Here's What You Missed from HHS: November 1, 2020

An official email from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

 

Latest U.S. Department of Health & Human Services News Releases

 

389,000 BinaxNOW COVID-19 Tests Distributed Thus Far to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) October 31, 2020   Washington, DC – As part of the Trump Administration’s ongoing national effort to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in high risk communities, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today detailed that 389,040 state-of-the-art Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 rapid tests have been distributed at no cost to 83 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBU’s) in 24 states. Read full news release

HHS and DOD announce $12.7 million contract with InBios International to boost U.S. production of rapid COVID-19 tests October 31, 2020   Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) jointly announced a $12.7 million contract with InBios International Inc., of Seattle, to expand domestic production capacity for two rapid point-of-care tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Read full news release

 

HHS and DOD Announce $119 Million Contract to Hologic to Better Meet the Demand of COVID-19 Testing October 30, 2020   Today, as part of an ongoing collaboration between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the two departments awarded Hologic, Inc. a $119 million contract to establish additional domestic production to increase diagnostic testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2. Read full news release

Readout from the Trump Administration’s 40th Governors Briefing on COVID-19 Response and Vaccine Distribution Best Practices October 30, 2020   Today, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar led a discussion with the chief executives and senior leaders of approximately 50 states, territories, and the city of Washington, D.C., and the White House Coronavirus Task Force on local, state, and federal COVID-19 response and recovery efforts and continued collaboration on vaccine distribution and administration planning. Read full news release

 

City Health Department failed to terminate former employee’s access to protected health information October 30, 2020   The City of New Haven, Connecticut (New Haven) has agreed to pay $202,400 to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to implement a corrective action plan to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. Read full news release

Trump Administration Producing Supply Kits to Safely Administer COVID-19 Vaccines to Americans October 30, 2020   In support of Operation Warp Speed (OWS), the Trump Administration is preparing to provide ancillary supply kits to help healthcare workers who will be administering COVID-19 vaccines. Read full news release

 

 

YouTube Spotlight

In this new video, Surgeon General Jerome Adams shares five things you should know about the US Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps and their work to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the HHS YouTube Channel

 

KidneyX Artificial Kidney Prize Offers $10 Million to Accelerate Artificial Kidney Development October 30, 2020   Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) launched the KidneyX Artificial Kidney Prize to accelerate the development of artificial kidneys toward human clinical trials. Read full news release

 

Federal Health IT Strategic Plan Supports Patient Access to Their Own Health Information October 30, 2020   Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the final 2020-2025 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan (the Plan). Read full news release

HHS Extends Compliance Dates for Information Blocking and Health IT Certification Requirements in 21st Century Cures Act Final Rule October 29, 2020   Responding to public health threats posed by the coronavirus pandemic, today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) released an interim final rule with comment period that extends the compliance dates and timeframes necessary to meet certain requirements related to information blocking and Conditions and Maintenance of Certification (CoC/MoC) requirements. Read full news release

 

Trump Administration Finalizes Rule Requiring Health Insurers to Disclose Price and Cost-Sharing Information October 29, 2020   Today, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury issued a final rule on price transparency, helping to ensure Americans know how much care will cost in advance and allowing them to make fully informed and value-conscious decisions. Read full news release

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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Visit CDC.gov for more public health updates on the COVID-19 pandemic and information on how to protect yourself and your loved ones. HHS and our federal partners are working together to execute a whole-of-America response to COVID-19. Learn More »

 

 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20201 Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775 Website: HHS.gov

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