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Leaders from the Senate and administration continue to negotiate a third spending package related to COVID-19.

The Coalition to Protect America’s Health Care, of which the AHA is a founding member, launched a digital campaign urging 2.2 million members to encourage their lawmakers to include in the new emergency funding package funding for hospitals to protect the health care workforce and increase their capacity to treat patients.

The heroic, nonstop work of our nation’s hospitals and health systems, physicians, caregivers and staff continues across the country, as care teams race to treat patients affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and make every effort to contain its spread.

At an AHA press briefing today, hospital and health system leaders from across the country described the urgent need for federal aid to ensure that frontline medical personnel have the tools and resources they need to effectively respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

Health care providers can now use FDA-cleared non-invasive remote devices to monitor a patient’s vital signs, the agency said.

CMS has approved a Section 1135 waiver for Washington state’s Medicaid program, making the state the second such recipient. The waiver streamlines Washington’s process of provider enrollment, allowing the state to temporarily waive providers’ application and enrollment fees, criminal and background checks, and site visits.

The Food and Drug Administration reinforced the need for blood donations, encouraging healthy individuals who are able to do so.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education announced it is suspending routine GME operations to allow organizations and faculty members to focus on the needs of patients with COVID-19 and “the careful and appropriate integration of residents and fellows into that process.”

The Food and Drug Administration has updated its COVID-19 diagnostic testing FAQs, a reference for clinical laboratories, commercial manufacturers, and Food and Drug Administration staff.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance for identifying which infrastructure sectors and essential workers needed to maintain services and functions during the COVID-19 pandemic response, including in the health care and public health sector.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released telehealth toolkits for general practitioners and providers treating patients with end-stage renal disease. Each toolkit links to sources of information on telehealth, such as how to initiate a telemedicine program, monitor patients remotely, develop documentation tools and other topics.

The AHA has urged the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and Department of Justice to temporarily suspend enforcement of both the Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute to enable hospitals and health systems to “efficiently meet the demands of the public health crisis and compensate referring physicians and their family members.”

AHA urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to allow all hospitals to elect to receive periodic interim payments or accelerated payments immediately, and with minimal administrative barriers.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., introduced the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (S. 3548) . The bill is the third large-scale congressional effort in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack provides perspective on how our country's frontline health care providers are responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Kaiser Family Foundation has released a new, regularly updated tool for tracking coronavirus policy actions, along with data on current cases and deaths, and state-level data on health coverage and provider capacity. 

CMS updated its FAQ for state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program agencies, answering questions related to flexibilities related to managed care, benefits, financing, Section 1115 demonstrations, and Section 1135 waivers offered as part of the president’s declaration of a national emergency. 

U.S. Pharmacopeia issued guidance on strategies for conserving sterile compounding personal protective equipment and for compounding alcohol-based hand sanitizers to address consumer shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moody’s Investors Service revised its outlook for the U.S. nonprofit hospital and health care sector from stable to negative, saying revenue will likely decline as hospitals cancel elective surgeries and other services to prepare for a surge of coronavirus cases.

The AHA has released a compendium of resources for hospitals and health systems related to cybersecurity threats during the COVID-19 pandemic.