Last month, Governor Carney and the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) announced that beginning September 30th, staff at long-term care and other health care facilities regulated by the DHSS Division of Health Care Quality will be required to provide proof of vaccination or undergo regular testing to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 to vulnerable populations. The Emergency Orders, which contain the emergency regulation with requirements about the mandatory testing are effective September 30th. Also referred to in the emergency regulations is the Division of Public Health (DPH) Testing Guidance. Currently, fully vaccinated staff are not required to be tested for COVID-19 on a routine basis. All unvaccinated staff must be tested at a minimum of once every seven (7) days. Molecular and antigen tests are acceptable. Please refer to the emergency regulations and testing guidance for full details. Community-based testing locations. Vaccination locations.

Governor John Carney, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), and the Delaware Department of Education (DOE) announced on Tuesday that educators, school staff, contractors, and volunteers who work in K-12 public and private schools must get vaccinated for COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. The requirement, which will be formally issued by emergency regulation, takes effect November 1.

MSD and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) provided an excellent presentation to health care professionals on Tuesday, September 28th. Karyl Rattay, MD and Rick Hong, MD of DPH walked the participants through eligibility requirements of COVID-19 vaccine third doses and boosters. In case you missed it, you can review the slide deck from the briefing. One slide you may find particularly helpful is a flow chart to help you navigate the various options and determine whether your patient is eligible for either a third dose or a booster shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an official Health Advisory recommending urgent action to increase COVID-19 vaccination among people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), are trying to become pregnant, or who might become pregnant in the future. The CDC strongly recommends vaccination either before or during pregnancy because the benefits outweigh known or potential risks. As of September 27, more than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in pregnant people, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has announced a new application cycle for $25.5 billion in COVID-19 provider funding. Applicants will be able to apply for both Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural payments during the application process. PRF Phase 4 is open to a broad range of providers with changes in operating revenues and expenses. ARP Rural is open to providers who serve rural patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

See a detailed list of eligible provider types here. The application process will close on October 26, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Because of the number of validation checks performed in the application process, HHS encourages beginning as soon as possible to ensure meeting the submission deadline. READ more and register for educational webinars.

The Delaware Division of Public Health Bureau of Oral Health and Dental Services (BOHDS) has partnered with the Delaware Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (DEAAP) to promote literacy and good oral health habits. DEAAP's Early Literacy Committee is supporting Delaware primary care pediatricians to promote early literacy from birth to five years. To accomplish this, DEAAP and BOHDS are working together to promote the "Brush, Brush, Brush" book to pediatric practices that are implementing the evidence-based Reach Out and Read literacy program. The book, which will be distributed to patients during the 12-month well-child visit, promotes good oral health habits using rhyme to engage and inspire children to brush their teeth. Parents are encouraged to begin their children's dental visits by age 1. Pediatric practices expressing an interest in distributing the "Brush, Brush, Brush" book are contacted by a dental hygienist who will coordinate book delivery, discuss available resources and supplies, as well as training for risk assessment and fluoride varnish application. Pediatricians who are interested in the Reach Out and Read literacy program should contact Megan Hayes, Executive Director for DEAAP at Megan.Hayes@medsocdel.org or (302) 224-5181.

The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB), a division of the Delaware Department of Insurance, is encouraging residents to prepare for Medicare Open Enrollment, taking place October 15 through December 7. DMAB provides free, one-on-one Medicare counseling, offers virtual appointment options, as well as video tutorials and other guides that can assist in beneficiaries’ preparation. Residents are encouraged to register for a MyMedicare.gov account prior to a counseling session. A Virtual Medicare Seminar, which DMAB began to offer in 2020, is available on-demand to educate participants on Medicare benefits, supplemental insurance policies, Medicare Advantage plans, prescription drug coverage, and details on signing up. Download the poster for your office.

