COVID-19 is drawing responses from all areas of the healthcare community. This is especially true among health industry trade groups and physician organizations. Between March 17 and 19, groups issued a flurry of recommendations and statements. Below are a few selected letters that capture some of the issues being raised related to COVID-19 and physician, hospital, and nurse-related concerns.
Letters to Congress and Administration
On March 17, the American College of Physicians (ACP) issued a series of legislative and regulatory recommendations in a letter to Congressional leadership. The next day, on March 18, a group of health associations, led by the AMA and AHIP, called upon Congress and the Administration to “ensure a stable, continuous supply of needed medical supplies for clinical labs and technicians, health care providers and health care facilities,” “strengthen provider capacity and drive patients to appropriate alternative sites of care,” and “ensure continued access to medications and avoid supply-chain disruptions.”
The same day, the American Medical Association (AMA) put out a statement praising the Administration’s Executive Order aimed at bolstering COVID-19 testing and personal protective equipment supplies. Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A., President of the AMA, said the following:
“With physicians and the entire health care workforce on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic facing a dire shortage of the testing supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to keep them safe and prepared to care for patients, today’s Executive Order is a critical and bold step toward ensuring vital needs are met. The AMA has called for a “Manhattan Project” type effort to expand manufacturing capacity and produce supplies needed in this time of national emergency, and this Executive Order will help bolster the supply of PPE, ventilators, and tests to help with diagnosis. We look forward to continuing to work with the Administration as we navigate this unprecedented health threat.”
A number of physician groups, including ACP, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Group Association, and others, drafted a statement to the leadership of CMS.
“The full extent of the impact of COVID-19 is not yet known, and we may not know for months to come. However, clinicians in value-based programs, particularly risk bearing APMs, need assurance now. For example, the Direct Contracting and Primary Care First models are vulnerable, with the participation agreements set to be signed later this year. Under the MSSP, risk-bearing ACOs that remain in the program past June 30 are accountable for losses. With more ACOs now in risk-bearing track than ever before, many are considering dropping out in advance of that deadline given the current situation and its unknown trajectory. Clinicians who are pioneering the path to value need to know that they will not be penalized in relation to those in fee for service, or it could hamper willingness to enter value-based contracts for years to come.”
The next day, the AMA joined the American Hospital Association and the American Nurses Association, calling upon Congressional leadership “to provide direct funding to frontline health care personnel and providers, including nurses, physicians, hospitals and health systems, to respond to this pandemic.”
Their letter additionally states: “Based on the initial costs in the states with growing COVID-19 community spread, Congress should allocate $100 billion to front line health care personnel and providers, including physicians, nurses, hospitals and health systems, and direct the federal agencies to begin to infuse funds immediately so that they can afford to take the necessary steps to fight the battle against this unseen enemy.”
Also on March 19, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) also put out a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar. Among other things, the AAN drafted feedback on telehealth regulations, writing: “The AAN applauds the Secretary and the Administrator for recognizing that during the ongoing outbreak, neurology patients still need access to high-quality neurology care, but may not be willing or able to visit their neurologist in-person during the outbreak. Lapses in care can lead to increases in adverse events, which may lead to increased utilization of otherwise avoidable emergency care and face-to-face services. With the expanded availability of telehealth services, the AAN anticipates that providers will work to rapidly develop new telehealth capabilities within their practice. As such, the AAN urges HHS promote to providers the availability of new telehealth options and to develop and disseminate guidance that addresses the regulatory, billing, compliance, privacy, and other legal considerations associated with providing telehealth services.”