MAY 13, 2021
Rep. Mark Newton [M.D.] announces legislation to protect access to affordable health care signed into law
House Press
Georgia Rep. Mark Newton, M.D., chairman of the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care, today announced that Gov. Brian Kemp signed H.B. 454 into law. Under H.B. 454, a patient’s insurance will be required to reimburse health care providers at in-network rates for a certain time period if the health care provider is no longer in-network after the patient’s enrollment period. READ MORE
CDC urges states to get more COVID-19 vaccine in doctors’ offices
AMA Wire
The Biden administration is encouraging states to supply more vaccines to primary care physicians’ offices in a bid to address immunization inequities and better reach patients who are hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19. It’s a move that comes as physicians are being urged to contact their patients by whatever means available and strongly recommend SARS-CoV-2 immunization. | READ MORE
Georgia jumps quickly into COVID vaccines for 12-15 year olds
Savannah Now
The Georgia Department of Public Health began offering COVID vaccines to adolescents aged 12-15 on Tuesday, a day after the federal Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use for the Pfizer vaccine. | READ MORE
OSHA imposes new guidance for employer-required COVID-19 vaccines
Engineering News-Record
New guidance from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is causing contractors to change their COVID-19 vaccine requirements, and many of them criticize the guidance as diametrically opposed to the Biden administration’s stated desire to increase vaccinations. | READ MORE
[Noth Georgia Health System] changing COVID testing, visitation policies
The Times
Dr. John Delzell, the NGHS incident commander, said the health system shifted from testing all asymptomatic patients upon admission to only testing asymptomatic patients who are being placed in semi-private rooms. | READ MORE
New CDC tools aim to ease COVID-19 vaccine hunt
AMA Wire
With the pace of COVID-19 vaccination slowing and supply outpacing demand in many areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched new web and texting tools to make it easier for patients to find vaccine appointments and get answers to questions they may have about SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. | READ MORE
CPT codes for new coronavirus vaccines: What you need to know
AMA Wire
The AMA has published an update to the Current Procedural Terminology code set that includes new vaccine-specific codes to report immunizations for the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that are unique to the COVID-19 vaccine under development by Novavax Inc. | READ MORE
Which COVID-19 vaccine should I get? What to tell your patients
AMA Wire
While there are now three vaccines available that have received emergency use authorization in the United States – those made by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson-owned Janssen Pharmaceuticals – it is less important which one a person gets. | READ MORE
Rapidly growing Piedmont seeks deal with Augusta system
Georgia Health News
Piedmont Healthcare, fresh off a deal to buy four hospitals from HCA, is looking to continue its expansion into new areas of Georgia. | READ MORE
AMA releases plan dedicated to embedding racial justice and advancing health equity
AMA Wire
The American Medical Association today released an ambitious strategic plan to dismantle structural racism starting from within the organization, acknowledging that equity work requires recognition of past harms and critical examination of institutional roles upholding these structures. | READ MORE
U.S. will protect gay and transgender people against discrimination in health care
NPR
Gay and transgender people will be protected from discrimination in health care, the Biden administration announced Monday, effectively reversing a Trump-era rule that went into effect last year. | READ MORE
President Biden: 1 million sign up for health care during special enrollment
Associated Press
President Joe Biden said Tuesday that 1 million Americans had signed up for health insurance under “Obamacare” during a special enrollment period for those needing coverage during the coronavirus pandemic. | READ MORE
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