Podcasts about public health emergency phe

Quality Insights' panel of health experts is back to answer questions for nursing homes. This week's discussion answers FAQs related to Post-COVID Syndrome and the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) plus other topics for long-term care facilities. Related links: CDC COVID Data TrackerCenter of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities Check out our other interviews by visiting https://www.qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia  This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-070623-CC-A 

Health care facilities are facing a number of guidance changes as the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) has come to an end. In today's webinar, Quality Insights Medical Director Dr. Jean Storm will break down the guidance changes affecting long-term care facilities (LTCFs), home health, and hospice.Related links:View video recording of this webinarDownload presentation slidesView CMS guidance lifting the vaccine mandate, QSO-23-13-ALLCheck out our other interviews by visiting https://www.qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia  This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-062923-CC-A 

Health Net's VP of Communications and Marketing joined the show to share how the end of the pandemic and Public Health Emergency (PHE) is making the annual Medi-Cal redetermination of eligibility unlike recent years before as Californians were automatically renewed during the PHE. The state, Health Net, and other Medi-Cal plans are making significant outreach attempts to ensure Medi-Cal beneficiaries know how to renew their eligibility, but 2-3 million Californians are still expected to lose eligibility.

Thank you for joining us for another episode of OccPod, the official ACOEM podcast. In this episode, Erin and Dr. Nabeel discuss the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration. On May 11, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allowed the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, to expire. Over the last two years, the Biden Administration has implemented the largest adult vaccination program in U.S. history, with nearly 270 million Americans receiving at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. Because of this and other efforts, daily reported COVID-19 cases are down approximately 92 percent since the peak Omicron surge in January of 2022. For information on COVID-19 vaccines and other immunizations, please visit acoemvaxinfo.org.

In this episode, we are joined by regular guest Kristen McDermott Woodrum, Partner at McGuireWoods LLP. Here, she discusses grace periods for telemedicine after the ending of the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, telehealth investments after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, and more.

As the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) ends, Sarah Swank, Counsel, Nixon Peabody LLP, reunites three years later with two of the hospital general counsel she spoke with on the first episode of the GC Roundtable series and again one year later and two years later—Richard Korman, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, Avera Health, and David Rowan, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Governance Officer, Cleveland Clinic. Together, they reflect on their experiences over the past three years, the impact of the end of the PHE and associated waivers, and the future of the U.S. health care system. They also discuss issues related to telehealth, behavioral health, and supporting the wider health care community.To learn more about AHLA and the educational resources available to the health law community, visit americanhealthlaw.org.

The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) is set to expire at the end of the day Thursday, May 11. As a result, a number of regulatory waivers put in place by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will end as well. In today's webinar, we discuss upcoming changes that will affect long-term care facilities. We're joined by Penny Imes, Quality Improvement Specialist at Quality Insights.Related links: Watch a video recording of this episodeCMS memo QSO-23-13-ALLCDC's “Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic”Philadelphia Department of Public Health Advisory, “Updates to COVID-19 Vaccination and Masking Requirements for Healthcare Workers” (May 10, 2023)Check out our other interviews by visiting https://www.qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-051123-CC-A 

AMA Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, covers the latest news from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration's upcoming Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) meeting this June. Including the U.S. Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 ending on May 11, 2023. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

This week, we turn our focus to the conclusion of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. Epstein Becker Green attorneys Brianna Richardson and Eric I. Emanuelson Jr. describe the challenges employers may encounter as they navigate crucial decisions regarding policies, procedures, and benefits during the ongoing transition process.   Visit our site for this week's Other Highlights and links: https://www.ebglaw.com/eltw301 Subscribe to #WorkforceWednesday: https://www.ebglaw.com/subscribe/. Visit http://www.EmploymentLawThisWeek.com. This podcast is presented by Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. All rights are reserved. This audio recording includes information about legal issues and legal developments. Such materials are for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal developments. These informational materials are not intended, and should not be taken, as legal advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances, and these materials are not a substitute for the advice of competent counsel. The content reflects the personal views and opinions of the participants. No attorney-client relationship has been created by this audio recording. This audio recording may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