With the release of the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recognized five new CPT codes for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) of "non-physiologic" patient data (musculoskeletal system status, respiratory system status, therapy [medication] adherence and response, and pain). If finalized, the RTM codes will provide coverage for monitoring of certain data points that are outside the scope of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM). RPM codes relate to physiologic data. The examples of RTM health conditions allude to a broad range of data that has long been important to monitoring patients' health. Although RTM will still require the use of a medical device (as defined by the FDA), CMS clarifies in the Proposed Rule that non-physiologic data may include self-reported data, a distinction from the RPM codes that currently require data to be automatically transmitted by a connected device. Read more.

Recognized as one of the top training programs in the country, the AMPAC Campaign School's comprehensive program will mold you into a winning political strategist and help you elect friends of medicine. The virtual Campaign School will be conducted over the course of two consecutive weekends: December 4-5 and 11-12, 2021, running from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET. Both weekends must be attended by participants. Attendees may include physicians, spouses of physicians, residents, and medical students interested in becoming more involved in politics. The registration fee is $350 for American Medical Association (AMA) Member/$1,000 for non-AMA members. This fee is waived for AMA residents and students; however, space is limited and the AMPAC Board will review and select four participants from the pool of qualified resident and student applicants. Space is limited and the deadline to register is October 13, 2021. Read more and register.

The MSD Voluntary Initiative Program (VIP) helps coordinate charitable services provided by physicians and provides other health service resources to patients as necessary. VIP is part of the State's Health Care Connection program. Delaware residents enrolled in Health Care Connection are referred to VIP health care professionals for their health care. Along with patient referral, VIP has a Medication Assistance Program provided at no cost to address the prescription assistance needs of the patients. Since 2007, VIP has saved patients almost $7,000,000 in prescription costs. Read more about joining MSD's network of VIP health care professionals and the Medication Assistance Program.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is conducting a study to help improve your experience with resources about the Medicare program and correct billing. Please share your thoughts by taking this survey. Responses are confidential, and the survey should take about 10 minutes to complete.

At least three promising antivirals for COVID-19 are being tested in clinical trials, with results expected as soon as late fall or winter. The top contender is a medication from Merck & Co. and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics called molnupiravir. Two others include a candidate from Pfizer, known as PF-07321332, and an antiviral produced by Roche and Atea Pharmaceuticals, AT-527. The antivirals affect the virus’s ability to replicate in human cells, which reduces the patient’s viral load, shortening infection time and preventing the kind of immune response that can cause serious illness or death. Remdesivir has been the only antiviral drug approved to treat COVID-19 and is given intravenously to patients ill enough to be hospitalized.

Join NAMI Delaware for their annual Inspiring Hope Conference on October 4 and 5 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. each day. The conference will be held virtually. This conference is Delaware's largest mental health conference, and you're invited to learn about the latest research, discover resources, develop a talent for advocacy, and foster a better understanding of issues relating to mental illness. Register.

To address the growing need for services in Sussex County, ChristianaCare announced it will open a new location in Rehoboth Beach offering primary and specialty care services, as well as an innovative care model for patients 65 and older. The new location will open in Spring 2022 at 18742 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach (previously occupied by Pier 1). The innovative new model of care for people 65 and over will address chronic health conditions, maintenance of mobility and functional status, and nutrition and medication needs to support healthy aging. Home visits will be available to patients who have medical and social challenges that interfere with a typical office visit. The primary care practice plans to include extended hours for early morning and evening and some Saturday appointments.

Friends and colleagues are invited to attend a Celebration of Life for former MSD member James K. Bouzoukis, MD who passed away on February 2, 2021. The event will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2021, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Ashland Nature Center Auditorium, 3511 Barley Mill Rd., Hockessin, DE 19707. Full COVID-19 vaccination is required for attendance. RSVP is required to CarolBzks@gmail.com or text to (302) 723-2056.

MSD's Membership Department is pleased to announce the newest members of the Medical Society of Delaware. Welcome to the third oldest medical society in the country! If you know someone interested in joining MSD, please contact Michelle Seymour at (302) 224-4905 or Michelle.Seymour@medsocdel.org with any questions or concerns.

MSD members are afforded a seven-day review period from the date of this publication to comment regarding applicants for membership. Please contact Michelle Seymour at (302) 224-4905 or Michelle.Seymour@medsocdel.org with any questions or concerns.