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The Latest COVID-19 News, Delivered to You!
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Welcome to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council’s (NHCHC) COVID-19 Flash Blast. This brief synopsis of key issues specific to the HCH community, policy developments, resources, and reading lists on the topic of COVID-19 will be delivered monthly. You are receiving this email because you subscribe to NHCHC communications; previous issues are archived here.
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Public Health Emergency Extended
The public health emergency has been extended for an additional 90 days, making the new scheduled end date July 15. The Administration has also promised to give states at least 60 days’ notice before ending the emergency. Two significant health care policy issues that still must be addressed are telehealth waivers and Medicaid redetermination, which has been on hold since the public health emergency was first declared in January 2020. Both issues have significant impact on the way people experiencing homelessness can access care.
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CURRENT/EMERGING ISSUES & TRENDS
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As COVID enters a new phase -- with many communities working to define a “new normal” for how homeless services will be provided and how to respond to surges in COVID cases -- we are reminded daily that the pandemic is not over. Communities continue to face challenges with meeting isolation and quarantine needs when cases present in people experiencing homelessness, and shelter continues to be an inadequate alternative to permanent housing. Federal organizations are moving away from issuing new COVID-specific guidance and there are fewer “new” issues; the focus has shifted toward how to take the lessons learned and apply them moving forward.
Some of the priorities communities are focusing on are:
- Continuing regular communication and meetings with public health partners to respond to surges and work on other shared public health goals.
- Developing policies and plans for isolation/quarantine “shelter in place” in the absence of designated hotel resources.
- Assessing for safety to return to previously offered care, such as nebulizer treatments, group therapy, etc.
- Providing COVID therapeutic treatments for individuals who test positive. This includes having a wide inclusion criterion for all people experiencing homelessness due to their risk of severe illness.
- Ensuring access to COVID care, treatment, and prevention for those who are uninsured.
If your communities have developed policies, procedures, or playbooks on topics such as sheltering in place, responding to community surges in COVID-19, etc., that you are able to share, please send them to kleague@nhchc.org.
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There will be many policy changes related to COVID-19 in the next several months as the Biden-Harris Administration moves forward with its agenda. Below are the most recent developments:
- Public transit mask mandate: A federal judge in Florida struck down the mask mandate for all federal transportation systems that had just been extended to May 3 by the CDC. Amtrak and multiple airlines announced that masks would be optional for passengers and employees on airplanes, as well as in airports. The Justice Department is appealing this decision based on the recommendations by CDC that wearing a mask “remains necessary to protect the public health.”
- Funding to identify and reduce health disparities: HHS announced $90 million in American Rescue Plan funds to support new data-driven efforts for HRSA Health Centers and look-alikes to identify and reduce health disparities. These funds can be used for a variety of activities for modifying, enhancing, and expanding health care services and infrastructure. Applications are due by May 23, 2022.
- HRSA Community Health Worker Training Program: The Community Health Worker Training Program aims to educate and train 13,000 community health workers to help more people enter the health workforce. Applications are due by June 14, 2022.
- Second booster dose for people 50+: The FDA authorized a second booster dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines for individuals who are 50+. The CDC advises that this dose can be administered four months after their first booster dose. CMS announced that Medicaid and Medicare will cover these doses.
- Expanded access to HRSA therapeutics program: The HRSA program that provides direct supply of several oral antiviral pills for the outpatient treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 is now open to all HRSA-supported health centers with pharmacy capacity. Interested health centers should refer to the BPHC Bulletin for information on joining.
- COVID funds in Congress: Hope for COVID funding has, once again, stalled in Congress. The extremely whittled down $10 billion COVID aid bill focuses largely on purchasing vaccine doses and therapeutics and does not provide any global support. Without funding, the government has stopped providing vaccination, testing, and treatment for uninsured individuals. This also means there will not be sufficient vaccine supply to cover the entire population with a fourth dose – a prospect that is looking more likely.
- Federal employee vaccine mandate: An appeals court upheld the vaccine mandate for federal employees. However, it appears the Administration will wait before fully enforcing the mandate as it is possible this decision will be appealed.
- Booster doses for ages 5-11: Pfizer has requested authorization for a booster dose for children age 5-11. Data shows that the additional dose, given 6 months after the primary series, increases the immune response in healthy children.
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Federal guidance, local tools, and new research are being published every day. Below are the newest items we've selected that will be helpful to the HCH community.
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Publications from the HCH community:
(Have something you’ve published related to COVID-19? Let us know!)
Other Media:
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Have a resource or issue you want to add to a future COVID-19 Flash Blast? Let us know! Email Katie League.
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Katie League, LCSW-C
COVID-19 Project Manager
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
kleague@nhchc.org
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National Health Care for the Homeless Council
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National Institute for Medical Respite Care
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| Grounded in human rights and social justice, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council's mission is to build an equitable, high-quality health care system through training, research, and advocacy in the movement to end homelessness.
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