Join us for a thought-provoking episode of the CHAPcast, where our host Jennifer Kennedy sits down with Katie Wehri of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and Judi Lund Person of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). Together, they dive deep into the topic of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) coming to an end and discuss the implications for providers of care in the home.Register Now! This two-and-a-half-day workshop will focus on giving you all the tools you need for operational excellence with a goal of patient-centered care. This is a hands-on, skill-based workshop that is focused in on the Hospice industry and has a tailored approach to increasing agency success. Learn more about Age-Friendly Health Care Connect with us - LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook Leave us a Google Review Subscribe to our emails Visit our website

As we are finding our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic and Public Health Emergency (PHE) that devastated so many lives – particularly in nursing homes – there is an opportunity to look back at what happened, both the good and the bad, and find the lessons we can learn from to perhaps do better in the future. This is particularly true in evaluating what was happening in long-term care facilities prior to and during the pandemic that affected their response to COVID-19, and the subsequent increase in staffing shortages that many facilities are experiencing. In this episode, Consumer Voice Executive Director, Lori Smetanka, talks with David Farrell, a licensed nursing home administrator who has spent his entire career in the long-term care profession, about the long-term care facilities that had better outcomes than their peers, or as David notes, facilities that “weathered the storm of COVID-19 and staffing crises.” David and his colleagues did a deep dive into those facilities that were outliers or stood out from their peers with regard to COVID-19 infections and staffing shortages, to try to determine what was happening that we could learn from, and hopefully replicate.

AMA Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, shares what physicians and patients need to know about the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. Also covering the latest on abortion pill access, XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.9.1 trends, as well as a possible link between conjunctivitis and Arcturus variant. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.Public Health Emergency (PHE) and Covid-19 Emergency Declarations resources available:✈️ CDC International Travel Guidelines & COVID mandate changes — https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/order-safe-travel.html

On this Episode of the ASC Podcast with John Goehle we discuss the Guidance from CMS on May 1st related to the Expiration of the Public Health Emergency and changes to the Vaccine Mandate, we remind our listeners about the upcoming ASC Quality Reporting Deadline in May  and in our focus segment discuss the evolving impact of technology on financial management and FINTECH with our friends at triValence.   This episode is sponsored by triValence.   Resources from this Episode: QSO-23-13-ALL - Guidance for the Expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) https://www.cms.gov/medicare/provider-enrollment-and-certification/surveycertificationgeninfo/policy-and-memos-states/guidance-expiration-covid-19-public-health-emergency-phe Trivalence access to the Free Version: https://www.trivalence.com/register/ Important Resources for ASCs: Conditions for Coverage: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=42:3.0.1.1.3&idno=42#se42.3.416_150 Infection Control Survey Tool (Used by Surveyors for Infection Control)https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107_exhibit_351.pdf Updated Guidance for Ambulatory Surgical Centers - Appendix L of the State Operations Manual (SOM)https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_l_ambulatory.pdf https://www.cms.gov/medicareprovider-enrollment-and-certificationsurveycertificationgeninfopolicy-and-memos-states-and/updated-guidance-ambulatory-surgical-centers-appendix-l-state-operations-manual-som Policy & Memos to States and RegionsCMS Quality Safety & Oversight memoranda, guidance, clarifications and instructions to State Survey Agencies and CMS Regional Offices. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Policy-and-Memos-to-States-and-Regions Other Resources from the ASC Podcast with John Goehle: Visit the ASC Podcast with John Goehle Website ASC Podcast with John Goehle Patron Program Benefits of Becoming a Patron Member Patron Members of the ASC Podcast with John Goehle have access to ASC Central - an exclusive membership website that provides a one-stop  ASC Regulatory and Accreditation Compliance, Operations and Financial Management resource for busy Administrators, nurse managers and business office managers.   Become a member today! The ASC-Central Premium Access Program A Premium Resource for Ambulatory Surgery Centers including access to bootcamps, education programs and private sessions https://asc-central.com/landing/plans/279136 Books by John Goehle Get a copy of John's most popular book - The Survey Guide - A Guide to the CMS Conditions for Coverage & Interpretive Guidelines for Ambulatory Surgery Centers 

