Primary Care Advances in Delaware |
Thank You To All Who Worked Hard To Make This Happen |
The Delaware General Assembly passed legislation to increase Delawareans' access to high-quality, affordable health care through a series of reforms that will refocus Delaware's health care system on primary care and improvements in value. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 120 requires commercial health insurance companies to make meaningful increases in primary care investment, limits price increases for hospital and other non-professional services, and compels health insurance companies and health systems to work together to improve health care value. Read more.
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Delaware State of Emergency Ends; Public Health Emergency Authorized |
DHSS Guidance for Visitation at Long-Term Care Facilities Will Continue |
On Monday, Governor Carney signed an order that lifted the State of Emergency as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, July 13. A narrower Public Health Emergency order was authorized to allow the state and medical providers to continue the COVID-19 vaccination and testing programs. With the end of the State of Emergency in Delaware, the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) is affirming that Delaware's 86 long-term care (LTC) facilities (including nursing homes and assisted-living facilities) will continue to operate under Delaware's COVID-19 Updated Reopening Plan in Long-Term Care Facilities, following the state's existing visitation and testing guidance in order to keep residents healthy and safe. Read more.
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DPH Recommendation on Interpreting PCR Positive Test Results |
Guidance For Clearing Patients |
The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is aware of incidents of individuals with recently positive SARS-CoV-2 molecular tests (generally, tests using Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] or Nucleic Acid Amplification [NAAT]) who have their test deemed a potential false positive, and are subsequently cleared from isolation following provider evaluation or a repeat molecular test that returns a negative result. DPH continues to recommend that all positive molecular tests be considered true positives and patients be placed in isolation until cleared by either a time-based or test-based strategy. A positive test should generally require a minimum of 10 days of isolation and exclusion from travel, and a subsequent single negative test does not invalidate or override a positive test and requirement for isolation. Read more.
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Janssen J&J Vaccine Linked to Serious But Rare Side Effect |
Small Number of Guillain-Barré Cases Reported to VAERS After Vaccination
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Janssen's Johnson & Johnson (J&J) coronavirus vaccine has been linked to a rare side effect, the immune system disorder Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). GBS is a very rare complication known to occur after many different types of infections and vaccinations, including the annual flu shot and pneumococcal vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the 12.5 million doses of J&J vaccine administered in the U.S., there have been approximately 100 cases reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Of these reported cases, 95 were serious requiring hospitalization and there was one reported death. Cases have largely been reported approximately two weeks after vaccination and mostly in men, many aged 50 and older. No similar signal has been identified with the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines. The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) issued a health alert indicating the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the J&J COVID-19 vaccine to include a warning of the possible increased risk of GBS. GBS is a reportable event in Delaware. This is the latest setback for J&J, suffering from production problems, as well as a rare blood clotting disorder linked to the vaccine.
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CDC Says Vaccinated Students Can Go Maskless In Fall |
Schools Can Reopen Even If Unable To Implement Recommendations |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidelines for schools that give students who have been vaccinated the option of going maskless this fall while their classmates who have not had shots continue to wear face coverings. The guidance, which is not binding, reflects many of the same concepts that the CDC released in the spring for the broader population. Emphasizing the value of in-person learning, the guidance urges schools to reopen in the fall even if they cannot take all of the steps recommended to curb the spread of the coronavirus and to use local health data to guide decisions to increase/decrease prevention measures.
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Curative to Shift Completely to Nasal COVID-19 Testing Method |
Change Will Take Place By July 15 |
Beginning July 15, Delaware's largest COVID-19 testing partner, Curative, Inc., will shift completely from using a self-administered saliva-based test to a self-administered shallow nasal test. The new PCR testing method is expected to have the same turnaround time for results, usually within 24 to 48 hours of the specimen being received at Curative's lab. The Abbott shallow nasal PCR test has been being phased in at Curative testing sites since June. There are no out-of-pocket charges for Delawareans using the Curative testing sites. Read more.
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Town Halls Scheduled For Feedback on MCOs |
DMMA Beginning the Process of Identifying MCOs for 2023 |
The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services' Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) is beginning the process of identifying Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to operate its Medicaid Managed Care Program beginning January 1, 2023. DMMA currently contracts with AmeriHealth Caritas Delaware and Highmark Health Options whose contracts expire at the end of 2022. DMMA will host four virtual town hall meetings focusing on feedback from either members or providers on goals and procurement priorities for the managed care delivery system. Provider-focused meetings are scheduled on Monday, July 19, and Wednesday, July 21 from 3-4 p.m. See additional details and meeting access information.
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President's Executive Order Promotes Economic Competition |
Executive Order Includes 72 Initiatives |
As part of an Executive Order signed on July 9, the President is calling on federal health officials to lower prescription drug prices by working with states to devise plans to import medicines safely from Canada, where they are sold at lower prices. The directive also promotes the availability of generic drugs by banning pharmaceutical manufacturers from paying to delay entry of lower-price versions. The President also indicated hearing aids should be available to purchase over the counter at pharmacies, predicting this would lower the cost. The order also directs Health and Human Services (HHS) to support existing hospital price transparency rules and complete implementation of legislation to address surprise hospital billing. Read the White House Fact Sheet.
