FEDERAL NEWS
FDA Authorizes Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines for Use as a Booster Dose
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to authorize bivalent formulations of the vaccines for use as a single booster dose at least two months following primary or booster vaccination. The bivalent vaccines, which we will also refer to as “updated boosters,” contain two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of SARS-CoV-2 virus, one of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the other one in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. Read the entire FDA press release.
CMS Updates COVID-19 Medicare Provider Flexibilities for Home Health and Hospice
CMS issued updated guidance for Medicare providers on emergency waiver authorities and other various regulatory authorities that provide flexibilities for Home Health Agencies and Hospices to respond to COVID-19. Read a full article on what these changes mean for your agency and timelines you need to prepare for after the end of the public health emergency.
Guidance for Prescribers on Paxlovid therapy for COVID-19
FDA provided additional guidance to help prescribers evaluate potential drug interactions when using Paxlovid therapy for COVID-19. Prescribers should review each patient’s full list of medications and use other resources to evaluate for potential drug interactions in patients who take medications that are not included on the Fact Sheet or checklist at this time (a listing of additional resources is provided at the end of the checklist). Please see the updated Prescriber Patient Eligibility Screening Checklist for more information.
FEDERAL NEWS
CNA Training Waiver Update
On August 29th, CMS released an update related to the CNA training waiver that was terminated in June. CMS memo QSO-22-15-NH&NLTC&LSC was revised to provide more detail on waivers available for temporary nurse aides who are unable to meet requirements for certification prior to the October deadline due to NATCEP backlogs within their state. Two types of waivers will be available for these individuals: in situations where the backlog is widespread throughout the state or county, the state or county may apply for a waiver. In situations where the backlog is localized, the individual nursing home may apply for a waiver. Waiver requests for both types of waivers should be submitted through the 1135 Waiver portal. Documentation is required for each type of waiver, including a plan for remedying the situation. CMS notes that waivers are time-limited and may not be extended past the duration of the PHE. This includes waivers that are granted with a timeframe that exceeds the PHE. When the PHE ends, the waiver ends regardless of any time remaining from the approval of the waiver.
LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
Friday Webinars: This Week We Will Talk About the CARE Backlog
Stay up to date on COVID-19, CMS, policy issues and more each Friday at 10 AM. If you haven’t registered for future calls, you can do so here. If you would like to listen to updates you have missed, visit this page.
LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS
Apply Today: COVID Vaccine Booster Partnership $20,000 Grant
Fall is coming – cooler weather, back-to-school stories, and COVID-19 vaccine boosters! Prepare early and be ready to provide access to the booster to all in your community. LeadingAge is providing grants to members to develop and enhance local partnerships that increase COVID-19 vaccine equity and access. As part of our participation in the CDC’s Vaccine Access and Equity Project with Community Catalyst, we’re distributing $20,000 grants to 3-5 members in support of efforts to identify, convene, plan, and implement partnership around COVID-19 vaccine. Apply today.
Today’s Online Coronavirus Policy Update
Today at 2:30 PM CT, David Putrino, Director of Rehabilitation Innovation for the Mount Sinai Health System, will talk about the dangers of working while having COVID. Register today.
THANKS TO OUR GOLD PARTNER
