I Matched At......

Congratulations to all our medical students who matched this week. We hope you find joy in your next phase in your medical career and to love the program that loves you! Happy Match Day!

And thank you to our Delaware hospital residency programs that will be training this next generation of future physicians! Don't forget the resources that MSD can provide to help you. Our Academic Channel can help those who are interested in publishing research and poster projects.

For those of you who didn't match this year, here's how to make the most of the coming year and improve your odds of matching in the next cycle. 4 tips from a physician who helped unmatched applicants find success.

Friday, March 15

March 15 is International Long COVID Awareness Day. This year's theme is "Confront Long COVID." It is important to recognize and raise awareness of Long COVID as a real and serious infection-associated chronic condition that has affected millions of people across the United States. CDC and other federal partners and stakeholders are actively working to address gaps in the understanding of Long COVID and the needs of people with Long COVID. Join in supporting people with this condition. Together, we can confront Long COVID. Learn more.

Sunday, March 17th

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned about 432 CE to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools. Many legends grew up around him—for example, that he drove the snakes out of Ireland and used the shamrock to explain the Trinity. Ireland came to celebrate his day with religious services and feasts. It was emigrants, particularly to the United States, who transformed St. Patrick’s Day into a largely secular holiday of revelry and celebration of things Irish. Boston held its first St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1737, followed by New York City in 1762. Since 1962 Chicago has colored its river green to mark the holiday. Although blue was the color traditionally associated with St. Patrick, green is now commonly connected with the day. Here's to the "wearing of the green" and enjoying corned beef and cabbage and green beer to celebrate the day! Today Governor Carney joined members of the General Assembly and members of the community to sign a proclamation for Irish American Heritage Month.

A Deeply Personal Look Inside the Culture of Hazing

MSD’s Campaign for Kids Promotes the Health and Well-Being of Delaware Youth… It’s OBVIOUS! Free Lecture Series.

Join MSD when we address the important topic of “Hazing”, from award-winning filmmaker Byron Hurt, offering a deeply personal look inside the culture, tradition, and secrecy surrounding hazing rituals in fraternities and sororities, sports teams, marching bands, the military and beyond. Snacks will be served. This lecture is scheduled on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 6:30pm at the ChristianaCare John H. Ammon Medical Education Center, Newark Campus. Download the flyer and register at https://reg.planetreg.com/OBVIOUS%20Lecture%20Series.

DPH Issues Health Alert

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) issued a health alert to advise clinicians that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified high lead levels in several ground cinnamon products. Several stores, including Dollar Tree, Save A Lot, and Family Dollar, sold cinnamon products that contain lead levels that could be potentially harmful to consumer, particularly children. Signs and symptoms may include headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in activity level, and anemia. No illnesses or other health effects have been reported to the FDA and DPH in connection with the new ground cinnamon alert.

Following the October 2023 recall of cinnamon apple puree and applesauce products due to high lead levels, the FDA initiated a targeted survey and analysis of ground cinnamon products from discount retail stores. Based on results from their investigation, the FDA is recommending recalls of ground cinnamon from six distributors whose products had high leads including the following products: 

•  Marcum Ground Cinnamon from Save A Lot

•  MK from SF Supermarket

•  Swad Cinnamon Powder from Patel Brothers (Raja Foods, LLC of Skokie)

•  Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon from Dollar Tree & Family Dollar

•  Eli Chilar, from La Joya Morelense

•  La Fiesta from La Superior SuperMercados

Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores since voluntarily pulled these products from their shelves and consumers can return these products for a refund. DPH is recommending that the ground cinnamon products be disposed of by emptying the contents into the trash before discarding the packaging to prevent others from salvaging the product.

Clinicians are encouraged to offer blood lead level (BLL) testing to those who have consumed these specific products and/or who have symptoms compatible with lead toxicity. No level of lead in children’s blood has been identified as being safe. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses a blood lead reference value (BLRV) of 3.5 µg/dL to identify children with BLLs that are higher than most children's levels. The BLL can be obtained using a capillary or venous blood draw. Capillary lead levels ≥3.5 µg/dL require confirmatory testing with a venous blood lead level. Read more on recommendations for clinicians.

