Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Capacity and Administration News from NCDHHS:
Provider rate increases:
NC Medicaid is extending all current COVID-19 temporary provider rate increases through November 30, 2021! Learn more here.
Falls Prevention Awareness Week is a national health campaign observed on the first day of fall to increase awareness around falls health and injury prevention. Join us September 20-24, 2021 for Falls Prevention Week, a nationwide effort to raise awareness that falls are preventable. Read more on our blog and check out our online Falls Prevention activity!
On September 29, HRSA announced a new funding opportunity for health care providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will include $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding for providers who serve rural Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare patients, and an additional $17 billion for Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4. To expedite the funding process, providers will apply for both programs in a single application and HRSA will use existing Medicaid, CHIP and Medicare claims data in calculating payments.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a Quality Payment Program webinar on Thursday September 30, 2021 from 2-3 PM to provide an overview of the 2021 Alternative Payment Model (APM) Incentive Payment for Qualifying APM Participants.
The Biden-Harris Administration will require COVID-19 vaccination of staff within all Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities to protect both them and patients from the virus and its more contagious Delta variant. Facilities across the country should make efforts now to get health care staff vaccinated to make sure they are in compliance when the rule takes effect.
COVID-19 Clusters among Schools and Sports Teams
The first weeks of school have brought more COVID cases among school children. This rapid spread can lead to quarantines when schools don’t have strong mask requirements in place. School districts should follow the CDC’s recommendation and require masks and keep other important safety measures in place as we continue battling the pandemic.
