HHS Provides $100 Million to Help U.S. Healthcare Systems Prepare For COVID-19 Patients

25. March 2020 EHR, EMR, Health, HIPAA 0
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (HHS ASPR) today announced it will provide $100 million to aid U.S. healthcare systems in preparing quickly for a surge in COVID-19 patients. The support will directly benefit the National Special Pathogen System, and is authorized in the ...

OCR Issues Guidance to Help Ensure First Responders and Others Receive Protected Health Information about Individuals Exposed to COVID-19

25. March 2020 EHR, EMR, Health, HIPAA 0
Today, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued guidance on how covered entities may disclose protected health information (PHI) about an individual who has been infected with or exposed to COVID-19 to law enforcement, paramedics, other first responders, and public health authorities in compliance with ...

HHS Awards $100 Million to Health Centers for COVID-19 Response

25. March 2020 EHR, EMR, Health, HIPAA 0
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded $100 million to 1,381 health centers across the country with funding provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020.  HRSA-funded health centers may use the awards to address screening and testing needs, acquire ...

HHS Funds Phase 2/3 Clinical Trial for Potential Treatment for COVID-19

22. March 2020 EHR, EMR, Health, HIPAA 0
An antibody medicine being evaluated to treat severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will receive additional support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) under an existing partnership with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals of Tarrytown, New York. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ...

OCR Issues Guidance on Telehealth Remote Communications Following Its Notification of Enforcement Discretion

21. March 2020 EHR, EMR, Health, HIPAA 0
Today, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued guidance on telehealth remote communications following its Notification of Enforcement Discretion during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency.  The Notification, issued earlier this week, announced, effective immediately, that OCR is exercising its enforcement discretion to not impose ...

HHS, DOD coordinate international airlift of COVID-19 supplies

21. March 2020 EHR, EMR, Health, HIPAA 0
On Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) coordinated an emergency international airlift of 500,000 swabs and sample kits used in the COVID-19 testing process in an effort to increase diagnostic testing for Americans. Copan Diagnostics, Inc., located in Italy, recently informed U.S. government officials they were ...

HHS announces upcoming action to provide funding to tribes for COVID-19 response

21. March 2020 EHR, EMR, Health, HIPAA 0
Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is announcing upcoming action by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide $80 million in funding to tribes, tribal organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations for resources in support of our nation’s response to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This initial action will be ...

Secretary Azar hosts call with counterparts of G7 countries on COVID-19 response

20. March 2020 EHR, EMR, Health, HIPAA 0
On Thursday, March 19, Secretary Azar hosted the latest in a series of teleconferences with counterparts from the G7 core countries. The senior officials continued their sharing of information on measures being taken to combat COVID-19, as cases increase in every G7 country. They discussed some of the similar measures that are being taken, including social ...

Secretary Azar Statement on President Trump’s Invoking the Defense Production Act

20. March 2020 EHR, EMR, Health, HIPAA 0
On Wednesday, President Trump signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act and delegating to the Secretary of Health and Human Services authority, if necessary, to order the production and distribution of healthcare supplies as they are most needed. HHS Secretary Alex Azar issued the following statement: “HHS has been working since January with ...

HHS Announces New Public-Private Partnership to Develop U.S.-Based, High-Speed Emergency Drug Packaging Solutions

19. March 2020 EHR, EMR, Health, HIPAA 0
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a public-private partnership to create a U.S.-based, high-speed, high-volume emergency drug packaging solution using low-cost prefilled syringes. Working with HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the new consortium for Rapid Aseptic Packaging of Injectable Drugs, or RAPID, will enable ...