According to the FDA, as of March 8, the CDC has received reports of 126 confirmed cases, 336 probably cases, and 37 suspected cases for a total of 499 cases from 44 different states through their reporting structure. The FDA indicates that, as of March 13 they have reviewed 90 confirmed complaints/reports of adverse events potentially linked to recalled product. Confirmed complainants are between ) and 53 years of age and the median age is one year old.

Lessens Physician Medicare Reimbursement Cut

As reported in Fierce Healthcare, after the House approved a bipartisan spending bill last week, the Senate followed last Friday, keeping a portion of the federal government funded until September and preventing a partial government shutdown. The measure was signed by President Biden last Saturday. The bill reduces the physician Medicare pay cut from the 3.37% across-the-board cut that took effect on January 1 to a 1.69% cut, as well as pushing back scheduled disproportionate share hospital payment cuts, and increasing annual funding for community health centers. Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, President of the American Medical Association, said in a statement issued, "The need to stop the annual cycle of pay cuts and patches and enact permanent Medicare payment reforms could not be more clear." Physicians and patients can visit the AMA’s Fix Medicare Now website to write their congressional representatives to support physician payment reform.

Keeping You Informed

On Monday, March 11th, MSD sent a third Special Edition of the MSD eNews & Views with information surrounding the cyber-attack affecting Change Healthcare operations and CMS's response for Medicare Part B participants. MSD will continue to keep you updated through our digital communications and also our website. The AMA also has a website on the Change Healthcare cyber-security issue that outlines the latest developments, information for physician practices, and related AMA advocacy. 

On Wednesday this week, Change Healthcare indicated that all of its major pharmacy and payment systems were back online and expects to start reestablishing connections to its claims network and software on March 18th.

Letter to HHS Circulating in House

A bipartisan letter written by Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) is currently circulating throughout the House of Representatives for additional Members of Congress to cosign. The letter, which highlights the need for the Biden Administration and United Health Group to continue to provide physician practices and patients with the resources they need to weather this cyber-attack, is tentatively scheduled to close for additional cosigners on Monday, March 18. The AMA supports this letter and urges all national medical societies, state and county medical associations, and individual physicians to contact their Members of Congress and encourage them to cosign this important letter. A current list of cosigners as of mid-day on March 14 is provided for your review. At this time, there is no companion letter in the Senate. Please note this is only a letter for Members of Congress to cosign. 

CMS MIPS Announcement Due to Change Healthcare Incident

MIPS 2023 Data Submission Now Open Until April 15

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the data submission period for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians who participated in the 2023 performance year of the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Data can now be submitted and updated until 8 p.m. ET on April 15, 2024 (it was originally scheduled to close on April 1st).

The American Medical Association (AMA) welcomes this extension until April 15, but is concerned the timeline is insufficient. Therefore, they will continue to push CMS to automatically apply the Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) hardship exception to all MIPS eligible clinicians for the 2023 performance period. Alternatively, they will encourage CMS to reopen the hardship exception application for the 2023 performance period and allow eligible clinicians to claim an exception due to the Change Healthcare cyber-attack.

CMS has also published FAQs that go into details about what services qualify for accelerated and advance payments, application criteria, terms of repayment, financial concerns, and other topics.

How to Submit and Review Your 2023 MIPS Data

Follow the steps outlined below to submit data:

1. Go to the Quality Payment Program sign in page.
2. Sign in using your QPP access credentials.
3. Submit your MIPS data for the 2023 performance year or review the data reported on your behalf by a third party. (You can’t correct errors with your data after the submission period, so it’s important to make sure the data submitted on your behalf is accurate.)

Submission Resources Available

The following submission resources are available on the QPP Resource Library:

1. 2023 Traditional MIPS Data Submission User Guide

2. 2023 MVPs Data Submission User Guide

3. 2023 APP Data Submission User Guide

4. 2023 QPP JSON Templates and Instructions (ZIP, 594KB)

5. Quality Payment Program Access User Guide (ZIP, 3MB)

6. 2023 CMS Web Interface FAQs

7. 2023 CMS Web Interface User Guide

HHS Office for Civil Rights Issues Letter and Opens Investigation of Cyber-attack

On Wednesday, the US Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a "Dear Colleague" letter addressing the cyber-security incident impacting Change Healthcare. OCR enforces the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, which sets forth the requirements that HIPAA covered entities (most health care professionals, health plans, and health care clearinghouses) and their business associates must follow to protect the privacy and security of protected health information and the required notifications to HHS and affected individuals following a breach. Ransomware and hacking are the primary cyber-threats in health care. A key focus of the investigation is to find out if UnitedHealth complied with HIPAA rules and to identify the extent of the breach. Read the Letter - PDF

CHR Lab Value Displays

On Wednesday, March 13th, the Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN) sent a communication advising that some Community Health Record (CHR) users are reporting incomplete or missing lab result values for both current and historical results from Christiana Care and Atlantic General Hospital. This is likely due to how the fields are populated by the sending facilities, and DHIN's technical teams are working with the impacted data senders on a resolution. The DHIN Service Desk is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. via phone at (302) 480-1770 and email at servicedesk@dhin.org.

In Case You Missed It...

MSD continued its tradition of hosting physician members, as well as state legislators, at its Pubs & Politics event on Tuesday evening, March 12th in Dover. Following an active and lively session at Legislative Hall, several state legislators spent time with MSD members at 9E Taphouse for complementary food, drink, and friendly banter.

Indulge in Fine Food Prepared by Renowned Local Chef

Registration is now open for the MSD 2024 Interim Council Meeting to be held on Thursday, April 18th at the Smyrna Opera House, located at 7 W. South St., Smyrna, DE. The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. with sign-in and a half-hour cocktail social, followed by the Interim Council business meeting beginning promptly at 6:30 p.m. As a member of MSD, this event affords you the opportunity to connect with your peers and meet new colleagues, all the while enjoying fine food and beverage at a historic Delaware location!

We have secured a wonderful catering group, led by Robbie Jester, to complement the evening’s experience. Robbie took home top honors as the winner of Netflix’s “Pressure Cooker,” squared off with and beat celebrity chef Bobby Flay, and was featured on the Food Network show “Guy’s Grocery Games.” He has also catered events for then Vice President Biden and the King and Queen of Sweden. Come enjoy great food and network with your peers! Plan to attend this year!

Reports being submitted must be received no later than Monday, March 25th.

Consider submitting a resolution. Resolutions are a vehicle to submit to Council your issues for change. Learn more about writing a resolution from the MSD Resolution Writing Guide or the brief training video developed. Resolution submission deadline is Friday, April 5th. Resolutions must be in final format by this date, with no further modifications accepted (i.e., reviewed, proper format, correct citations, etc.). Please email resolutions to Mary.LaJudice@medsocdel.org.

To register go to: https://reg.planetreg.com/INTERIM2024. Absolute registration deadline is Thursday, April 11 by end of business day.

B/Yamagata Viruses Have Not Been Detected to be Actively Circulating

The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) recommended that all 2024-2025 U.S. flu vaccines be three-component (trivalent) vaccines and include an influenza A(H1N1), an A(H3N2) and a B/Victoria-lineage vaccine virus. Because influenza B/Yamagata viruses, which are included in current four-component (quadrivalent) flu vaccines, are no longer actively circulating, their inclusion in flu vaccines is no longer warranted.

Nominations Are Open

Governor John Carney on Wednesday announced that the nomination process is now open for the 2024 Compassionate Champion Awards. The Compassionate Champion Awards recognize individuals, organizations, and educational institutions across the State of Delaware that provide trauma-informed services in a manner consistent with the Delaware Developmental Framework for Trauma-Informed Care.

The Compassionate Champion Award highlights individuals or teams in government, non-profit and private organizations, first responder professions, educational institutions, health care professionals, and other agencies that have taken steps toward providing services in a manner consistent with trauma-informed care. In the health care category, it includes agencies, health care professionals, hospitals, or individuals providing trauma-informed care to service recipients. 