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Governor Carney Appointed By President to Council of Governors |
Council Serves to Strengthen State-Federal Cooperation |
Delaware Governor John Carney is one of nine governors appointed by President Biden as a member of the Council of Governors for a two-year term. The bipartisan Council of Governors serves as the lead forum to strengthen partnerships between federal and state governments, which is critical to protecting communities given the evolving challenges and threats facing our nation, ranging from extreme weather to public health challenges. Read more.
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Delaware P-EBT Program Feeds Children During The Summer |
Eligible Families Will Receive Additional Emergency Food Assistance |
Eligible Delaware households will receive additional emergency food assistance benefits under the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program to cover the summer period when children are on break and not receiving meals at school. Collaborating with the Delaware Department of Education, the Division of Social Services will issue the Summer P-EBT benefit from July 8 to July 29. Read more for details and eligibility.
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Medicare Increases Payment for Cognitive Care |
4 Things to Know About the Cognitive Assessment & Care Plan Services |
With Alzheimer's dementia affecting one in nine people age 65 and older and killing more than breast and prostate cancer combined, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is addressing this public health crisis by increasing payment for and expanding access to cognitive assessment and care plan services. Effective January 1, 2021, Medicare increased payment for these services when provided in an office setting, added to the definition of primary care services in the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and permanently covered these services via telehealth. Read more.
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FDA Narrows Window For Use of Alzheimer's Drug |
Criticism Over Wide-Labeled Approval |
Citing conversations with prescribing physicians, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), and patient advocates, the FDA and Biogen have agreed to narrow the recommended use of the drug Aduhelm (aducanumab), the only approved drug intended to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Just over a month since Aduhelm's initial approval, the FDA approved an updated label recommending the amyloid-beta targeting antibody only for patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease or mild Alzheimer's dementia. FDA officials acknowledged the complexity of the data surrounding the Alzheimer's drug and defended the use of the accelerated approval pathway. Biogen has also faced criticism over the $56,000 per year price tag. Currently, local Medicare Administrator Contractors are deciding whether to clear reimbursement of the product. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will evaluate national reimbursement based on several factors, including assessment of any clinical evidence, public comments, and professional society guidelines. Read more.
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Delta Variant Can Evade Natural Immunity, Some Antibodies |
Delta Variant Much Less Sensitive Than Alpha To Antibodies of Unvaccinated |
In a study published in Nature, the Delta COVID-19 variant was found to have mutations that allow it to evade some of the neutralizing antibodies produced by vaccines or by a natural infection, and a single shot of a two-dose regimen barely offers any protection. It was reported that fully vaccinated people, however, should retain significant protection.
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Pfizer-BioNTech Seek Authorization For 3rd Dose of Vaccine |
CDC And FDA Issue Joint Statement on Vaccine Boosters |
Pfizer and partner BioNTech plan to seek FDA authorization for a third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine, indicating it would provide even stronger protection. In encouraging data from an ongoing trial of the booster shot, levels of neutralizing antibodies are five to 10 times higher when administered six months after the second dose. Israel began administering third Pfizer doses to severely immunocompromised adults in what health experts indicate could be the first phase of an experiment to provide booster shots for the most vulnerable. In the meantime, the CDC and FDA issued a joint statement on COVID-19 vaccine boosters indicating those who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time and continue their rigorous process to determine whether or when a booster may be necessary.
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AMA STEPs ForwardTM Webinar Series
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"Implementing Innovative Solutions With An Equity Lens" |
The AMA STEPS Forward webinar series will present "Implementing Innovative Solutions With An Equity Lens" on Tuesday, August 10, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET. This webinar will outline best practices for implementing new health care technologies, including telehealth, in practice in an equitable, inclusive way focusing on both the impact to the marginalized and minoritized patients and the clinicians and systems that care for them. Read details.
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Beebe Healthcare recently became the first health care system in Delaware to offer a Hospital at Home program for patients who meet the criteria. Beebe's program allows patients to be treated for their medical condition in the comfort of their own home as a substitute for traditional inpatient, in-the-hospital care. Read more.
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Saint Francis Health Care parent Trinity Health announced all colleagues, clinical staff, contractors, and those conducting business in its health care facilities nationwide are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Read more.
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MSD is spotlighting physician members throughout the state, highlighting your colleagues, whether they are new to membership or have been a member over the years.
This week's spotlight is on Heather L. Farley, MD, MHCDS, FACEP, Chief Wellness Officer at ChristianaCare. Read more.
If you would like to be featured in the Spotlight section, please contact Michelle Seymour, Membership Manager.
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The Latin phrase Rerum Cognoscere translates to learn, examine, or become aware of facts or things. In this section we highlight measurable items of interest in health care from MSD, Delaware, the US, and the world. |
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702
Average number of heat-related deaths occurring each year.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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67,512
Average number of emergency department visits each year due to heat.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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9,235
Average number of people hospitalized due to heat each year.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Was the information in this newsletter useful? If so, forward to a friend to let them know the value of your Medical Society of Delaware membership. |
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