COVID-19 Special Bulletins

As urged by the AHA and other groups, the Department of Health an

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) for occupational exposure to COVID-19 that requires certain health care employers to help protect their workers in settings where suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients are treated.

The White House COVID-19 Response Team and the U.S. Surgeon General invite hospital and health system leaders, primary care providers, and state and local health officials to a virtual event Friday, June 11, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET to discuss the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout.

The AHA will connect hospitals and health systems with businesses interested in vaccinating their employees as part of an effort to increase COVID-19 vaccinations across the country, the White House announced today. The AHA will connect hospitals and health systems with local providers to assist businesses interested in establishing onsite, pop-up vaccination clinics.

The New York Times today ran an article about hospital finances and COVID-19 relief. The following statement from AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack in response to the article was shared with the media this evening.

The Food and Drug Administration today

AHA releases an infographic with storage requirements for the three FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

The AHA today released a new episode of PowerPlay, the on-demand video series that connects AHA members to major players in policy, politics and science.

The AHA continues to host calls on COVID-19 during which hospital and health system leaders can hear the latest updates on the pandemic and ask questions to AHA team members. AHA Board Chair Rod Hochman, M.D., and AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack will lead the next call, which is scheduled for Thursday, April 1 from 3-4:15 p.m. ET.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) March 19 updated its guidance to hospitals on the reporting of COVID-19-related data.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently updated its policy on “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Medical Care Eligible for Public Assistance

President Biden in January issued an Executive Order on “Protecting Worker Health and Safety” requiring the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to consider whether an “emergency temporary standard” (ETS) is necessary to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and if so, to issue it by March 15.

As urged by the AHA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced it is increasing the Medicare payment rates for COVID-19 vaccine administration.

The Senate today voted 50-49 to approve a modified version of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, which includes a number of provisions that affect hospitals and health systems. It is our understanding there may be some additional text changes to the bill that are not noted in the attached documents.

Senate Democrats today are expected to release their $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill and begin debate with the hopes of passing it in the next few days under “budget reconciliation,” which allows the measure to pass with a simple majority, instead of the 60 votes required for most legislation.

A summary of important information for providers on Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine.

The House of Representatives early this morning voted 219-212 to approve a modified version of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, legislation to provide reconciliation protection for a roughly $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, which includes a number of provisions that affect hospitals and health systems.

The AHA Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 12-1 p.m. ET will host an all-member advocacy virtual event in which AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack, Executive Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy Tom Nickels, and Executive Vice President-designate Stacey Hughes will provide the latest insight on COVID-19 relief legislation and what you can do to make sure hospitals’ and health systems’ priorities are included in the legislation.

The House and Senate this week are working to pass a final version of the budget resolution for fiscal year 2021, giving Congress an additional legislative tool to pass COVID-19 relief legislation