This episode of EMS One-Stop With Rob Lawrence is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com. COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) on Jan. 31, 2020, and was extended a number of times, but it is now set to expire on May 11, 2023. In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence is joined by Doug Wolfberg, Esq., of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth to discuss the immediate actions organizations should take (or should have already taken) to preserve documentation relating to the PHE, as well as adjust operational and documentation practices and procedures as we “return to normal.” Rob and Doug discuss issues such as rule changes that have become normal operating procedures over the last 2 years and the need to build a time capsule to preserve evidence. They also cover patient signatures, telehealth changes, transport to alternate destinations, agency licensing and Physician Certification Statements. Doug, a lifelong Beatles music fan, also shares that he has just published a book: “The Beatles: Fab but True: Remarkable Stories Revealed” and will be undertaking a book signing tour in the UK later in the year. TOP QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE At the end of the PHE, “We revert back to the standard inflexible Medicare signature rules which means that the patient needs to be the signer, and the only time that you can get a signature from anyone else is if that patient is physically or mentally incapable of signing that statement.” EPISODE CONTENTS 1:12 – End of the PHE announced 2:00 – Rule changes have become normal operating procedures 2:20 – The need to build a time capsule to preserve evidence 4:30 – Big change ticket item number one – patient signatures 6:40 – A reminder to establish the reason the patient is unable to sign a PCR 7:20 – Telehealth changes                                                 10:00 – Transport to alternative destination coverage ends (but place your pandemic local clinical guidance in your time capsule now!) 13:07 – ET3 – not affected and is separate 15:24 – Doug and the Beatles 17:52 – Ambulance staffing waver also going away 18:55 – Agency licensing back into full force – no more grace periods 21:12 – Physician Certification Statements (PCS) – do not cut corners on your PCS signatures 22:15 – Leaders pay attention to this podcast ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON THIS TOPIC CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the Transition Forward from the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Doug's new book: “The Beatles: Fab but True: Remarkable Stories Revealed” ABOUT OUR GUEST Doug Wolfberg is a founding partner of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, and one of the best-known EMS attorneys and consultants in the United States. Widely regarded as the nation's leading EMS law firm, PWW represents private, public and non-profit EMS organizations, as well as billing companies, software manufacturers and others that serve the nation's ambulance industry. Doug answered his first ambulance call in 1978 and has been involved in EMS ever since. Doug became an EMT at age 16, and worked as an EMS provider in numerous volunteer and paid systems over the decades. Doug also served as an EMS educator and instructor for many years. After earning his undergraduate degree in Health Planning and Administration from Pennsylvania State University in 1987, Doug went to work as a county EMS director. He then became the director of a three-county regional EMS agency based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He then moved on to work for several years on the staff of the state EMS council. In 1993, Doug went to the nation's capital to work at the United States Department of Health and Human Services, where he worked on federal EMS and trauma care issues. Doug left HHS to attend law school, and in 1996 graduated magna cum laude from Widener University School of Law. After practicing for several years as a litigator and healthcare attorney in a large Philadelphia-based law firm, Doug co-founded PWW in 2000 along with Steve Wirth and the late James O. Page. As an attorney, Doug is a member of the Pennsylvania and New York Bar Associations, and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court as well as numerous Federal and state courts. He also teaches EMS law at the University of Pittsburgh, and teaches health law at the Widener University School of Law, where he is also a member of the school's Board of Overseers. Doug is a known as an engaging and humorous public speaker at EMS conferences throughout the United States. He is also a prolific author, having written books, articles and columns in many of the industry's leading publications, and has been interviewed by national media outlets including National Public Radio and the Wall Street Journal on EMS issues. Doug is a Certified Ambulance Coder (CAC) and a founder of the National Academy of Ambulance Coding (NAAC). Doug also served as a commissioner of the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). In his free time, Doug is an avid bicyclist and musician. CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST Website: www.pwwemslaw.com Email: www.pwwemslaw.com/contact# Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-wolfberg-099ab236 RATE AND REVIEW THE EMS ONE-STOP PODCAST Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the EMS One-Stop team at editor@EMS1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback.  

In DC Dynamics episode 15: The Public Health Emergency is ending— what you need to know, host Ray Beeman, Washington Council EY's managing partner is joined by WCEY colleague, Heather Bell, a health policy analyst, to walk through the myriad of regulatory changes that are coming as a result of the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). Guidance related to the end of the PHE is continually evolving. For the latest information on the implications of the end of the PHE, be sure to check out Washington Council EY's comprehensive guide, “The PHE is ending: What it means for COVID-19 waivers, funding and other flexibilities” linked here: https://www.ey.com/en_us/health/the-phe-is-ending-what-it-means-for-covid-19-waivers-funding-other-flexibilities Washington Council EY helps clients achieve their legislative and regulatory objectives. In each case, the goal is to help you seize opportunities or mitigate risks so you stay ahead of changes brought by passage of new legislation, promulgation of new regulations or electoral outcomes. Learn more:  https://www.ey.com/en_us/tax/washington-council-ernst-young    

On this episode of Ask Michelle, Michelle dives into the details of how the expiring Public Health Emergency (PHE) will impact group health coverage and what the outbreak period end date means for Joint Notice extended deadlines related to Cobra. Michelle also addresses listeners' questions on Medicaid redetermination requirements and whether the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) Pay or Play rules require employers to offer coverage to seasonal employees.Curious about a compliance issue? Submit your questions to AskMichelle@boltonco.com and Michelle will answer them on the next episode. 

It's back: the Three-Midnight Rule.Created with the nation's 1965 enactment of Medicare, the Rule provided that patients needed to have at least three consecutive midnights of inpatient care in an acute hospital setting before being admitted to skilled nursing facility (SNF). And then came the COVID-19 pandemic and the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE), and the rule was waived.Now, as the PHE is about to expire on May 11, the Rule is making a comeback. And that could pose problems for thousands of case and utilization managers across the country who are either out of practice with managing this Medicare requirement or have never in their careers had to address it.Join us during the next live edition of Monitor Mondays, when Juliet B. Ugarte Hopkins, MD, president of the American College of Physician Advisors, will be reporting on this new regulatory challenge and how to avoid the pitfalls associated with the inevitable audits that are likely to ensue.Broadcast segments will also include these instantly recognizable features:The RAC Report: Healthcare attorney Knicole Emanuel, partner at the law firm of Nelson Mullen, will report the latest news about auditors.Risky Business: Healthcare attorney David Glaser, shareholder in the law offices of Fredrikson & Bryon, will join the broadcast with his trademark segment.Legislative Update: Adam Brenman, legislative analyst for Zelis, will report on current healthcare legislation.The Wrapper: John Zelem, founder and CEO of Streamline Consulting Solutions, will join the broadcast for a wrap-up on the morning's top stories.

It's the biggest healthcare story of the decade: up to 15 million individuals will soon be disenrolled from Medicaid, when the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) shuts down. Those who enrolled in Medicaid during the pandemic must re-enroll to keep their Medicaid coverage. Suddenly, your hospital could be overrun with uninsured patients.What's being done about this issue, and what can you do?Join us during the next live edition of Monitor Mondays, when Dennis Jones will be reporting on the unwinding of the Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Provision of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). Broadcast segments will also include these instantly recognizable features:Monday Rounds: Ronald Hirsch, MD, vice president of R1 RCM, will be making his Monday Rounds.The RAC Report: Healthcare attorney Knicole Emanuel, partner at the law firm of Nelson Mullen, will report the latest news about auditors.Risky Business: Healthcare attorney David Glaser, shareholder in the law offices of Fredrikson & Bryon, will join the broadcast with his trademark segment.Legislative Update: Matthew Albright, chief legislative affairs analyst for Zelis, will report on current healthcare legislation.The Wrapper: John Zelem, founder and CEO of Streamline Consulting Solutions, will join the broadcast for a wrap-up on the morning's top stories.

