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President Trump March 27 issued an executive order “to expand domestic production of health and medical resources needed to respond to the spread of COVID-19, including personal protective equipment and ventilators,” as enabled by the Defense Production Act.

President Trump said the guidelines for containing the spread of COVID-19, including social distancing, will extend through April 30.

The AHA released a Special Bulletin with information on loan and payroll tax provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that may help hospitals and health systems maintain adequate cash flow.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued a draft order that would create a program to help eligible health care providers purchase telecommunications, broadband and devices to provide telehealth services to COVID-19 patients and others at higher risk for the virus while reducing practitioners’ exposure.

Giving a voice to health care leaders everywhere, AHA Board Chair Melinda Estes, M.D., president and CEO of Saint Luke’s Health System in Kansas City, Mo., recently shared the following message with the team at Saint Luke’s.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has released a comprehensive plan to respond to COVID-19.

To meet the urgent need to expand laboratory capacity, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a relaxed enforcement policy under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments during the COVID-19 public health emergency with respect to review of pathology slides, proficiency testing, alternate collection devices, and requirements for a CLIA certificate.

The AHA announced a national initiative to secure millions of masks for health care workers, including physicians, nurses and caregivers treating COVID-19 patients and at greater risk due to the nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment.

The House by voice vote passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748). The legislation is the third large-scale congressional effort in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The Senate passed the bill 96-0. President Trump is expected to sign it.

The COVID-19 pandemic is threatening our country and straining many hospitals and health systems — and their team members — like never before. We have an awesome responsibility in this national crisis … and our field is stepping up, just as we always do.

The Department of Health and Human Services designated certain health and medical resources needed to respond to the spread of COVID-19 subject to hoarding restrictions under the Defense Production Act and a March 23 executive order.

The AHA ran an ad in Roll Call recognizing the hospital heroes responding to COVID-19.

AccuWeather is offering its weather warning notification service complimentary to all hospitals and public health agencies that have erected temporary structures for COVID-19 testing and triage. 

To increase the supply of hand sanitizers, FDA issued guidance for manufacturers that would like to produce alcohol (i.e., ethanol or ethyl alcohol) for use in alcohol-based hand sanitizers for consumers and health care personnel.

The Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization to ease ventilator supply shortages.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its COVID-19 testing priority guidance, which gives first priority to testing hospitalized patients and symptomatic health care workers.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar asked the nation’s governors to immediately allow health professionals licensed or certified in other states to practice in their state in person or through telemedicine.

The Senate late last night 96-0 passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (H.R. 748). The bill is the third large-scale congressional effort in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The House is expected to pass the legislation on Friday.

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission published a pair of reports. In its March report to Congress, MACPAC, a key congressional advisor on the Medicaid program, updated its annual analyses of disproportionate share hospitals, including national estimates of the number of these facilities, spending by state, and uncompensated care costs by hospital type.

Ensuring that health care workers have the personal protective equipment needed to protect themselves so they can treat COVID-19 patients is the top priority, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said on Fox and Friends.