America's Essential Hospitals has responded to a request for information (RFI) on health care workforce shortages by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The association also plans to respond to an RFI on reauthorizing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act.

Key health committees in the House and Senate issue requests for information — one on reauthorizing the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act and another to examine health care workforce shortages.

A CDC committee recommends the inclusion of COVID-19 vaccines in the 2023 immunization schedule; the administration releases a biodefense strategy.

Negotiations continue on a bipartisan physical infrastructure plan after Senate Republicans blocked a procedural vote to begin formal deliberations on the framework. Republican senators opposed the legislative text because it is not final and has no Congressional Budget Office score.

The Joint Commission will resume regular surveys of health care facilities; Gilead Sciences Inc. donates a second round of remdesivir to treat severe COVID-19 cases; CDC issues antibody testing guidelines.

The new waivers and flexible options are designed to increase hospital capacity, rapidly expand the health care workforce, temporarily eliminate certain paperwork requirements, and promote telehealth in Medicare.

CDC recommends shelters plan for higher usage during the outbreak and consult with community leaders, local public health departments, and faith-based organizations about places to refer clients if a shelter space is full.

These cases bring the total number of COVID-19 cases detected and confirmed in the United States to 16. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have issued new guidance and resources to prevent the spread of the virus and improve testing.

The agency announced it will count patients repatriated by the Department of State separately from other cases. Additionally, the World Health Organization developed an emergency ICD-10 code for COVID-19.

The new coronavirus — now officially called COVID-19 — has infected 15 people in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance for health care providers to help with risk assessment, monitoring, and work restriction decisions.

The new authorization allows any CDC-qualified laboratory to use the 2019-nCoV diagnostic test. Each test kit can evaluate up to 800 patient samples.

Of interest to essential hospitals, the rule targets emergency preparedness, hospital quality program requirements, infection control, and physical examinations.

The final rule revises conditions of participation and conditions for coverage and also targets emergency preparedness, quality reporting, infection control, and physical examination requirements.

The agency is waiving program requirements and suspending enforcement activities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico.

Also last week, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions advanced the bipartisan Lower Health Care Costs Act and the House Committee on Ways and Means marked up five Medicare-focused bills.

The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovations Act would provide $385 million annually for the Hospital Preparedness Program. Congress stacks its agenda ahead of the July Fourth recess, focusing on health care funding, surprise billing, single-payer proposals, and drug pricing.

A House subcommittee hearing features testimony from an essential hospital on the importance of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding. The House is expected to approve a bill providing $385 million in annual funding for the Hospital Preparedness Program.

The Senate last week passed a new version of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019. House and Senate panels continue work to address balance billing and drug pricing ahead of next week's recess.

The guidance lists warning signs for which hospital staff should be aware, recommendations for active shooter responses, and suggested protective measures.

As the partial government shutdown enters its fourth week, the House has passed a bill to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act, which includes $385 million in annual funding for the Hospital Preparedness Program.

As the partial government shutdown continues, the House this week will consider the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovations Act and a bill to extend funding for the "Money Follows the Person" demonstration program.

The 116th session of Congress convenes as leaders seek a deal to end a partial government shutdown, while health care legislation hangs in the balance.

House and Senate Democratic leaders vowed to pursue legislation to intervene after a judge ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional; negotiations continue on a spending package to fund portions of the federal government before current funding expires on Dec. 21.

Ahead of the holiday recess, the Senate needs to approve the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovations Act, while both chambers work to finalize a year-end spending bill to avoid a partial government shutdown.

The House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday will hold closed-door votes to elect its leadership team for the next session of Congress; Congress faces several deadlines as lawmakers return from the holiday weekend.

America’s Essential Hospitals encouraged the agency to continue its efforts to reduce regulatory burden at essential hospitals, including through refining Medicare and Medicaid conditions of participation.

Senators of both parties and House Republicans last week began elections for leadership positions in the 116th session of Congress; after the Thanksgiving holiday, lawmakers will continue work to approve a spending bill by Dec. 7.

Senators left Washington earlier than expected to campaign for midterm elections after confirming 15 federal judicial nominees and failing to overturn a regulation expanding short-term insurance plans.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is waiving program requirements and suspending enforcement activities in Florida and Georgia.