Welcome solo and group practice owners! We are Liath Dalton and Evan Dumas, your co-hosts of Group Practice Tech. In our latest episode, we share a potpourri of updates on inter-state compacts, parity laws, the end of the PHE, and positive developments in the fight against VC backed mental healthcare companies. We discuss: where the current Social Work Compact legislation stands the status of additional inter-state compacts implications for multi-state practices advocacy for additional compacts updated data on teletherapy how the end of the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) will impact teletherapy temporary practice provisions in states practice permission due diligence and documentation coverage parity and payment parity after the PHE ends how to advocate for parity FTC fines for BetterHelp Listen here: https://personcenteredtech.com/group/podcast/ For more, visit our website. Resources Public Health Emergency Set to End May 11, 2023: What It Means for the Provision of Telehealth and Related Services JD Supra Executive Summary: Tracking Telehealth Changes State-by-State in Response to COVID-19 (UPDATED) COVID-19 Public Health Emergency – Compliance Considerations as We Prepare for the End of the PHE Telehealth Maintained Behavioral Healthcare Quality During Pandemic Virtual Behavioral Health Use Increases 45-Fold During Pandemic Social Work Compact  NASW press release - Social Work Profession One Step Closer to Interstate Licensure Compact  Counseling Compact Counseling Compact FAQ for counselors  PSYPACT PSYPACT application/practice FAQ PCT Resources PCT's Clinical Staff Teletherapy Training (5 CE credit hours, 3 of which are legal-ethical CE) PCT's Group Telemental Health Director/Supervisor Training (18.5+ CE credit hours, 12.5+ of which are legal-ethical CE) PCT's Group Practice Teletherapy Policy & Procedure Manual and Practice Forms Pack PCT's Group Practice Care Premium service with assignable staff HIPAA Security Awareness Remote Workspaces training for all team members Access to Remote Workspace Center with step-by-step tutorials & registration forms for securing documenting Remote Workspaces  Assignable staff HIPAA Security Awareness: Bring Your Own Device training  Access to Device Security Center with step-by-step device-specific tutorials & registration forms for securing documenting personal & practice-provided devices Direct support & consultation service, Group Practice Office Hours PCT's HIPAA Risk Analysis & Risk Mitigation Planning service for mental health group practices  Care for your practice using our supportive, shame-free risk analysis and mitigation planning service.  You'll have your Risk Analysis done within 2 hours, performed by a PCT consultant, using a tool built specifically for mental health group practice, and a mitigation checklist to help you reduce your risks.  **Spring Clean Your Practice sale on our RAMP service now through 3/31/23, save $50**

The end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE), means there are some changes to some peoples Medicaid (AKA BadgerCare) coverage.What do you need to know? Get the lowdown on the latest edition of the NorthLakes Podcast where we talk to Access Coordinator, Medicaid expert, Patty Turner.This episode has information specific to the Spring of 2023. If you need the most up to date information about BadgerCare, Medicaid, or anything insurance related, call us at: 888.834.4551Two links mentioned in this episode:Marketplace: https://www.healthcare.gov/Medicaid/BadgerCare: https://dhs.wisconsin.gov/badgercareplus/index.htm

Telehealth Policy Gaps: Challenges with Remote PrescribingOn May 11th, the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and some of the provisions that supported the explosive growth of telehealth, will expire, leaving telehealth providers scrambling to address some of the challenges of proving remote care.My special guest in this episode is Dori Martini, Vice President of Operations and Regulatory Affairs for Circle Medical, a large, multi-state, contemporary, personalized primary care practice that offers high quality care, both in person, and via telemedicine. They are an affiliate of the University of California at San Francisco.Dori has an impressive understanding of the gaps – especially policy gaps - becoming evident in the day-to-day use of telehealth. In this episode, she shares some unique “best practices” in working around a few of the gaps and some practical ideas for managing your remote patients.

