Wednesday, April 8 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
- Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released their “counter offer” to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin’s request for an additional $250 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). While the Democratic leaders are agreeable to the additional $250 billion, they want $125 billion of it channeled through community-based lenders that serve farmers, minority and veteran-owned businesses and non-profit entities in rural areas.
- Pelosi and Schumer also want another $100 billion for hospitals and community health centers and $150 billion for state and local governments.
- However, this afternoon Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he has no intention of passing anything other than the additional $250 billion for PPP loan funding. Speaker Pelosi responded by saying the House would not consider any bill that didn’t included the measures she and Sen. Schumer have asked for. Thus, a high stakes game of “legislative chicken” is set to play out tomorrow.
- Sen. McConnell plans to pass whatever measure is brought before the Senate tomorrow so the House can act on it either on Friday or over the weekend. As with the third stimulus bill, McConnell and Pelosi hope to pass this bill by voice vote so lawmakers don’t have to return to Washington to vote in person.
- Even if this measure is approved, Congress is still expected to pass a fourth stimulus bill after it reconvenes in late April.
CMS Updates Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of COVID-19
- CMS issued a series of updated guidance documents on infection control in a variety of outpatient and inpatient settings – press release.
- Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals (FAQs, Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement, Limits to Visitation and Availability of 1135 Waivers)
- Outpatient Settings: FAQs and Considerations
- Immediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities
- Dialysis Facilities
CMS Updates EMTALA Guidance
- CMS posted an update to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (“EMTALA”) Requirements and Implications Related to COVID-19.
CMS Delays Start Date of Emergency Care Model
- CMS has delayed the start of its Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (“ET3”) Model from May 1 until Fall 2020 so participants can focus on COVID-19 response.
HHS Awards $1.3 Billion to Health Centers in COVID-19 Fight
- HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration awarded more than $1.3 billion to 1,387 health centers to help communities across the country detect coronavirus; prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19; and maintain or increase health capacity and staffing levels to address this public health emergency.
HHS Issues Guidance for Licensed Pharmacists on COVID-19 Tests
- HHS issued new guidance under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act authorizing licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests that the FDA has authorized.
CMS Releases Dear Clinician Letter
- CMS issued a letter to clinicians outlining various programs and summarizing information, such as Medicare telehealth information and testing and claims reporting for COVID-19.
From the FDA
- The FDA issued guidance for the industry on Investigational COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma.
For more information, please contact:
- John Williams III at (202) 370-9585 or jwilliams@wp.hallrender.com;
- Andrew Coats at (202) 370-9587 or acoats@wp.hallrender.com;
- Abby Kaericher at (202) 780-2989 or akaericher@wp.hallrender.com; or
- Your regular Hall Render attorney.
Hall Render’s attorneys and professionals continue to maintain the most up-to-date information and resources at our COVID-19 Resource page, through our 24/7 COVID‑19 Hotline at (317) 429-3900 or by contacting your regular Hall Render attorney.
Hall Render blog posts and articles are intended for informational purposes only. For ethical reasons, Hall Render attorneys cannot—outside of an attorney-client relationship—answer specific questions that would be legal advice.
