Administration Releases Two New Reports on Long COVID

Today, the Biden-Harris Adminstration released two reports on Long COVID. The National Research Action Plan on Long COVID, created in coordination with 14 government departments and agencies, introduces the first U.S. government–wide national research agenda focused on advancing prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and provision of services and supports for individuals and families experiencing Long COVID. The Services and Supports for Longer-Term Impacts of COVID-19 Report outlines federal services available to the American public to address longer-term effects of COVID-19, including Long COVID and related conditions, as well as other impacts on individuals and families.

The reports and more details may be accessed here.

State Funding for Higher Education Rose in 2021

The “State Higher Education Finance Report, FY 2021”, released today by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), found that state funding in fiscal year 2021 increased by 4.5 percent above inflation. State and local funding for all higher education totaled $113.2 billion in fiscal year 2021, including $3.7 billion in federal stimulus funding (3.2%). SHEEO’s report notes that 2021 marks the tenth straight year of declining enrollment.

The report may be accessed here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here.

ACE Webinar on Addressing Campus Mental Health Using Federal Relief Dollars

ACE, in partnership with the Department of Education, will be hosting a webinar exploring how colleges and universities can use federal COVID-19 relief funds to improve campus mental health resources at their institutions. Deputy Assistant Secretary Michelle Asha Cooper and a panel of campus leaders who have successfully used relief funds to expand the mental health resources available to their students will discuss their own experiences and answer questions from the public. The webinar will be held on May 25 from 2:00-3:00pm Eastern.

On May 23 at 12:30pm Eastern, the Department of Education will hold a summit on strategies to support students with disabilities and students with mental health needs.

Registration and more details for May 25 may be accessed here. Registration and more details for May 23 may be accessed here.

Public Health Emergency Extended

On Wednesday, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra extended the public health emergency declaration by 90 days, to mid-July, and allowing pandemic policies to continue. HHS said it will provide states with at least 60 days’ notice prior to any ending of the declaration.

The renewal of the public health emergency determination may be accessed here.

Will Medicare Still Cover Telemental Services After COVID?

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, Medicare beneficiaries have had access to a range of telehealth services, including those for mental health. What happens when the emergency ends, as scheduled, on April 19? A blog from the Commonwealth Fund explains that temporarily extending current telehealth waivers would allow policymakers time to evaluate what flexibilities should be extended or made permanent.   

The blog can be obtained at Avoiding the Cliff: Medicare Coverage of Telemental Health and the End of the PHE | Commonwealth Fund.

COVID-19 Impact On Healthcare Management Education

Many health care management education programs surveyed by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education in 20 countries reported challenges placing students in real-world experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents in a report predict only one-third of programs will return to mostly face-to-face education after the pandemic. 

The report can be obtained at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i2E3bZGg5EHB--hX6ZV5GV_LwQ7Ij0HK/view.

Senate Committee Advances PREVENT Pandemics Act

On Tuesday, the Senate HELP Committee advanced the PREVENT Pandemics by a vote of 20-2. The legislation aims to strengthen the U.S. public health and medical preparedness and response system and reflects ideas from 41 bills.

More details may be accessed here.

Senate to Hold PREVENT Pandemics Act Markup

On Tuesday, March 15, at 10am Eastern, the Senate HELP Committee will hold a markup of S. 3799, the PREVENT Pandemics Act. Earlier this year the Committee released a discussion draft and section-by-section of the bill. The legislation aims to strengthen the nation’s public health and medical preparedness and response systems in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More details may be accessed here.

White House National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

Today the White House released its National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. This plan lays out a roadmap to help fight COVID-19 in the future as we begin to get back to our more normal routines. The President’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan focuses on four key goals: protect against and treat COVID-19, prepare for new variants, prevent economic and educational shutdowns, and continue to vaccinate the world.

The plan may be accessed here and here.

