Week 13 Newsletter

July 7th 2020 Updates

Surge Capacity Strategies
Primary care providers fear they are unprepared for the next wave of COVID-19. 

Surge Capacity Resources

(07/06/20) COVID-19 Effects on Care Volumes: What They Might Mean and How We Might Respond 

(07/01/20) More Than One-third of Primary Care Clinicians Not Ready for Next COVID-19 Surge 

Health Workforce Policies and Guidelines
June saw the first gain in jobs for hospitals since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ambulance services are facing difficulty obtaining reimbursement for care that does not require hospitalization. 

Fears remain about how continued cuts to health care spending may impact employment for providers and their continued ability to provide services. 

Health Workforce Policies and Guidelines Resources

(07/02/20) 358K Healthcare Jobs Added in June; Hospitals See 1st Gain Since March 

(06/29/20) Medicare Shouldn’t Make Ground Ambulance Services Take a Financial Hit for Providing At-home Care 

(07/01/20) Hospitals Must Treat Infection Control as a Priority, Not a Profit Center 

(07/01/20) Hollowed Out Public Health System Faces More Cuts Amid Virus 

(07/01/20) COVID-19 and the Financial Viability of US Rural Hospitals 

    Telehealth
    Health care providers and their patients are finding telehealth valuable and effective, with hope that the increased access allowed by the emergency COVID-19 legislation will be made permanent.
    Telehealth Resources

    (07/02/20) Telehealth Called a ‘Silver Lining’ of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This Time, It Might Stick 

    (07/06/20) The Return of Housecalls: How COVID-19 Will Change Healthcare Forever 

    (06/30/20) A New Bill Asks Congress to Make Telehealth Coverage Expanded by the CARES Act Permanent 

    Long-term Care
    The long-term care providers including skilled nursing and home health industries are changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with an increasing presence in the national conversation. 
    Long-term Care Resources

    (07/05/20) Tale of Two Home Health Providers: ‘Value-based Care Gap’ Growing Wider 

    (07/02/20) 25M Long-term Care Plan Expanding Home-based Options Introduced by Raimondo, in Light of COVID-19 

    (06/30/20) The Future of Home Health Care 

    Health Workforce Safety
    There’s continued concern over the risks health workers face when treating patients with COVID-19.

    Political strategies on how to maintain the well-being and safety of the health workforce are being proposed. 

    Health Workforce Safety Resources

    (07/06/20) Providers in Early Hot Spots Rest and Prepare for What’s Next 

    (06/29/20) Health Care Workers Renew Call for Hazard Pay as COVID-19 Cases Rise 

    (06/30/20) Health Workers Filed More Than 4,000 Complaints About Protective Gear. Some Still Died 

    (06/29/20) Caregivers on the Front Lines in Nursing Homes Risk Health, Safety During Pandemic 

    Maintaining the Educational Pipeline
    Some are optimistic about the challenges and innovations COVID-19 may bring to continuing medical education and the residency experience of the most recent class of physicians.
    Maintaining the Educational Pipeline Resources

    (07/01/20) Among Those Disrupted by COVID-19: the Nation’s Newest Doctors 

    (06/30/20) Medical School 2.0: How COVID-19 Will Help Usher in the Next Generation of Medical Superheroes 

    Regulatory Flexibility
    As executive orders and emergency legislation have temporarily expanded scope of practice for many health care professionals, deciding which changes should be made permanent is an important consideration.
    Regulatory Flexibility Resources

    (06/29/20) Is It Fair? How to Approach Professional Scope-of-practice Policy After the COVID-19 Pandemic 

    State Workforce Strategies
    State and federal government are renewing their emergency declarations, as well as seeking to meet demands of COVID-19 spikes with an expanded health workforce. 
    State Workforce Strategies Resources

    (07/02/20) Oregon Says It Has 600 Health Workers Ready to Track Coronavirus. Many Have Other Jobs 

    (07/01/20) Arizona Tells Pence It Needs Additional 500 Health Care Workers as COVID-19 Cases Soar 

    (06/29/20) Public Health Emergency Being Renewed by HHS 

    (06/29/20) Tennessee Governor Extends State of Emergency Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic