Coronavirus COVID-19: Latest CDC, FDA, CMS Guidance

See below for the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and recommendations for hospital and health system leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic.


COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Guidance

April 2, 2020

To provide critical, needed leadership for the Nation’s long-term care facilities to prevent further spread of COVID-19, CMS and CDC are now recommending the following immediate actions to keep patients and residents safe.


Changes to Guidance: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings

April 13, 2020

An updated summary of changes to the guidance


FAQs About Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Implementation Part 42

April 11, 2020

Set out below are frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the FFCRA), the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act), and other health coverage issues related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). These FAQs have been prepared jointly by the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury (collectively, the Departments). Similar to previously issued FAQs (available at www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/laws-andregulations/laws/affordable-care-act/for-employers-and-advisers/aca-implementation-faqs and www.cms.gov/cciio/resources/fact-sheets-and-faqs/index.html), these FAQs answer questions from stakeholders to help individuals understand the law and benefit from it, as intended.


Administration Updates Request for Daily Hospital Data on COVID-19 Testing, Bed Capacity and Utilization

April 11 AHA Advisory

In this AHA Advisory, States May Report to Federal Government on Hospitals’ Behalf.


Novel Coronavirus Resources

April 3

This page highlights resources identified or developed to address current response and recovery operations to novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).


CDC: COVID-19 Hospital Preparedness Assessment Tool

April 1

CDC checklist highlights important areas for hospitals to ensure staff are trained, equipped and capable of identifying and caring for COVID-19 patients and preventing the spread of COVID-19 within the facility


CDC: Steps Health Care Facilities Can Take to Protect Staff, Patients and Public Against COVID-19

April 1

Get tips, links and essential information to improve safety during the COVID-19 outbreak.


 

CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning COVID-19

April 1

FAQs and considerations for patient triage, placement and hospital discharge.


CDC Updates Guidance on Discharging Patients with COVID-19

March 24 AHA Advisory

In this AHA Advisory, the CDC clarified that patients with COVID-19 can be discharged from a health care facility when clinically indicated. 


CMS Will Only Conduct Certain Surveys During COVID-19 Enforcement Discretion Period

March 23 AHA Advisory

CMS Will Only Conduct Certain Surveys During COVID-19 Enforcement Discretion Period. In this AHA Advisory, CMS will prioritize and conduct only certain surveys during the COVID-19 national emergency’s three-week enforcement discretion period, the agency has announced.


FDA Releases Guidance to Mitigate Ventilator Supply Disruptions

March 23 AHA Advisory

In this AHA Advisory, we share the latest information from FDA focused on mitigating disruptions to or shortages in the ventilator supply chain. The agency released updated guidance to provide flexibility around and expand the availability of ventilators and other respiratory devices to treat patients during the public health emergency.


CMS Grants Blanket Exceptions and Extensions Across Its Quality Measurement Programs

March 22 AHA Advisory

In this AHA Advisory, we share the latest CMS information regarding a range of data reporting exceptions it recently announced and extensions across its quality reporting and value-based payment programs for hospitals, post-acute care facilities and clinicians. March 22, 2020. (CMS) announced today it is granting a range of data reporting exceptions and extensions across its quality reporting and value-based payment programs for hospitals, post-acute care facilities and clinicians.


CDC Guidance for Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities

The CDC released new guidance for retirement communities and independent living facilities to better aid in the planning, preparation for, and response to coronavirus disease 2019. The guidance is based on what is currently known about the transmission and severity of coronavirus disease. Residents in retirement communities and independent living facilities are considered to be at higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes because of older age and because they may have underlying health conditions. These resources can be accessed using the links below.


Coronavirus Update: CMS and IRS Release New Information on COVID-19

March 11 AHA Advisory

CMS and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have released a number of new documents related to COVID-19. This includes: Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) requirements; Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D requirements and flexibilities; cost-sharing for high-deductible health plans; respirator and facemask use for health care workers; and health and safety for home health agency (HHA) and dialysis providers.


CDC head says COVID-19 public test-tracking system imminent

March 10 Headline Item


CDC updates guidance for COVID-19 testing, health care personnel

March 9 Headline Item

Updated guidance for evaluating and testing patients for novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and for assessing and managing health care personnel with potential exposure to patients with the virus


Interim U.S. Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure in a Healthcare Setting to Patients with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

March 7 CDC Guidance


Interim Additional Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 in Nursing Homes

March 7 CDC Guidance

Updated recommendations for health care personnel.


Coronavirus Update: Hospital Funding in Spending Package; Updated CDC Guidance for Health Care Workers

March 5 Advisory

The Senate March 5 passed an $8.3 billion spending package to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The House overwhelmingly passed the package March 4. Among other items the package includes $300 million for hospital and health systems’ efforts to prepare for and respond to COVID-19.


Coronavirus latest: Updates from Congress, CDC and CMS

March 5 Headline Item


Coronavirus Update: CDC Releases Updated COVID-19 Guidance and Resources for Hospitals and Health Systems

March 3 Advisory

Brief description and links to the CDC documents, including tips for consumers, and other COVID-19 updates


Six coronavirus-related deaths reported in U.S.; CDC plans for mitigation

March 2 Headline Item

Early news from Washington state and CDC’s response.


Policy for Diagnostics Testing in Laboratories Certified to Perform High Complexity Testing under CLIA prior to Emergency Use Authorization for Coronavirus Disease-2019 during the Public Health Emergency Immediately in Effect Guidance for Clinical Laboratories and Food and Drug Administration Staff

Feb. 29 FDA guidance

This Food and Drug Administration guidance provides a policy for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) molecular diagnostics tests developed and used in laboratories certified to perform high-complexity testing under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) prior to issuance of emergency use authorizations (EUA) for such tests.


Interim Guidance for Healthcare Facilities: Preparing for Community Transmission of COVID-19 in the United States

This interim guidance outlines goals and strategies for all U.S. health care facilities to prepare for and respond to community spread of COVID-19.


CDC: Coronavirus Health Care Leadership Listening Session Presentation

Feb 20 Listening Session

More CDC Resources

Coronavirus COVID-19 CDC Guidance stock. Two lab workers test samples.

Latest from AHA on CDC, FDA and CMS Guidance