Nominations can be submitted on the Governor’s website through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024. Award winners and details for the recognition ceremony will be announced at a later date.

View the nomination form in English.

View the nomination form in Spanish.

Lt. Governor Issues a Call to Action on Formula Availability

Last year, Lt. Governor Hall-Long, in conjunction with state and community partners, launched the Infant Formula Distribution Program, responding to a national infant formula shortage. They secured 44,000 canisters of Care A2+ infant formula to be provided to parents of children under the age of one throughout the state. The program was expanded last summer to remove the limit on canisters people could receive. As of early March, approximately 15,500 canisters remain to be distributed to nonprofits. The batches of formula will expire in October and December 2024, making it imperative to raise awareness about its availability. There are now more than 35 sites across all three counties that carry the canisters. The program also partners on special events and directly with nonprofits to reach constituents. To view a full list of public sites, visit the lieutenant governor’s website. Delaware families with a child under the age of one are eligible to receive 28.2-oz canisters of Care A2+ infant formula while supplies last.  

CMS Shares Strategies to Improve Delivery of Services

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a bulletin on strategies states have used to help more Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) individuals quit smoking. The informational bulletin summarizes the burden of smoking and smoking-related diseases in the Medicaid and CHIP population, outlines the benefits of helping people quit smoking, and provides an overview of the evidence-based treatment services and opportunities available to help this population quit smoking. The bulletin also provides an overview of state tobacco cessation coverage requirements and authorities in Medicaid and CHIP. An overview of quality measures that state Medicaid and CHIP agencies can use to measure and drive improvement in their delivery of tobacco cessation services and several resources that can support states in their drive for improvement are also included.

Your Membership Benefits are Important to You and Your Staff

Your Society has been working hard on your behalf and 2023 was a big year for accomplishments and 2024 is just as exciting! Renew your membership to take advantage of benefits, events, networking, and educational opportunities afforded to you! Thank you for your continued support as MSD continues leading the way to a healthy Delaware!

Confidential Questionnaire Developed to Capture Information

The needle is slowly moving forward! Thank you to all who have provided information. The MSD Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is working to support a diverse physician workforce and inclusive organizational culture. As a starting point toward understanding and improving our membership diversity, your help is greatly appreciated in submitting this information. A brief, four-answer questionnaire has been developed for your convenience and will take less than a minute to complete. Your information will remain confidential, however, it will be used in aggregate to assess the diversity of our membership, how that correlates with the diversity of our leadership, and to understanding the diversity of the physician workforce in Delaware. Access the questionnaire.

Check Out the Opportunity Through the MSD Academic Channel on Cureus

What is an Academic Channel on Cureus? The Medical Society of Delaware Academic Channel is a microsite of the Cureus Journal of Medical Science devoted solely to MSD and the articles, meeting abstracts and posters, and other content produced by our physicians, residents and/or students. Take advantage of the benefits provided by the MSD Academic Channel and submit your next article to Cureus through the MSD Academic Channel! View the Academic Channels on Cureus.

Explore the Benefits 

• Zero Author Publication Fees
• Gold Open Access
• Easy, Online Submission
• Expert Review
• Priority Support
• Unmatched Transparency

MSD is pleased to highlight one of our 2024 Premier Educational Program Partners. Diamond State Financial Group has been a part of the effort to keep our professional medical and public education programs growing through its partnership with MSD as a Premier Educational Program (PEP) Partner.

Premier Educational Program Partners have joined with the Medical Society of Delaware in supporting high quality professional medical education for Delaware physicians and other health care professionals to advance the health and well-being of Delaware's citizens. Diamond State Financial Group (DSFG) provides customized solutions to assist you in reaching your financial goals. DSFG offers a comprehensive line of products and services, and can assist with such needs as college funding, retirement or estate planning, as well as enrollment in MSD’s group 401(k) plan. DSFG is committed to helping you accomplish your long-term financial objectives. For more information on Diamond State Financial Group please visit: http://www.dsfg.com/ 

If you would like to become a PEP Partner, please contact Lynn Robinson, MSD's Director of Professional Education. 

