NEWS
A new year, a new variant. What is in store for 2022?
HCMA's 8th Virtual COVID Town Hall, Wednesday, January 26, 2022, 6:30-7:45PM. Featuring expert panelists: Dr. Margarita Cabrera-Cancio, Dr. Douglas Holt, Dr. Charles Lockwood, & Dr. John Sinnott. Moderated by Dr. Joel Silverfield, HCMA President.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER, IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY...Pre-registration is required. To pre-register for this event, CLICK HERE. You will receive a confirmation email and log-in instructions.
Provider Relief Funds - Phase 4
Today, HHS announced that it will be disbursing an additional $2 billion in Provider Relief Fund Phase 4 payments this week. Like the payments allocated in December, these payments will be based on lost revenues and increased expenses due to COVID-19 and will be made to physicians who previously applied for relief funds. HHS will reimburse a larger share of losses and increased expenses for smaller providers and a portion of the payments will be based on the amount and type of services provided to Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP patients. To mitigate disparities due to varying Medicaid reimbursement rates, HHS is using Medicare reimbursement rates in calculating these payments. Physician practices that receive more than $10,000 in payments will be required to report on their use of the funds. More information is available here.
Florida reports 605 new COVID deaths as new weekly cases and positivity rate drop
Falling case counts and fluctuating hospitalization numbers may signal that the state has reached the peak of the omicron variant. Read more.
Health News Florida, January 25, 2022
Florida has ended its appeal to Biden's COVID-19 vaccine requirement for health care workers
After a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this month that backed the Biden administration, Florida has dropped its appeal in a legal fight against federal COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health care workers. Read more.
Health News Florida, January 25, 2022
Omicron BA.2 variant may be extra transmissible
The Omicron sublineage BA.2 is making headlines for its potentially increased transmissibility as its prevalence rises in some countries, but experts aren't too concerned about the variant just yet. Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, MPH, an epidemiologist at UT Health Science Center at Houston stated that while it has many of the same mutations as BA.1, it has a lot of differences too. While BA.1 had about 60 mutations, BA.2 has about 85 mutations. Read more.
MedPage Today, January 24, 2022
US COVID wave 'Going in the right direction,' Fauci Says
"We don't want to get overconfident," Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said. "But they look like they're going in the right direction right now." The number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. could fall to manageable levels in the coming weeks. Within a month or so, the level of infection could drop to an "area of control," Fauci said. Infections will continue, but they could be much fewer and less severe. "They're there, but they don't disrupt society," he said. "That's the best-case scenario." Read more.
MedScape, January 24, 2022
REPORTS
Florida closes its monoclonal antibody sites after the FDA revokes use of the treatments
U.S. health officials have said antibody therapies from Regeneron and Eli Lilly should no longer be used because they don't work against the omicron variant. The FDA said it could reauthorize their use if evidence changes. Read more.
Health News Florida, January 25, 2022
Hope seen once the omicron wave increases global immunity
World health officials are offering hope that the ebbing of the omicron wave could give way to a new, more manageable phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as they warn of difficult weeks ahead and the possibility of another, more dangerous variant arising. Read more.
AP News, January 24, 2022
Seniors are at high risk of COVID, but Medicare doesn't pay for rapid tests
The laws governing Medicare don't provide coverage for self-administered diagnostic tests, including rapid antigen tests. Here's how older adults can get free tests anyway. Read more.
Health News Florida, January 24, 2022
Booster shots needed against omicron, CDC studies show
Three studies released last week offered more evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are standing up to the omicron variant, at least among people who received booster shots. Read more.
AP News, January 21, 2022
Webinar » COVID-19: What to know about therapeutics and other treatment options
February 1 at 4 PM, Dr. Susan Bailey, AMA Past President, welcomes experts from the FDA to discuss what prescribers need to know about therapeutic drugs, Paxlovid and Molnupiravir. Alternative treatment options for high-risk outpatients with mild-moderate COVID-19 will also be discussed. Panelists will answer questions submitted by attendees. Register now.
REFLECTIONS
What doctors wish parents knew about kids' COVID-19 vaccine safety
To help parents move from a “wait-and-see” mentality and calm their fears, two physicians shared what to know about COVID-19 vaccine safety for children. Read more from the AMA.
What doctors wish patients knew about breakthrough COVID infections
The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has led to more fully vaccinated patients acquiring COVID-19. Learn why that happens and how boosters help. Read more from the AMA.
COVID-19 has hit physicians hard—some more than others
Amid physicians’ pandemic burdens comes another: a rise in disrespect for doctors from historically marginalized racial or ethnic groups, survey shows. Read the results.
The HCMA Foundation Physician Wellness Program provides a safe harbor for members to address life difficulties, especially during this time of uncertainty, challenges, and increased stress due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19. This complimentary and completely confidential benefit is available for all members, regardless of membership category.
