POLITICO examines the experiences of several colleges that have been operating with generally low rates of COVID-19. The article covers testing, contract tracing, customized plans, and other campus policies.
The article may be accessed here.
Undergraduate Enrollment Decreases this Fall
Compared to last Fall, preliminary data shows that undergraduate enrollments are down 2.5 percent on average. Undergraduate enrollment is down 3.8 percent at private nonprofit four-year universities, down 1.9 percent at private for-profit four-year universities, down 0.4 percent at public four-year universities, and 7.5 percent at community colleges. Undergraduate international enrollments are down 11.2 percent.
An article from Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here. Preliminary Fall enrollment data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center may be accessed here.
Executive Order Issued Prohibiting Racial Sensitivity Training
On Tuesday, President Trump issued an Executive Order that extends a ban on racial sensitivity training that is described in the order as destructive and divisive. The order, which pertains to government contractors and federal grant recipients, follows a memo from the OMB Director earlier this month that directs agencies to end such racial sensitivity training. The Chronicle of Higher Education covers some important concerns with the Executive Order, including those of diversity officers, as well as the uncertainty stemming from the order.
The Executive Order may be accessed here. The Chronicle of Higher Education article may be accessed here.
CDC Financial Support For Jurisdictions For COVID-19 Vaccine Preparedness
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is announcing upcoming action by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide $200 million to jurisdictions for COVID-19 vaccine preparedness. These funds, along with the previous support CDC has provided, will help states prepare for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The announcement can be obtained at https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/09/23/administration-announces-200-million-from-cdc-jurisdictions-covid-19-vaccine-preparedness.html.
Rural Healthcare Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration has announced its H-1B Rural Healthcare grant opportunity. The intent of the grant program is to alleviate healthcare workforce shortages by creating sustainable employment and training programs in healthcare occupations (including behavioral and mental healthcare) serving rural populations. Eligible grant leads will include: Healthcare employers, and healthcare industry and/or occupation associations; Nonprofit healthcare organizations affiliated with hospitals and other medical facilities; Organizations designated as “Primary Care Associations” by HRSA; Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) State and Local WDBs; Indian/Native American Tribal Government (federally recognized); and Native American Program entities. Applications are due at 4pm Eastern on November 13, 2020.
The grant opportunity may be accessed here.
Register Now for the ASAHP 2020 Live Virtual Series
ASAHP is proud to announce the launch of our 2020 Live Virtual Series featuring over thirty-six presentations from allied health professionals across the country. Presentations will take place every other week, with holiday exceptions, beginning September 30 at 1-2PM ET. Each session will typically feature three abstract presentations. These presentations will also be recorded and archived on our website at asahp.org/virtualseries.
The featured topics for this year’s presentations are the following:
Curriculum Innovations Related to COVID-19
Models of Excellence for Enhancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Leadership During Crisis
Advocacy
Select Topics in Allied Health
During complimentary registration, you will be able to register for multiple or all sessions. You may modify your registration by returning to the registration page. The full list of presentation times and abstracts is available on our website here.
Be sure not to miss our kickoff session on September 30, featuring ASAHP’s Clinical Education Task Force address its COVID-19 webinar series, along with a presentation from Pacific University on the implementation of a virtual interprofessional objective structured clinical encounter, and a presentation from Jacksonville State University on classroom connectivity in a COVID climate.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2020 Live Virtual Series. View more information here.
COVID-19 Recession Impact On Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Coverage
A report from the Urban Institute discusses changes in insurance coverage between April 23–May 12 and July 9–21, 2020 resulting from the recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report can be obtained at https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/102852/as-the-covid-19-recession-extended-into-the-summer-of-2020-more-than-3-million-adults-lost-employer-sponsored-health-insurance-coverage-and-2-million-became-uninsured.pdf.
Save the Date: 2020 ASAHP Connect & Engage Virtual Meeting
Join your peers from 1 to 3:30pm Eastern on October 22, 2020 for a fast-paced discussion on the latest happenings at ASAHP, a preview of the upcoming November elections, committee meetings, and exclusive networking sessions with your colleagues. Complimentary registration details coming soon. The 2020 ASAHP Connect & Engage Virtual Meeting is sponsored by UT Health San Antonio. More sponsorship opportunities are available here.
Responding To COVID-19 In Rural Communities
Rural Health Information Hub is a portal that provides key and essential resources, tools, and training to prepare for and respond to COVID-19 in rural communities. It was developed by the Federal Healthcare Resilience Working Group and the Rural Surge Readiness Team.