Constructive Listening Sessions

Listening campaigns offer individual physicians and physician groups a chance to tell leaders about their stressors and suggest improvements. Engage leaders in this process and emphasize that the sessions aren’t just for venting, but rather a way to solicit and process information about existing problems. During a session, the group is encouraged to share what is going well, and job-related stressors are recorded silently and independently. 

Toolkits:

• Listening Campaign
• Appreciative Inquiry Principles

Podcasts:

• Creating a Culture that Supports Well-Being
• Building Bridges Between Practicing Physicians and Administrators

AMA STEPS Forward^® offers a collection of engaging and interactive educational content designed to help put the joy back into medicine.

Information on Recent Product Recalls and Safety Announcements

Convenience Kits With Sterile Water Based Products

Windstone Medical Packaging, Inc. is recalling their Local Lower Extremity Pack, In House Ocular Pack and Closure Kit in direct response to Nurse Assist LLC’s, November 6, 2023, recall of 0.9% sodium chloride irrigation USP and sterile water for irrigation USP, over sterility concerns. These kits contain Nurse Assist Sterile Saline which could not be verified as having the required sterility assurance. The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. Use of these devices may cause serious injuries or death.

HeartMate Touch Communication System

Abbott is recalling their HeartMate Touch System for risk of unexpected pump stop or start. If the HeartMate Touch System is disconnected from a patient’s HeartMate Controller while a “pump stop” command is running, issues may occur. When the HeartMate Touch is reconnected to the same or a new controller, the “pump stop” command may continue to cause unintended issues. The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. Use of these devices may cause serious injuries or death. Please be aware, this recall is a correction, not a product removal.

Par Pharmaceutical Treprostinil Injection

Par Pharmaceutical is recalling one lot 57014 of Treprostinil Injection 20 mg/20mL (1 mg/mL) due to the potential for the presence of silicone particulates in the product solution. Treprostinil Injection is formulated for subcutaneous or intravenous infusion. The product is a prostacyclin vasodilator indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension to diminish symptoms associated with exercise and for those who require transition from epoprostenol to reduce the rate of clinical deterioration. Administration of an injectable product that contains particulate matter may result in local irritation or swelling in response to the foreign material. If the particulate matter reaches the blood vessels it can travel to various organs and block blood vessels in the heart, lungs or brain, which can cause stroke and even lead to death. The affected lot was distributed nationwide to wholesalers and hospitals from June 16, 2022, through October 17, 2022. To date, Par Pharmaceutical has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.

Avanos Sterile Water Based Products

Avanos Medical, Inc. is recalling, in direct response to the Nurse Assist recall due to sterility concerns, their 0.9% sodium chloride irrigation USP and sterile water for irrigation USP. Certain lots of MIC Gastric-Jejunal Feeding Tube - Endoscopic/Radiologic Placement kit and MIC Gastric-Jejunal Feeding Tube with ENFit Connectors - Endoscopic/Radiologic Placement kits include the recalled Nurse Assist supplied syringes, pre-filled with sterile water. Any open wound exposed to non-sterile products could potentially put the patient at risk of infection. The pre-filled syringe is the only item in the Avanos feeding tube kit affected by the Nurse Assist recall. There have been no complaints, injuries, or deaths associated with this issue.

Beebe Healthcare

ChristianaCare

March 15 - 6th Biennial Perinatal Palliative Care Symposium: Aspects of Trauma in Perinatal Palliative Care, 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., John H. Ammon Education Center, ChristianaCare Newark Campus. This activity has been approved for a maximum of 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credit.

March 26 - Strategies for Improving Maternal and Infant Health Due to Opioid Use, 12-1 p.m., virtual webinar. This activity has been approved for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit.

April 9 - Delaware Cancer Consortium 2024 Retreat, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Bally's Dover Casino Resort, Conference Center Ballroom D). This activity has been approved for a maximum of 4.25 AMA PRA Category 1 credit.

April 9 - Mind Matters: The Intersectionality Between Behavior Health, HIV, and Substance Use, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Del One Conference Center, 100 Campus Dr., Dover. This activity has been approved for a maximum of 5 AMA PRA Category 1 credit.