Starting on May 11, President Biden is ENDING the emergency COVID-19 regulations that have been in place since the start of the pandemic in January 2020. These regulations created (almost) a Medicare for All-type public funding system for vaccines, testing, and COVID-related care. While the pandemic itself is still raging, the end of the official Public Health Emergency (PHE) means that access to COVID prevention and care will become like any other form of care in the U.S.: whatever you can get through the private market. That means prices going up, highly inequitable access, and millions of us falling through the cracks. In addition, the public health emergency added crucially important protections for Medicaid enrollees, millions of whom will start getting kicked off their insurance in April. Brace yourself for a major healthcare catastrophe a couple of months from now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4yyY_YbOCw Show Notes The COVID-19 pandemic is still happening According to CDC: Still an Average of 40,404 new cases per week (and these numbers are surely an undercount considering how few cases are actually reported to a public health agency.) Still an average of 3,665 hospital admissions per week Still an average of 453 deaths per day Still a lot worse than flu! Among the 2,398 Pneumonia, Influenza, and Covid deaths reported for this week, 998 had COVID-19 listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death on the death certificate, and 50 listed influenza. According to William Hanage, epidemiology professor from Harvard: “It's beyond question that society has moved into a stage where the pandemic is for most of us if not over then certainly quiet. And that's a great thing. Long may it remain so. Is it the case that there is no preventable suffering? No. There is still preventable suffering and death.” Why end the Public Health Emergency when the virus is still raging? We all wish COVID-19 would go away. President Joe Biden's announcement Monday January 30th that his administration would end the PHE along with a separate COVID-19 national emergency in May, winding down services and supports. The Public Health Emergency has been really inconvenient for Republicans, so they voted for a bill in the House to end the PHE immediately. With either approach, the gradual wind-down or the abrupt end, there is no way to legislate ending the pandemic. Germs don't care about politics. What's really ending is the public health safety net for preventing and treating COVID. What were the emergency regulations, and what are the real-life consequences of ending them a few months from now? Let's start with the single most important thing that's going to happen: an estimated 15 million people are going to get kicked off of Medicaid starting in April. That's about 4.5% of the entire population of the United States. When COVID struck, the federal government essentially banned states from kicking people off of Medicaid. People get churned off of Medicaid shockingly frequently - maybe because you started earning just a little too much money, or you moved and your re-determination paperwork went to your old address, or a million other reasons. This mostly stopped during the pandemic, and Medicaid's enrollment rose - the federal government also provided increased funding to states to pay for the increased enrollment. The next regulation that's ending has to do with our old friend, Medicare Advantage plans. We've talked a lot about how privatized, for-profit Medicare Advantage plans have extremely limited networks, making it hard to get the care you need without having to travel ridiculous distances. During the COVID emergency Advantage plans were required to cover COVID-related treatments at ALL providers as in-network care. That's going to end starting in May, and if you see the wrong provider for COVID care, you could get slammed with a huge bill. What about COVID tests?

Dr. Wada returns to PopHealth Podcast to share some of the initial results of IEHP's California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) efforts as well as what's to come next for IEHP, including how the end of the Covid-19 related Public Health Emergency (PHE) may have a significant impact on eligibility for the Medi-Cal population.

On this episode of Ask Michelle, Michelle updates attendees on when the Public Health Emergency (PHE) will end, the return of Medicaid/ Medi-Cal eligibility reviews and this year's RX cost reporting. Michelle answered your questions regarding how your organization can apply for the California SPSL grant, and what group health plan coverage will be affected when the PHE expires.  Curious about a compliance issue? Submit your questions to AskMichelle@boltonco.com and Michelle will answer them on the next episode.

In this episode, Rob and Greg catch up on recent 340B developments, including the 3rd Circuit Court ruling on one of the contract pharmacy cases and the subsequent changes to some manufacturer's policies (1:36), how the new shape of the Senate HELP Committee may influence 340B legislative debate, and why a renewed focus on advocacy might be helpful (9:39) and what the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) might mean for 340B Program operations (15:54). Later, Rob and Greg are joined by colleague Riley Protz (25:24), and they discuss the latest challenges with manufacturer restrictions in the 340B contract pharmacy space.  They'll recap the most up-to-date manufacturer policies, address the many difficulties with uploading data to 340B ESP, and highlight how the SpendMend pharmacy team has been supporting covered entities in navigating the issue.   Senate HELP Committee Membership: https://www.help.senate.gov/about/members  

Late last month, the White House announced it is planning to end the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. In today's webinar, we'll discuss what this means for nursing homes. We'll also discuss guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) related to the end of the PHE, as well as QSO-23-05-NH. Related links: Watch a Video Recording CMS PHE fact sheet for LTCFsOther CMS PHE resourcesPennsylvania Health Care Association, What to Consider with the End of the PHEQSO-23-05-NH Check out our other interviews by visiting https://www.qualityinsights.org/qin/multimedia  This material was prepared by Quality Insights, a Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. Publication number 12SOW-QI-GEN-020923-CC-A 

Sean and Jordan sit down to discuss the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE), what that means for the waivers and flexibilities afforded during the PHE and the Good Rx FTC Settlement! This episode is a little salty so take it with a grain of salt!

