a Dear Clinician letter regarding the new high-weighted, COVID-19 Clinical Trials improvement activity for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for the 2020 Performance Period.
  • On April 26, announced it would no longer accept new Part B supplier applications for its Accelerated and Advanced Payment Program (AAP Program). In addition, the agency indicated it was reevaluating all pending and new applications for the Accelerated Program for Part A providers. Since expanding the AAP Program in March, CMS has distributed $100 billion in advanced and accelerated payments to Part A providers ($59.6 billion) and Part B suppliers ($40.4 billion). In the notice, CMS referenced the additional funds available to health care providers through alternative programs, including the Provider Relief Fund and Paycheck Protection Program.
  • On April 23, issued infection control and prevention guidance to home health agencies and religious non-medical healthcare institutions related to COVID-19.
  • On April 21, released FAQs to issuers of individual, small group, Medicare Advantage, and Part D plans that provides additional information regarding the flexibilities available related to utilization management and prior authorization, including off-label prescribing, during the public health emergency.
  • On April 21, updated information for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans in response to request for additional guidance regarding sponsor policies and requirements during the public health emergency.
  • On April 21, released guidance allowing licensed, independent freestanding emergency departments (IFEDs) to temporarily provide care to Medicare and Medicaid patients. The guidance is relevant to Colorado, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Texas, which are the only states that license IFEDs without hospital affiliation.
ACCELERATED AND ADVANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM

Separate from the Provider Relief Fund, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to allow eligible providers to access advanced Medicare reimbursements.  The purpose of the loan program is to provide immediate cash flow to providers through pre-payments of up to 100% of their Medicare costs for three months, with some hospital providers eligible to receive six months’ worth of funding.  These advanced payments are considered a loan and must be repaid within 210 days from the date of original payment.  According to CMS, four criteria must be met for a provider to participate: provider submitted Medicare claims within the last 180 days, not currently be in bankruptcy or under active medical review or program integrity investigation, and have no outstanding delinquent Medicare overpayments.

Payments are for Part A providers, such as hospitals, as well as Part B providers such as suppliers, physicians, non-physician providers and durable medical equipment suppliers. Providers must apply for this program through their appropriate Medicare Administrative Contractor.

COVID-19 FCC TELEHEALTH PROGRAM

On April 2nd, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced an order establishing the COVID-19 Telehealth Program.  The Telehealth Program, as part of the CARES Act, provides $200 million in funding to support eligible health care providers’ connectivity to patients in their homes or other locations.  According to the FCC, funding is available for telecommunications and information services and devices needed to connect to patients until the COVID-19 pandemic ends. 

The program will fund technologies such as pulse oximetry and blood pressure measurement devices that are connected devices through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, tablets, smart phones, and telemedicine carts or kiosks for providers. Telecommunication and information services include services such as internet connectivity, patient monitoring platforms, and services for synchronous video consultation.  Eligible providers may apply to receive funds for services and devices purchased after March 13, 2020.

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