The portal can be obtained at https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/healthcare-surge-readiness?utm_campaign=enews20200917&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.
COVID-19 Mitigation Measures Could Reduce Impact Of Influenza
Findings from a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that certain community mitigation measures, such as school closures, social distancing, and mask wearing might be useful adjuncts to influenza vaccination during influenza seasons, particularly for populations at highest risk for developing severe disease or complications.
The report can be obtained at https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/pdfs/mm6937a6-H.pdf.
National Action Plan To Advance Patient Safety
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s National Steering Committee for Patient Safety released a national action plan to accelerate patient safety progress across the care continuum. The plan has principles, recommendations, and examples to help health care organizations advance patient safety.
The Plan can be obtained at http://forms.ihi.org/national-action-plan?hsCtaTracking=5aff5040-7b47-4fde-b44e-620597380a7d%7C919b960f-4785-4fc3-bfe6-83d96eaec247.
NASEM Discussion Draft of the Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine
On Monday, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has issued a Discussion Draft of the Preliminary Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine, commissioned by the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health. Public comments are being accepted until until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, September 4.
The discussion draft and link for public comment may be accessed here.
Opportunity to Share Title VII COVID-19 Grantee Stories
The Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), of which ASAHP is a member, has begun an initiative to collect examples of how HRSA Title VII and Title VIII workforce program grantees are on the frontlines of fighting COVID-19 and how they have been impacted by the pandemic. Examples gathered may be used by HPNEC in its advocacy work, and may be provided as a follow up to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), following Friday’s call. ASAHP encourages its members that are grantees of these health workforce programs to respond to this brief form.
ASAHP Advocacy with the Office of Management and Budget
On Friday, ASAHP joined the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), of which ASAHP is a member, in a call with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to advocate for HRSA Title VII and Title VIII workforce program funding and to share how important these programs are to our current and future health workforce. ASAHP joins HPNEC in requesting $790 million for Title VII and VIII for FY 2021 and at least $367 million in supplemental emergency funding, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for those programs to support our current and future health workforce.
More information on HPNECs funding positions may be found here.
Department of Education Releases Final Distance Education Regulations
On Monday, the Department of Education issued its final rule on distance education. The regulations stem from the 2018-2019 negotiated rule making process and aim to provide flexibility and to modernize distance learning. The regulations will take effect o July 1, 2021.
The Department of Education’s unofficial copy of its Distance and Innovation Final Rule may be accessed here, and the Department’s fact sheet summary may be accessed here. More details may be accessed here.
Institutional Resilience and Expanded Postsecondary Opportunity Grants Program
The Department of Education has announced it is accepting application for the Institutional Resilience and Expanded Postsecondary Opportunity (IREPO) grants program. Created by the CARES Act, IREPO is designed to help intuitions of higher education emerge from the Coronavirus pandemic more resilient and expand educational opportunities for students. Priority for grant awards will be given to colleges and universities with the greatest unmet needs related to COVID-19. $28,000,000 in estimated funds are available for an estimated 19 awards. The deadline of the notice of intent to apply is September 10, 2020, and the application deadline date is October 20, 2020.
The notice is available here and more information may be accessed here.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Data Map
The American Federation of Teachers and the Student Borrower Protection Center have issued a new, interactive 50 state map which includes data on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF), and Employer Certification Form (ECF) Rejections.
The interactive map and the joint investigative report by the AFT and SBPC may be accessed here.
HHS Invests In Laboratories To Expand COVID-19 Testing Capacity
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today the provision of combined investments of $6.5 million in two commercial diagnostic laboratories to expand capacity by performing an additional one million SARS-CoV-2 tests each week by early October.
The announcement can be obtained at https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/08/13/hhs-invests-in-diagnostic-labs-to-expand-covid-19-testing-capacity-in-the-united-states.html.
Provider Relief Fund
Qualified health care service and support providers now have access to relief funds for appropriate expenses, lost revenue due to COVID-19, or to help uninsured Americans get testing and treatment for COVID-19. Through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (PPPCHE), the federal government has allocated $175 billion in payments to be distributed through the Provider Relief Fund (PRF). These payments do not need to be repaid to the US government, assuming providers comply with the terms and conditions. All groups will have until Friday, August 28, 2020 to apply.
More information may be accessed here.
COVID-19 Testing Plans By State And Jurisdiction
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released COVID-19 testing plans for state, local, and territorial jurisdictions through the rest of calendar year 2020. These plans set specific targets for COVID-19 testing in each jurisdiction.
Testing plans can be obtained at https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/testing-plans/index.html.