COVID-19
Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage
Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and Use of Authorized/Approved Therapeutics in the Setting of Increased Respiratory Disease Activity During the 2023 – 2024 Winter Season CDC Health Alert Network December 14, 2023 Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health…
Read MoreCompliance Deadline Review: Vaccines, PRF & More
The many COVID-19 payments, loans, and grant funds available to medical practices each have compliance deadlines associated with them. Check below for upcoming deadlines to keep in mind throughout 2022. April 5, 2022 Deadline: Submit COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Claims for Reimbursement The COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund which reimburses claims for testing, treatment, and vaccine administration…
Read MoreCOVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
On November 16, 2021, MCMS held a webinar with Jessica Summers, Esq. from the law firm of Paley Rothman on COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The webinar discussed both government-issued and voluntary employer mandates. Key government-issued mandates include the Maryland Order for Hospitals and Nursing Homes, Federal Executive Order 14042, the CMS Interim Final Rule, and the OSHA Emergency…
Read MoreMandating the COVID-19 Vaccine for Staff
The following Q&A appears here courtesy of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, which has offered extensive, free resources for employers throughout the pandemic. Additional SHRM resources are listed below. Can you mandate COVID-19 vaccination for employees? The short answer is, yes. Currently, there aren’t valid legal arguments forbidding private employers from requiring vaccinations…
Read MoreCOVID-19 Vaccination & Co-Administration of Vaccines
This article is part of MCMS’s 2021 observance of National Immunization Awareness Month. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused physicians to change how they operate to continue providing essential services to patients. Ensuring immunization services are maintained or reinitiated is essential for protecting individuals and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks and reducing the burden of…
Read MoreOSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard for Healthcare
The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for Healthcare on Thursday, June 10, 2021. The ETS is meant to protect healthcare and healthcare support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present. Is My Practice…
Read MoreRegional Update: Interstate Telemedicine Waivers During COVID-19
Last Updated: June 22, 2022 Topline Update: Where does a PHE allow a Maryland licensed physician to practice? Telehealth waivers have expired in most states and the District of Columbia, although some states have now reinstated a waiver due to the Omicron associated spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Please note that requirements under the…
Read MoreFinancial Relief Check-Up
There are numerous local and national programs for businesses in need of emergency support, but understanding which options are relevant for your medical practice can be a challenge. Find Out What Aid Applies to You in 3 Minutes or Less The Maryland Business Relief Wizard is a tool that helps connect businesses with the resources…
Read MorePausing Use of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine
Updates as of April 23, 2021: Effective April 23, 2021, CDC and FDA recommend that use of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine resume in the United States. However, women younger than 50 years old should be made aware of a rare risk of blood clots with low platelets following vaccination and the availability of…
Read MoreSmoking Cessation during COVID-19: Use Trends and Opportunities
Tobacco cessation has long been a key public health aim. It can only be considered more critical now during the pandemic, as smoking has long been known to hamper immune system responses, especially with regards to pulmonary diseases and infections. With calls to quitlines down 27% in 2020, we must ask: How has COVID-19 impacted rates…
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