Public Policy Updates

7/15/22 — The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)has renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), effective July 15. The PHE declaration, first issued January 2020, must be renewed every 90 days. HHS will provide states at least 60 days’ notice prior to termination of the PHE. Read the secretary’s declaration.

7/6/22 — The FDA revised the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir), to authorize state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid to eligible patients, with certain limitations to ensure appropriate patient assessment and prescribing of Paxlovid for treatment of COVID-19. Read more. 

7/12/22 — The U.S. lost progress combating antimicrobial resistance (AR) in 2020 due, in large part, to effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the newly released CDC report “COVID-19: U.S. Impact on Antimicrobial Resistance, Special Report 2022.” CDC’s 2019 AR Threats Report showed deaths from AR infections had decreased by 18 percent from 2012 through 2017. However, … Continued

7/12/22 — The CDC has provided orthopoxvirus tests to five commercial laboratory companies to increase monkeypox testing capacity and access in every community. The lab companies include Aegis Science, Labcorp, May Clinic Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics, and Sonic Healthcare. Read more.

7/12/22 — CDC has released updated guidance for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in nursing homes to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). This guidance expands the use of enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) to include any residents of a nursing home with an indwelling medical device or wound, as well as residents with known infection … Continued

7/12/22 — The CDC is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and public health departments that parechovirus (PeV) is currently circulating in the United States. Since May 2022, CDC has received reports from healthcare providers in multiple states of PeV infections in neonates and young infants. Parechoviruses are a group of … Continued

6/29/22 — CMS issued updates to guidance on minimum health and safety standards that long-term care (LTC) facilities must meet to participate in Medicare and Medicaid. CMS memorandum QSP-22-19-NH provides summaries of revisions to surveyor guidance for Phases 2 and 3 of the LTC requirements, which will become effective October 24, 2022. Requirements for Infection Preventionists in … Continued

6/27/22 — The CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) network will present a webinar to update clinicians on what they need to know about monkeypox including guidance about the typical clinical presentation, treatment options, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, and reporting to public health authorities. The webinar will be Wednesday, June 29 at 2 – 3 … Continued

6/23/22 — BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) announced a voluntary recall on the BD™ Intraosseous Needle Set Kits, BD™ Intraosseous Manual Driver Kits, and BD™ Intraosseous Powered Drivers. Manufacturing defects in these products may result in delays in care due to limited or non-functioning intraosseous access or could also lead to needlestick injuries. Affected needle kits … Continued