Senate Committee Seeks Feedback on Bipartisan Pandemic and Public Health Preparedness and Response Bill

This week the Senate HELP Committee Committee Chair, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Ranking Member, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), released a discussion draft of the PREVENT Pandemics Act, bipartisan legislation focused on strengthening the nation’s public health and medical preparedness and response systems in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Feedback on the discussion draft may be submitted to HELPPandemicbill@help.senate.gov until February 4, 2022. A press release may be accessed here, along with the draft bill text and section-by-section.

Education Officials Testify on the Implementation of COVID-19 Education Funds

Today, two Department of Education officials participated in a hearing held by two subcommittees of the House Committee on Education and Labor. Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten and Under Secretary James Kvaal fielded questions on the amount of relief money that has been disbursed, states’ use of relief funds, and other topics.

The hearing may be accessed here. An article by Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here.

Research Study: Liaison COVID-19 Fall 2021 Impact on Higher Education

Conducted between August 4 and August 20, 2021, Liaison International fielded a research study using an online survey questionnaire sent to faculty, staff, and administrators at 3,106 higher education institutions across the United States. The respondents included both full- and part-time faculty and staff - asking questions on how the pandemic is affecting overall institutional operations and the moods and concerns around campuses. The report is entitled, “COVID-19 Fall 2021 Impact on Higher Education”.

The report may be accessed here.

ASAHP Endorses the SAVE Act and the Pathways to Health Careers Act

ASAHP recently endorsed two important pieces of legislation, S.2114, the Student Assisted Vaccination Effort (SAVE) Act, and H.R.4449, the Pathways to Health Careers Act.

Our coverage of these bills can be found here and here. Support letters are available here and here.

Renewal Of Determination That A Public Health Emergency Exists

Effective July 20, 2021, the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration has been renewed for 90 more days. 

Additional information can be obtained at https://www.phe.gov/emergency/news/healthactions/phe/Pages/COVID-19July2021.aspx.

Vaccination Rollout Averts Deaths And Hospitalizations

A report from The Commonwealth Fund indicates that that approximately 279,000 lives have been saved through vaccination efforts in the U.S. with 1.25 million avoiding hospitalization. Since December 2020 when a rapid vaccine rollout plan was launched, 67% of adults have received at least one dose. 

The report can be obtained at https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2021/jul/deaths-and-hospitalizations-averted-rapid-us-vaccination-rollout.

Inside the FCC's New Program to Help Pell Grant Students Pay for Internet

On Tuesday, June 29, at noon Eastern, New America will hold a webinar entitled, “Are You #Pelligible for a Broadband Discount?: Inside the FCC's New Program to Help Pell Grant Students Pay for Internet”. The webinar will examine how college students receiving Pell Grants can enroll in the new, temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program which provides up to $50 per month—or $75 in Tribal areas—to pay for internet service.

More details, including registration, are available here. More information on the EBB program may be accessed here.

Senate Bill Would Permanently Allow Students to Vaccinate

On Thursday, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Student Assisted Vaccination Effort (SAVE) Act, which extends existing emergency provisions and makes permanent the ability of health professions students to vaccinate during federally declared public health emergencies. Specifically, the bill would allow medical, nursing, pharmacy, pharmacy intern, midwife, paramedic, advanced or intermediate emergency medical technician, physician assistant, respiratory therapy, dental, podiatry, optometry or veterinary students, with appropriate training and supervision, to administer vaccines. The SAVE Act is supported by Students Assist America (SAA), an interprofessional initiative of 12 associations, including ASAHP.

The Students Assist America press release may be accessed here and bill details may be accessed here.

Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Strengthening the U.S. Public Health System

On Tuesday, June 29, 2021, from 11am to 12:30pm Eastern, the Bipartisan Policy Center will hold a webinar on “Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Strengthening the U.S. Public Health System”. Participants include Judy Monroe, M.D., President and CEO of the CDC Foundation, Dan Crippen, Ph.D., former Director of the Congressional Budget Office, Margaret Hamburg, M.D., former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and others.

More information and registration may be accessed here.