Welcome back to the Bar! We're still writing 2022 on our bar tabs, but with the new year comes the possibility that the Public Health Emergency (PHE) from HHS and the COVID emergency declaration from the President might soon be ending! What are the implications for employers and their group health plans? And in Last Call, with all the talk of PHEs and HHS, J.D. explores the world of congressional acronyms.

Glen Macko joins April Moss to discuss the latest findings from former Pharma Executive Sasha Latypova, along with researcher Karen Watt obtained documents via FOIA requests and active laws that show the following:According to congressionally passed statutes, research of active laws, and extra details obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, the Department of Defense owns, implements, and oversees the COVID-19 vaccine program as a "Countermeasure" to foreign attack. While the public was bombarded with an orchestrated fear campaign, the U.S. Government managed the Covid response as a national security threat.  The Four-Legged StoolThe undercover operation was orchestrated utilizing four critical legal maneuvers: 1. Public Health Emergency (PHE), 2. Emergency Use Authorization (EUA),3. Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP Act), 4. Other Transactions Authority (OTA)On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, Alex M. Azar declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Services (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. 247d, for the entire United States. A PHE bestows a substantial amount of war-time authority upon the HHS Secretary. This PHE declaration was one day after a similar declaration by the WHO.On March 10, 2020, HHS Secretary, Alex M. Azar, issued a “Notice of Declaration” to activate the PREP Act to provide liability immunity for Covered Persons and Covered Countermeasures. The PREP Act declaration filled six pages of the Federal Register on March 17, 2020 that can be found here, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-03-17/pdf/2020-05484.pdfThe American people were led to believe that the FDA, CDC, and figureheads like Anthony Fauci oversaw the COVID-19 vaccine program. Their involvement was an orchestrated information operation. All decisions concerning the COVID-19 vaccine research, materials acquisition, distribution, and information sharing were tightly controlled by the DoD.  Hundreds of Covid countermeasures contracts have been uncovered. Many disclosures are in redacted form. However, Latypova and Watt have found sources to fill in the details. A review of these contracts indicates a high degree of control by the U.S. Government (DoD/BARDA). It specifies the scope of deliverables as "demonstrations" and "prototypes" only while excluding clinical trials and manufacturing quality control from the scope of work paid for by the contracts. To ensure that the Pharma is free to conduct the fake clinical trials without financial risk, the contracts include the removal of all liability for the manufacturers and any contractors along the supply and distribution chain under the 2005 PREP Act and related federal legislation. Support the show

In this installment of Ask Michelle, Michelle updates attendees on upcoming compliance deadlines and programs, including the expiring HSA no-cost/ low-cost telehealth relief and what to expect in 2023 for the Public Health Emergency (PHE) order. Michelle answered your questions regarding Section 125, Colorado's paid family and medical leave, and pay data reporting. Curious about a compliance issue? Submit your questions to AskMichelle@boltonco.com and Michelle will answer them on the next episode. 

Terry Fletcher joins Sean to discuss the PHE and its impact on the healthcare industry! No matter what side of the isle you sit on this should not be a political issue but rather a business and compliance issue and that is what Sean and Terry focus on! Don't miss this one!

In this month's episode, Ed Cohen and John Beckner from NCPA discuss the HHS's decision to extend the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), meaning Americans can continue utilizing Medicaid benefits and telehealth services that were expanded under the PHE, updates with the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, and the future of the monkeypox virus.

Jill Hayden, Director at Sellers Dorsey, joins Samantha to discuss the imminent end to the public health emergency and redeterminations process for Medicaid members.  