The discussion draft addresses several patient care scenarios that could lead to surprise billing; Congress is expected to vote this week on reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, government funding for fiscal year 2019, and a bipartisan opioid package.

Elements of the proposal of interest to essential hospitals include targeting emergency preparedness, hospital quality program requirements, infection control, and physical examinations.

Bills to repeal the medical device tax and expand health savings accounts go to a House floor vote; a House committee advanced legislation that would fund the Hospital Preparedness Program at about $265 billion annually.

A new bill by Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) would impose a user fee for hospitals participating in the 340B Drug Pricing Program; a House subcommittee marked up hospital preparedness and graduate medical education bills.

The June 19 webinar will explore the 2016 final rule on emergency preparedness requirements for Medicare- and Medicaid-participating health care providers, along with 1135 waivers.

The House aims to complete voting by the July Fourth recess, but Senate work on opioid legislation likely will continue into August amid a shortened recess.

The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act, which includes $385 million annually for the Hospital Preparedness Program, has been cleared for consideration on the Senate floor; Congress aims to vote on opioid package before the July Fourth recess.

The measure passed by Congress and signed by President Trump Monday funds the government through Feb. 8 and extends the Children's Health Insurance Program six years, but leaves unresolved a delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts.

The updated standards focus on collaboration between health care providers and emergency management officials in the community.

Affected providers will be exempt from reporting provisions of the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program, Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, and Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other federal agencies have released several resources to help health care providers prepare for and respond to disasters.

The online course provides an overview of disaster preparedness and skills to gauge compliance with emergency preparedness requirements that go into effect on Nov. 15.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is granting exceptions under certain Medicare quality reporting and value-based purchasing programs to hospitals and health care facilities in Federal Emergency Management Agency–designated major disaster counties.

The deadline for Medicare- and Medicaid-providers and suppliers to meet applicable requirements of the rule, including training and testing, is Nov. 15.

The deadline for meeting all applicable requirements of the rule is Nov. 15; CMS will host a provider conference call on April 27 to review the rule.

The CMS FAQ answers questions about new regulatory requirements to ensure health care facilities are ready for disasters and public health emergencies.

In the final rule, CMS sets forth national requirements for Medicare and Medicaid participating providers and suppliers to ensure health care facilities are prepared during emergencies.

The new guidance reinforces the importance of compliance with HIPAA to prevent and recover from cyber threats.

The new provisions include updated sprinkler requirements and increased flexibility to allow for facility modernization. Hospitals and other health care facilities must comply with the regulations by July 3.

Just added: CDC interim guidance for management of survivors of Ebola Virus disease in U.S. health care settings

Travelers from Liberia will no longer be screened upon entry. CDC recommends providers continue screening patients who have traveled from Liberia for symptoms of Ebola and other infectious diseases.

The plan serves as a guide for federal departments and agencies to combat the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Funding is included in the president's proposed FY 2016 budget.

Slow week for health care work as Department of Homeland Security funding demands lawmakers' attention

Grants will support Ebola preparedness activities at hospitals, fund regional networks for Ebola patient care, and create pathogen treatment centers nationally

Training videos help ED personnel identify, triage, and briefly manage the care of patients who may have Ebola or any highly infectious disease.

Guidance covers the management and testing of routine clinical specimens for Ebola, while minimizing risk to laboratory personnel.

Treatment centers together have 53 beds suitable for Ebola care, and more than 80 percent of travelers from Ebola-affected countries live within 200 miles of a center.

HHS notes that HIPAA patient privacy provisions still apply during public health emergencies, though HHS secretary can waive specified provisions in certain circumstances.

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations called an emergency hearing to address the Ebola outbreak, including the capacity to contain it in the United States.

HHS announced $840 million in emergency preparedness awards to states and municipalities to support state and local health systems.

Comments on the proposed rule are now due to CMS March 31 instead of Feb 25. America's Essential Hospitals will submit comments to CMS. The proposed rule seeks to establish emergency preparedness requirements for Medicare and Medicaid participating providers and suppliers.

Member feedback needed on emergency preparedness conditions of participation comments. The draft comments were emailed to members Tuesday Feb. 19. We plan to submit comments to CMS on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Contact Xiaoyi Huang, assistant vice president for policy, with feedback or questions.

Rule proposes national emergency preparedness requirements for health care facilities