April 12 - Climate and Health Conference, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., John H. Ammon Education Center, ChristianaCare Newark Campus. This activity has been approved for a maximum of 6.75 AMA PRA Category 1 credit. No fee to attend, but registration is required, no late in-person registrations will be accepted. Registration deadline is April 10th.

April 13 - Delaware Academy of Family Physicians Annual Meeting, Bayhealth SIM Center, Dover.

April 17 - 18th Annual Delaware Healthy Mother & Infant Consortium Summit, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Chase Center on the Riverfront.

April 18 - DEAAP Spring Conference, "Paving the Way to Pediatric Wellness: Chronic Disease Management and Mental Health in Primary Care," 2:00-5:30 p.m., Hyatt Place Wilmington Riverfront (760 S. Justison St.). This activity has been approved for a maximum of 3 AMA PRA Category 1 credit.

May 1 - Delaware Academy of Medicine/DPHA 2024 Annual Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Hyatt on the Riverfront, Wilmington.

May 7 - 61st Annual William J. Holloway Infectious Disease Symposium, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., virtual and in person at the John H. Ammon Education Center, ChristianaCare Newark Campus. This activity has been approved for a maximum of 5 AMA PRA Category 1 credit.

October 29 - SAVE THE DATE! 28th Annual Delaware Healthcare Forum, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Bally's Dover Casino Resort, Rollins Center, Dover.

November 23 - SAVE THE DATE! MSD Annual Meeting and Presidential Reception, Bally's Dover Casino Resort

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.

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) encourages you to sign up for Delaware Health Alert Notifications through the Delaware Health Alert Network (DHAN). The DHAN is an electronic notification system to health care professionals through emailing and faxing. The system is activated when a CDC HAN email message is received. The message is sent out to the distribution lists selected by DPH subject-matter experts. Learn more about Delaware's Health Alert Notification system. If you are not currently receiving health alert messages directly and would like to sign up to receive, please self-register in the Health Alert Delaware system.

• 2024 Adult Immunization Schedule (for ages 19 years or older) - www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/adult.html (includes new recommendations for RSV vaccine, Mpox vaccine, and pentavalent meningococcal vaccine)

• 2024 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule (for ages 18 years or younger) -https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html (includes new recommendations for RSV vaccine, RSV monoclonal antibody, Mpox vaccine, 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, and pentavalent meningococcal vaccine)

• Information for from the My Healthy Community Website (updated on Thursdays) - https://myhealthycommunity.dhss.delaware.gov/portals/flu/locations/state/seasons/2023-2024/overview
• Find a Flu Shot

• Information for Delaware Medical Professionals - https://publichealthalerts.delaware.gov/mpox/

• PAXCESS Patient Support Program - for patients prescribed Paxlovid. Provides insurance verification, live PAXCESS support representatives to help with eligibility and financial assistance. Patients can enroll online at the PAXCESS website, or by phone by calling 1-877-C19-PACK (1-877-219-7225).
• Updates to Clinical Testing Guidance Algorithms - CDC has updated several testing guidance pages for patients with acute respiratory illness (1) not being hospitalized, (2) being hospitalized, and (3) hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients when SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses are co-circulating. Clinicians can use these updated resources to inform clinical decision making. (12/8/2023)
• Ellume tests available for those who are blind or have low vision (free at-home COVID-19 tests) https://acl.gov/accessibletests
• Find COVID-19 Vaccines: https://www.vaccines.gov/
• No Cost COVID-19 Testing Locator can help uninsured people (or those adults without full vaccine insurance coverage) who are symptomatic or exposed find current community and pharmacy partners participating in the Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program.
• FDA At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests provides a list of all FDA-authorized at-home over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 diagnostic tests
• Federal website for information on navigating COVID: COVID.gov
• COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator
• CDC COVID Data Tracker
• CDC will report regional-level test positivity data from the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS)
• (Delaware) General Questions: call 211 or email DPHCall@delaware.gov or Vaccine@delaware.gov for vaccine-specific questions.
• Latest information on Delaware's response (testing, treatment, vaccination): de.gov/coronavirus (Updated 2/2023)