The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

 

Department of Health and Human Services

 

HHS and CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Calls

HHS Clinical Rounds Peer-to-Peer Virtual Communities of Practice

HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response sponsors COVID-19 Clinical Rounds Peer-to-Peer Virtual Communities of Practice that are interactive virtual learning sessions that seek to create a peer-to-peer learning network in which clinicians from the U.S. and abroad who have experience treating patients with COVID-19 share their challenges and successes.  These webinar topics are covered every week:

  • EMS:  Patient Care and Operations (Mondays, 12:00-1:00 PM eastern)
  • Critical Care:  Lifesaving Treatment and Clinical Operations (Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00 PM eastern)
  • Emergency Department:  Patient Care and Clinical Operations (Thursdays, 12:00-1:00 PM eastern)

Go here for information about signing up to participate in the sessions and go here for access to materials and video recordings of past sessions.

CMS Office of Minority Health

CMS’s Office of Minority Health is holding listening sessions to discuss the continuing impact of COVID-19 on populations that face health disparities, including racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, people with limited English proficiency, and rural populations.  The next session will be held on Thursday, January 28 at 2:00 (eastern).  Go here to more information and to register.

CMS Physicians, Nurses and Allied Health Professionals Open Door Forum

CMS will hold a Physicians, Nurses and Allied Health Professionals Open Door Forum on Wednesday, January 27 at 2:00 (eastern).  This session will address documentation requirements reminders for physicians ordering repetitive, scheduled non-emergency ambulance services; updates to the 2021 physician fee schedule from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021; and information on COVID-19 vaccines.  Go here for further information about the session and for instructions on how to join the call.

CMS Stakeholder Calls

CMS hosts recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information about the agency’s response to COVID-19.  These sessions are open to members of the health care community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer participants an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts.

CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls

Tuesday, February 2  at 5:00 – 6:00 PM (eastern)

Toll Free Attendee Dial In:  833-614-0820; Access Passcode:  4956655

Audio Webcast link:  go here

Tuesday, February 23 at 5:00 – 6:00 PM (eastern)

Toll Free Attendee Dial In:  833-614-0820; Access Passcode:  2528725

Audio Webcast link:  go here

Tuesday, March 16 at 5:00 – 6:00 PM (eastern)

Toll Free Attendee Dial In:  833-614-0820; Access Passcode:  4177586

Audio Webcast link:  go here

Tuesday, April 6 at 5:00 – 6:00 PM (eastern)

Toll Free Attendee Dial In:  833-614-0820; Access Passcode:  2769397

Audio Webcast link:  go here

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

Food and Drug Administration

  • The FDA has placed all alcohol-based hand sanitizers from Mexico on a country-wide import alert to help stop products that appear to be in violation from entering the U.S. until the agency is able to review the products’ safety.  Learn more here.

 

National Institutes of Health

The NIH announced that in a clinical trial, full-dose blood thinners decreased the need for life support and improved outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.  Learn about the clinical trial and findings here.