Argentum COVID-19 Announcements

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced that it is issuing new reporting requirements and that it will be amending the reporting timeline for the Provider Relief Fund Program due to the passage of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act in December.

As of yesterday, the CDC reported that just under 4.4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been distributed for use in long-term care facilities. On average, 137,000 doses of vaccine are being distributed for use by this sector each day. Previously, the CDC estimated a total of 3 million people needing vaccines within this sector and as such, they have already distributed 146% of the doses needed for skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and other long-term care settings.

The Vaccination Toolkit for Long-Term Care Facilities is now live on CDC’s website.

Update: On December 28, President Trump signed this package into law. 

The House and Senate passed a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, which we anticipate President Trump will sign as soon as it hits his desk. Overall, we are disappointed in the provisions that have been set forth in this latest stimulus package. The package largely fails to address the needs of seniors residing in long-term care settings across the country and lacks the promise of the financial resources needed to care for them. While we are still reviewing the text of the bill, which was over 5,000 pages long, we do know the package includes the following items of note:

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. This EUA permits the vaccine to be distributed in the U.S. for individuals 18 and older.

Today, a U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel voted (20 in favor, one abstention) to recommend the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), citing that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed its risks. It is anticipated that the FDA will issue an EUA for the Moderna vaccine tomorrow. This EUA would clear the way for nearly 6 million more vaccine doses to be shipped as early as this weekend. Learn more.

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new emergency use authorization (EUA) for the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test, now authorized for use at home with a prescription.

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it has begun distributing Phase 3 payments from the Provider Relief Fund to over 70,000 providers across the country, totaling $24.5 billion overall. Relief funding specifically for assisted living communities is a part of this distribution.

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, clearing the way for distribution in the United States.

Voting today that “the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine outweigh its risks for use in individuals 16 years of age and older,” the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee pushed emergency use of the vaccine over a major hurdle.