Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare On February 9, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 will end on May, 11, 2023. COVID-19 remains a significant priority for the Biden-Harris Administration and over the next several months, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid…… Continue reading Public Health Emergency (PHE) 1135 Waivers: Updated Guidance for Providers 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the COVID-19 nursing home data for the week ending February 5, 2023. Comparing the February 5, 2023 data to the January 29, 2023 data shows these changes: Resident primary vaccination completion rate decreased 0.1% this week; Residents up to date with vaccines increased 0.5%…… Continue reading Latest COVID-19 Nursing Home Data

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Recipients of the bivalent (two-strain) COVID-19 vaccine booster were 14 times less likely to die of Omicron BA.4/BA.5 infections than their unvaccinated peers and 5 times less likely to die than recipients of the monovalent (single-strain) booster, particularly among older people, finds a study today in Morbidity and Mortality…… Continue reading COVID Deaths 5-fold Lower After Bivalent vs. Monovalent Booster

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare We (CMS) want(s) to thank you for your ongoing partnership throughout the COVID-19 response over the course of the last three years. Yesterday, HHS informed Governors that, Secretary Becerra renewed the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) for 90 days. Based on current trends regarding COVID-19, HHS is planning for…… Continue reading Join HHS Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs to Discuss the End of the PHE

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the nursing home COVID-19 data for the week ending January 29, 2023. (Please also view the NOTE at the end of this blog.) Comparing the January 29, 2023 data to the January 22, 2023 data shows these changes: Resident primary vaccination completion rate increased…… Continue reading Latest Nursing Home COVID-19 Data

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Dear Governor, Thank you for your ongoing partnership throughout the COVID-19 response. I write today to inform you that effective February 11, 2023, I am renewing for 90 days the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) as declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act.…… Continue reading Letter to U.S. Governors from HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on Renewing COVID-19 PHE

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has provided this 10-page document (same title as this blog) dated February 1, 2023 to announce preparations for after the PHE ends. This document is specifically for Hospice providers. At the beginning of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), CMS used emergency waiver authorities and…… Continue reading Hospice: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has provided this 13-page document (same title as this blog) dated February 1, 2023 to announce preparations for after the PHE ends.  This document is specifically for Home Health Agencies. At the beginning of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), CMS used emergency waiver authorities…… Continue reading Home Health Agencies: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has provided this 29-page document (same title as this blog) dated February 1, 2023 to announce preparations for after the PHE ends.  This document is specifically for hospitals, critical access hospitals (CAHs) including swing beds and DPUs, ASCs and CHCs. At the beginning of the…… Continue reading Hospitals and CAHs (including Swing Beds, DPUs), ASCs and CMHCs: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has provided this 18-page document (same title as this blog) dated February 1, 2023 to announce preparations after the PHE ends. This document is specifically for SNFs and NFs. At the beginning of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), CMS used emergency waiver authorities and…… Continue reading Long Term Care Facilities: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19