COVID-19

MASSACHUSETTS HOSPITALS STAND READY

The Most Current Information

These state, federal, and global entities are continually updating their resources to provide the most current information on COVID-19.

• The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has information for the public and providers on efforts within the commonwealth, including testing by the State Public Health Laboratory.
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS') Current Emergencies webpage has issued guidance and waivers from existing rules to assist providers deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. Check the page for a continually updated list of actions from CMS, including guidance about coverage, coding & billing, surveys & certification, and more. 
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers clinical guidance, situation updates, and more.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) provides rolling updates from around the globe.
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) website has links to other resources from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Fogarty International Center.
• The American Hospital Association (AHA) provides a single source repository for many materials relating to COVID-19.

The well-respected medical journal, The Lancet, has created a coronavirus research center that brings together content from across The Lancet’s many journals (for example, The Lancet Global Health, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, and The Lancet Respiratory Medicine) as it is published. The content on the website is free.

This 5-page list from the federal government details many links to federal agencies and their specific guidance related to COVID-19. It's a valuable resource. 

Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19

In certain circumstances, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services using section 1135 of the Social Security Act can temporarily modify or waive certain Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or HIPAA requirements, called 1135 waivers. Click here to view a list of waivers relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.


State Executive Orders 

The Baker Administration under the emergency order issued on March 10 has used its authority to grant a series of emergency orders and guidance documents to ease restrictions on providers responding to the pandemic. Click here for a list of these orders. 

MHA’s Strategic Partner, Symmetry Workforce Solutions, is offering MHA members free access to a rapid response option for your supplemental staffing needs via their parent company, Aya Healthcare. Aya is proactively qualifying a workforce of nurses, respiratory therapists, and other staff that may be needed to respond rapidly to the situation. To date, more than 20 state hospital associations are participating and Aya has engaged more than 500,000 clinicians regarding interest and opportunities to serve across the U.S. For information, contact Diane Adams, RN, at diane.adams@symmetryworkforce.com or (609) 240-5006; Guy Evans, at guy.evans@symmetryworkforce.com or (732) 245-0212; or MHA’s Jim Vahey at jvahey@mhalink.org.

 Caring for the Caregiver: COVID-19 Resources 

MHA has assembled resources to support caregiver wellbeing during this challenging time. The list at the link here includes timely webinars, articles, toolkits and more with information on stress management, self-care, and caregiver support.

Provider Toolkits

This section contains operational resources for hospitals that are updating their airborne isolation plans, personal protective equipment inventory, among other best practices to employ during widespread contagion events. The resources are from around the U.S.