Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) News

Medicare patients who accessed opioid use disorder treatment through telehealth services during the pandemic were more likely to stay in treatment and less likely to experience an overdose than patients without telehealth access to OUD treatment, according to a federal study published last week in JAMA Psychiatry.

Novavax today announced the Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency use authorization for its Adjuvanted (NVX-CoV2373) COVID-19 vaccine. Under the expanded EUA, the two-dose primary series can be administered for adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday released fact sheets summarizing the current status of Medicare COVID-19 blanket waivers and flexibilities by provider type, as well as flexibilities applicable to the Medicaid community. The fact sheets include information about which waivers and flexibilities have already been terminated, have been made permanent or will end at the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

In mid-December, hospitals will transition to reporting COVID-19 data via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network, which will assume responsibility for collecting the data when the Department of Health and Human Services’ contract with TeleTracking expires Dec. 31. CDC will host a series of training webinars on the transition beginning Aug. 23.

The Department of Health and Human Services yesterday released new guidance on ordering, reporting, payment and cost-sharing for the COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy bebtelovimab, a treatment option for outpatients at high risk for hospitalization that begins transitioning from HHS to commercial distribution next week.

The CDC released updated guidance to help people protect themselves and others if they are exposed to, sick or test positive for COVID-19.   

Situated in the heart of Westchester County and just outside of New York City, White Plains Hospital was among the first hospitals in New York to face the COVID-19 pandemic during the early days of 2020, back when there were many unknowns.

One important learning from the two-and-a-half-year COVID-19 pandemic is that the public health emergency (PHE) waivers made an enormous difference for hospitals and health systems.

Children infected with COVID-19 are at higher risk afterwards for certain symptoms or conditions, according to a study released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As directed by President Biden in April, HHA released a national plan for researching the long-term effects of COVID-19, and a report on federally funded services available to help health care providers and patients address these long-term effects.  

Inpatient and outpatient prospective payment system hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities and PPS-exempt cancer hospitals have until Aug. 30 to preview their data for the October update to Care Compare.

Remaining resilient as new variants of COVID-19 spread. Launching mobile health services to help ensure equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

AHA today urged Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to renew the COVID-19 public health emergency set to expire in October.

With over 95% of the population receiving at least one dose of the vaccine – and nearly 84% fully vaccinated – we were interested in learning how Puerto Rico had been so successful at mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hypertension more than doubles the risk of hospitalization related to omicron infection, even in people who are fully vaccinated and boosted, according to a new study by researchers at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. 

A third and fourth dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine provided additional protection to eligible adults, the CDC reported Friday.

The Department of Health and Human Services today renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration for another 90 days.

The FDA granted full approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for young teens, covering the age group spanning 12 to 15 years old

The seven-day average of daily hospitalization due to COVID-19 is up nearly 24% over the previous month, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health depar

The FDA last week revised its Evusheld fact sheet for health care providers, recommending repeat dosing every six months if patients need ongoing protection.