Regulations/Legal
CMS issues final inpatient payment rule for FY 2021
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on September 2 issued its final inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) rule, which will: increase IPPS rates by 2.9% in FY 2021 for hospitals that report quality data and are meaningful users of electronic health records, resulting in an increase…
CDC asks states to be ready to distribute COVID-19 vaccines on Nov 1
Editor's Note In an August 27 letter, Robert Redfield, MD, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asked the nation’s governors to have COVID-19 vaccine distribution sites fully operational by November 1, the September 2 McClatchy DC reports. Delivery firms received guidance to prepare freezer farms in…
Fauci says COVID-19 vaccine trials could end early if results are overwhelmingly positive
Editor's Note Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health told the Kaiser Health News on September 1 that a COVID-19 vaccine could be available earlier than expected if clinical trial results are overwhelmingly positive. An independent Data and…
National Academies release COVID-19 vaccine distribution proposal
Editor's Note The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, on September 1, released draft guidelines to help policymakers plan for equitable allocation of a COVID-19 vaccine. The committee that drafted the guidelines was formed at the request of the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and…
WHO recommends against face masks for children below age 5
Editor's Note The World Health Organization (WHO) on August 21 recommended that children in the community setting under age 5 not wear face masks as a preventive measure against COVID-19. Other recommendations include: For those aged 6 to 11 years, there should be a risk-based approach that considers factors such…
FDA could fast-track COVID-19 vaccine approval
Editor's Note In an interview with the Financial Times, Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, on August 30, said the FDA could fast-track approval of a COVID-19 vaccine before late-stage clinical trials are complete if regulators believe the benefits of doing so outweigh the risks. Dr Hahn…
Joint Commission seeking nominations for 2020 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on August 26 announced that nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards. The annual awards recognize major achievements by individuals and organizations to improve patient safety and healthcare quality. Submissions for the awards are encouraged for…
FDA warns against use of protective barrier enclosures without negative pressure during intubation, extubation of COVID-19 patients
Editor's Note In an August 21 letter, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warns that the use of passive protective barrier enclosures without negative pressure when treating patients (such as during intubation, extubation) who are known or suspected to have COVID-19 may pose increased health risk to patients and healthcare…
CMS issues emergency regs on daily COVID-19 reporting for hospitals, critical access hospitals
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on August 25 issued emergency regulations requiring all hospitals and critical access hospitals to report daily COVID-19 data. The data includes: number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 positive patients being treated ICU beds occupied availability of ventilators, PPE, and other…
CDC changes asymptomatic COVID-19 testing recommendations
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) on August 24 changed its recommendations on testing asymptomatic people for COVID-19. The CDC is no longer recommending asymptomatic testing. The new guidance includes the following: For those who have been in close contact (within 6 feet) of a person…
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