Knowledge Base Article

This week we highlight key updates spanning from January 19th through January 25th, 2021.

Resource Spotlight: Reminder - CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) January 28, 2021 Call: Treating Long COVID: Clinician Experience with Post-Acute COVID-19 Care

This call will be Thursday, January 28, 2021 from 2:00PM – 3:00 PM ET. “During this COCA Call, presenters will share their firsthand experiences with treating long COVID, focusing on the pulmonary, neurologic, and psychological aspects. They will also describe their experiences with establishing clinics that provide care for patients with these long-term effects.”

January 19, 2021: OCR Announces Enforcement Discretion for Online or Web-Based Scheduling for COVID-19 Vaccinations

In a Press Release, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) “announced that it will exercise its enforcement discretion and will not impose penalties for violations of the HIPAA Rules on covered health care providers or their business associates in connection with the good faith use of online or web-based scheduling applications (collectively, “WBSAs”) for the scheduling of individual appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency.  This exercise of enforcement discretion is effective immediately, but has retroactive effect to December 11, 2020.”

January 19, 2021: AMA Announces COVID-19 Vaccine CPT Codes Update

The AMA announced the CPT code set is being updated to include new vaccine and administration codes unique to the COVID-19 vaccine in development by Janssen Pharmaceutica, a division of Johnson & Johnson. This code will be effective on the condition that they receive vaccine approval or emergency use authorization from the FDA. Unlike the two vaccines currently being distributed nationwide, the Janssen vaccine is a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine.

January 21, 2021: Dr. Anthony S. Fauci Remarks at the World Health Organization Executive Board Meeting

Dr. Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to the President, spoke during a WHO Executive Board Meeting. During his remarks, Dr. Fauci detailed the U.S. response to COVID-19. He ended with the following statement, “And finally, given that a considerable amount of effort will be required by all of us moving forward, the United States stands ready to work in partnership and solidarity to support the international COVID-19 response, mitigate its impact on the world, strengthen our institutions, advance epidemic preparedness for the future, and improve the health and wellbeing of all people throughout the world.”

January 22, 2021: Acute Hospital Care at Home Program Updates

This program expands the CMS Hospital Without Walls initiative launched in March 2020 by “creating additional flexibility that allows for certain health care services to be provided outside of a traditional hospital setting and within a patient’s home.” The list of approved hospitals was updated on January 22nd and now includes 38 systems totaling 92 hospitals in 24 states.

January 25, 2021: CDC Updates FAQs about COVID-19 Vaccination

The CDC has posted several different webpages specific to the COVID-19 Vaccine. The FAQs web page contains answers to questions about the vaccine, about getting vaccinated, vaccine distribution, and vaccine safety.

CDC COVID Data Tracker – United States COVID-19 Cases