June 11, 2020

Dear Friends,

The Food and Drug Administrationissued an emergency use authorization to Illumina, Inc., for the first COVID-19 diagnostic test using next-generation sequence technology, which can determine the genetic sequence of a virus.

RegeneronPharmaceuticals launched the first clinical trial of its investigational dual antibody cocktail for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the National Influenza Vaccine Strategy for 2020-2030, components of which are helpful during the current pandemic response.

• HHS released a chart that compares the HHS Provider Relief Fund and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Accelerated and Advance Program payments by state and provider as of May 21, 2020.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published guidance for patients and beneficiaries on the safe reopening health care facilities to provide non-emergency non-COVID-19 health care.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency released considerations for states and territories on sheltering, feeding, evacuation and the federal resource request process during the pandemic and any other disaster.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau approved an additional 67 funding applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, including four locations in Texas.

The Small Business Administration will soon issue rules, guidance, and updated documents implementing the changes made to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as directed by law. A few key changes include:

• Extends the covered period from 8 weeks to 24 weeks.
• Lowers the percentage of the loan required to be spent on payroll from 75 percent to 60 percent.
• Increases flexibility of forgiveness terms and provides safe harbors for PPP recipients to better utilize the program.

Until tomorrow, this is your doctor's note.

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D.