Today in Washington - March 22, 2020: COVID-19 Updates

Sunday, March 22 Recap

Note – We believe this is the most up-to-date information available at this time, but it is subject to change as circumstances warrant. Also, all finalized resources can be found on the COVID-19 Resource Center page of Hall Render’s website.

Congressional Outlook

A procedural vote to end debate and move to a final vote on an economic stimulus bill that includes billions of dollars to help hospitals fighting COVID-19 failed in the Senate today after it failed to muster the 60 votes needed for passage. Senators will now return to the negotiation process. At this time, the House is not currently scheduled to return until Wednesday, at the earliest. While the schedule could change, the stimulus bill is now not expected to pass until later in the week.
According to Senate Appropriations Committee documents reviewed by Hall Render, the current working draft of the legislation contains, among other items, the following:
- $75 billion to ensure health care providers continue to receive the support they need for COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenue.
- For hospital preparedness, not less than $500 million to provide preparedness support to facilities around the country. $200 million will be provided to grantees within 30 days.
- Not less than $1.7 billion to procure personal protective equipment and other medical supplies for federal and state response efforts.
- $275 million to expand services and capacity for rural hospitals, telehealth, poison control centers and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program.

CMS Announces Relief for Clinicians, Providers, Hospitals and Facilities Participating in Quality Reporting Programs

On March 20, CMS announced it is granting exceptions from reporting requirements and extensions for clinicians and providers participating in Medicare quality reporting programs with respect to upcoming measure reporting and data submission for those programs.

CMS Releases COVID-19 Checklists and Tools for State Medicaid and CHIP Programs

CMS released four checklists to create a COVID-19 federal authority checklist including:

From the FDA

FDA issued guidance for Industry and Health Care Professionals to communicate its temporary policy for certain risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (“REMS”) requirements for the duration of the COVID-19 public health crisis.
FDA also issued guidance to expand the availability of ventilators as well as other respiratory devices. The press release can be found here.