HHS Kicks Off New Year with New Protections from Surprise Medical Bills

Dear all,

January 1, 2022, new federal protections championed by the Biden-Harris Administration will shield millions of consumers from surprise medical bills—unexpected bills from an out-of-network provider, out-of-network facility or out-of-network air ambulance provider. The protections, implemented under the No Surprises Act, ban surprise billing in private insurance for most emergency care and many instances of non-emergency care. They also require that uninsured and self-pay patients receive key information, including overviews of anticipated costs and details about their rights.

In addition to shielding millions of consumers from surprise medical bills, these protections will further President Joe Biden’s work to promote competition in health care and other sectors of the American economy.

“The No Surprises Act is the most critical consumer protection law since the Affordable Care Act,” said Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra. “After years of bipartisan effort, we are finally providing hardworking Americans with the federal guardrails needed to shield them from surprise medical bills. We are taking patients out of the middle of the food fight between insurers and providers and ensuring they aren’t met with eye-popping, bankruptcy-inducing medical bills. This is the right thing to do, and it supports President Biden’s vision of creating a more transparent, competitive and fair health care system.”

Both insured and uninsured/self-pay individuals who are concerned that their rights have been violated now have access to a host of tools, including a help desk (available at 800-985-3059, 8am-8pm ET seven days a week; TTY: 800-985-3059) and webpage (CMS.gov/nosurprises), where more details on registering potential violations can be found.

Both insured and uninsured/self-pay individuals who are concerned that their rights have been violated now have access to a host of tools, including a help desk (available at 800-985-3059, 8am-8pm ET seven days a week; TTY: 800-985-3059) and webpage (CMS.gov/nosurprises), where more details on registering potential violations can be found.

For more information, please see the following:


Lily Griego, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Human Services 

 

CDC Backs FDA's Decision to Reduce Time Between Primary Series and Booster Dose of Pfizer's Covid-19 Vaccine

CNN

The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday expanded the emergency use authorization for Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine boosters to children ages 12 to 15.

The agency also shortened the time needed before receiving a booster shot from at least six months after completion of the initial series to at least five months, for everyone 12 and older.

"Throughout the pandemic, as the virus that causes Covid-19 has continuously evolved, the need for the FDA to quickly adapt has meant using the best available science to make informed decisions with the health and safety of the American public in mind," FDA Acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement. "With the current wave of the omicron variant, it's critical that we continue to take effective, life-saving preventative measures such as primary vaccination and boosters, mask wearing and social distancing in order to effectively fight Covid-19."

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday backed the FDA's decision to shorten the interval between an initial series of Pfizer's vaccine and a booster shot, but plans to meet with their vaccine advisory board on Wednesday to discuss the issue of expanding booster eligibility to adolescents.

The FDA updated the emergency use authorization after review of real-world data from Israel that showed there were "no new safety concerns" in expanding boosters to adolescents or shortening the timeframe between the initial series and a booster dose.

Specifically, the data showed there were no new cases of myocarditis or pericarditis reported among adolescents who received a booster, according to a statement from the FDA.

The rapid rise in cases across the country made it clear that the benefits of expanding booster eligibility clearly outweighed the risks, FDA leaders said on a call with reporters Monday...

...The FDA on Monday also authorized a third dose as part of the primary series for certain immunocompromised children ages 5 to 11, including those who have received an organ transplant

The CDC agreed with the FDA on this, consistent with their recommendation for adults who are moderately or severely immunocompromised...

Read Full Article

 

Here's a Guide to CDC’s New Covid-19 Quarantine and Isolation Recommendations

From CNN's Jamie Gumbrecht

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday released new isolation and quarantine guidelines for people infected with or exposed to Covid-19.

Important to note: These are guidelines, not mandates, but many industry groups and organizations use them to set their own policies. While these guidelines offer more detail, the old adage applies: If you feel sick, stay home.

Here is a list of basic things to know:

For people who test positive for Covid-19:

  • Stay home and isolate for five days, regardless of whether you have symptoms. For symptomatic people, Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms developed.
  • If you have no symptoms OR if symptoms are resolving after five days, you can leave isolation but should wear a mask around others — even at home — for five more days.
  • If you have a fever — even a low fever that is going down — you should continue to isolate until your temperature is normal. 
  • There’s no need to test out of isolation after five days; tests can remain positive for months after Covid-19 infection, although you are no longer infectious. 

For people exposed to Covid-19:

These are based on what studies show about how and when people are likely to infect others.

If you are boosted, have received your first two Pfizer or Moderna doses in the last six months or your single J&J dose in the last two months: 

  • No need to quarantine at home after exposure.
  • Always wear a mask around others for 10 days.
  • Test if you develop symptoms, or five days after exposure. People can be infected even without symptoms.
  • If you test positive, you should begin to follow isolation guidelines.

If you are unvaccinated, or are eligible for a booster and haven’t received one: 

  • Quarantine at home for five days, and continue to wear a mask around others for five more days to be sure you don’t infect someone else.
  • Test if you develop symptoms or five days after exposure.
  • If you test positive, you should begin to follow isolation guidelines.

 

 

Don't Miss Your Chance to Earn CEUs On-Demand! 

On-demand sessions only available to purchase AND complete until December 31, 2021!

Recorded sessions from the 2021 APTA Colorado Conference are now available on-demand! If you did not register to attend the live conference in September, you can still purchase the 24 on-demand sessions to watch from the comfort of your home and earn up to 36 hours of CEUs!

Pricing: 

  • APTA Colorado PT Member - $369
  • APTA Colorado PTA Member - $299
  • APTA Colorado Student Member - $219

Click here to purchase the on-demand sessions. 

**If you attended the in-person conference, on-demand sessions can be added on to your full in-person conference registration for only $50.00 & you can receive up to 24 additional CEUs! Please email us at [email protected] to add the on-demand sessions to your registration! 

 

2022 CSM: Better Together. Together Again. 

Registration is open for APTA CSM, the largest physical therapy conference in the country. APTA members can save up to 40%! 

This year, there are two ways to participate — in person or virtually.

The in-person event will take place Feb. 2-5, in San Antonio, Texas, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Experience first-class programming from all 18 APTA sections and academies, earn up to 1.8 CEUs (18 contact hours), explore hundreds of research posters, and network with thousands of other attendees. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours will be required to receive your participant badge. Masks will be required indoors.

An on-demand option will be available March 1-31, with more than 100 recorded educational sessions from the in-person event curated by conference program chairs from each section. Choose between on demand with the potential to earn up 1.2 CEUs (12 contact hours) or on demand without CEUs.

COVID-19
APTA is committed to hosting a safe APTA CSM event in San Antonio in February 2022 that is consistent with CDC guidelines, with proof of vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours of participation required to receive your registration packet, and masks required indoors unless speaking at a microphone. (No refunds will be provided to those who fail to comply with these requirements and are prohibited to participate.)

The in-person conference will be held as scheduled unless public health guidance changes. Please review all expectations and requirements for participation, and answers to frequently asked questions related to COVID-19.

Click here for more information & to register! 

 
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