In the sixth episode of Season 2: Driving the Deal, Krist Werling, McDermott Partner and Co-Head of Private Equity and Brian Fortune, Senior Managing Director at Farragut Square Group, are joined by Brian Stimson, Healthcare Partner at McDermott Will and Emery and former Acting General Counsel & Principal Deputy General Counsel for US Department of Health and Human Services, discuss the unwinding of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). They discuss the following topics:  Expected end of the COVID-19 PHE Conclusion and future of telehealth flexibilities Medicaid eligibility issues associated with the end of the PHE Remaining PREP Act Declarations Next moves for CMS and other agencies

The Public Health Emergency (PHE) was extended, as expected, April 16. But here's the caveat when it comes to PHE waivers: not all waivers were created equal. For example, does a PHE declaration waive or preempt state licensing requirements for healthcare providers? Are HIPAA protections for virtual care removed? Reporting this developing story during the next live edition of Talk Ten Tuesdays will be nationally recognized professional auditor, coder, educator and author Terry Fletcher. Listen and learn as Fletcher walks you and your team through the labyrinth of issues associated with the current PHE extension and what those mean for physicians and what assumptions not to make. The live broadcast will also feature these other segments:Coding Report: Laurie Johnson, senior healthcare consultant with Revenue Cycle Solutions, LLC, will report on the latest coding news. The Dunn Report: The Problem with Problem Lists. Rose Dunn, a nationally recognized professional in health information and former CEO, president, and board member of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), will report on the challenges she is experiencing with Medicare Advantage payers. She currently serves as COO of First Class Solutions, Inc. News Desk: Dr. John Zelem, founder and CEO of Streamline Solutions Consulting, will return to anchor the Talk-Ten-Tuesdays News Desk. TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc. and Talk-Ten-Tuesdays co-host, will report on a subject that has caught her attention during her popular segment.  

Post By: Adam Turteltaub The pandemic may, please, finally, we hope, be coming to an end. That's great cause for celebration, but it also portends a period of adjustment for healthcare, according to Raul G. Ordonez (LinkedIn), Associate Vice President for Compliance at Jackson Health System. Telehealth, which exploded during the Public Health Emergency (PHE), is likely to see several changes. As he explains in this podcast, before the pandemic telehealth was largely limited to underserved rural areas. When the emergency began, though, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which has latitude in determining which services were allowed and who was eligible, allowed for hundreds of new codes for telehealth that are reimbursable for Medicare patients. Eligibility was expanded to patients all over the US, even those seeing a doctor from their own homes. Once the PHE ends, CMS has stated that many of the waivers for telehealth services will also come to an end. While there will be a notable exception for many mental health services, the end of the vast majority of waivers calls for compliance teams to start planning for a very different future than the present climate. And, they must do so at a time in which the US federal government has a keen eye on False Claims cases and the OIG, as a part of its workplan, will be looking at a host of telehealth-related items. Listen in to learn more about how to prepare for the upcoming, new era in telehealth.

Post By: Adam Turteltaub The pandemic may, please, finally, we hope, be coming to an end. That's great cause for celebration, but it also portends a period of adjustment for healthcare, according to Raul G. Ordonez (LinkedIn), Associate Vice President for Compliance at Jackson Health System. Telehealth, which exploded during the Public Health Emergency (PHE), is likely to see several changes. As he explains in this podcast, before the pandemic telehealth was largely limited to underserved rural areas. When the emergency began, though, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which has latitude in determining which services were allowed and who was eligible, allowed for hundreds of new codes for telehealth that are reimbursable for Medicare patients. Eligibility was expanded to patients all over the US, even those seeing a doctor from their own homes. Once the PHE ends, CMS has stated that many of the waivers for telehealth services will also come to an end. While there will be a notable exception for many mental health services, the end of the vast majority of waivers calls for compliance teams to start planning for a very different future than the present climate. And, they must do so at a time in which the US federal government has a keen eye on False Claims cases and the OIG, as a part of its workplan, will be looking at a host of telehealth-related items. Listen in to learn more about how to prepare for the upcoming, new era in telehealth.

Both CCM and RPM are attractive opportunities for pharmacists to improve patient centered outcomes in collaboration with supervising providers. Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) changes and the ongoing Public Health Emergency (PHE) present both opportunities and barriers for growth and implementation. The purpose of this Podcast is to highlight examples of how pharmacists have navigated these changes and implementation stages so far.   The information presented during the podcast reflects solely the opinions of the presenter.  The information and materials are not, and are not intended as, a comprehensive source of drug information on this topic. The contents of the podcast have not been reviewed by ASHP, and should neither be interpreted as the official policies of ASHP, nor an endorsement of any product(s), nor should they be considered as a substitute for the professional judgment of the pharmacist or physician