Clarification from FDA on allergy risk from vaccine; a reminder of how the mRNA vaccine technology works; Medicare coverage for the vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccinationsbegantoday, starting with frontline healthcare workers.
Congress
- A bipartisan group of legislators officiallyintroducedtheir $908 billion COVID-19 relief legislation, which seeks to strike a compromise between competing proposals championed by Republicans and Democrats.
- Their proposal issplitinto two different bills. The first – $748 billion bill – covers another round of the Paycheck Protection Program, unemployment benefits, more money for schools, vaccine distribution and other areas widely agreed upon by both parties. The second part – $160 billion – for state and local funding and liability protections for businesses – are included as their own bill. These are the two provisions that both parties have yet to agree to during negotiations. Splitting these provisions allows congress to vote on the controversial provisions separately from the provisions that have broader bipartisan support.
- The bill includes $6 billion in funding to help states distribute COVID-19 vaccines.
- It would extend federal unemployment benefits and add $300 to weekly unemployment checks issued by states. It extends a temporary moratorium on evicting renters.
- It does not include another round of $1,200 payments to taxpayers who earn below a certain income threshold.
- During a Senate hearing, FedEx and United Parcel Serviceexpressedconfidence that they can handle the logistics for the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Economy, Vaccine, Testing and Treatment
- On Friday, December 11, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)issuedan emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. This is the first vaccine the FDA approved for COVID-19. It is approved for people over the age of 16.
- Here is areminderabout how the new mRNA vaccine technology works.
- FDA我sclarifyingthat the vaccine does not pose an allergy risk for patients unless they have an allergy to the specific components of the vaccine.
- During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), Medicare will cover and pay for the administration of the vaccine (when furnished consistent with the EUA). CMS provided updatedpayment and HCPCS Level I CPT code structurefor specific COVID-19 vaccine information. The guidelines specify to only bill for the vaccine administration codes when you submit claims to Medicare; don’t include the vaccine product codes when vaccines are free.
- FDA我s expected to approve Moderna’s vaccine candidate as early as the end of this week. The federal governmentoutlinedits plan for how it will distribute Moderna’s vaccine once it is approved.
- General Gus Perna, from Operation Warp Speed,publishedan Op-Ed outlining the vaccine distribution process.
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)launcheda new $250 million ad campaign to boost public confidence in the vaccine. Public health officials such as the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci will be the face of the “Tell Me More” campaign.
- Researchers haveidentifiedfive genes that may be associated with severe COVID-19 symptoms. Identifying these genes could help researchers target new treatments.
- CMS’s newCOVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment infographic澄清报道,包括费用分摊费用cted payment to providers for the products & treatment administration for Medicare, Medicaid, & the ACA marketplace plans.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates
- CDC updated information:
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- to help you understand how yourCOVID-19 prevention and control strategies are workingamong different populations.
- forworkplaces and businessesas they begin to plan, prepare, and respond to COVID-19 as they reopen or continue to operate their businesses.
- available to learn aboutunderlying health and social inequitiesthat put many racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk of getting sick, having more severe illness, and dying from COVID-19.
- for people consideringholiday travel.This holiday season, consider how yourholiday planscan be modified to reduce the spread of COVID-19 – to keep your friends, families, and communities healthy and safe.
- toolkits to combat COVID-19 for:
- The CDC says to stop the spread of COVID-19 and move toward greaterhealth equity, we must work together to ensure resources are available to maintain and manage physical and mental health, including easy access to information, affordable testing, and medical and mental health care.
