May 3, 2020 Dear Friends, The Food and Drug Administration issued a summary of its efforts to combat COVID-19, including resources for individuals, labs, physicians, importers, and more. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report on the response to the initiation and spread of COVID-19 in the United States between February 24 and April 21, 2020. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will ship personal protective equipment to more than 15,000 Medicaid- and Medicare- certified nursing homes across the nation. Until next time, this is your doctor's note. Congressman Micha... Read More »
May 1, 2020 Dear Friends, Today, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for Gilead’s drug, remdesivir, to be used in cases of hospitalized COVID-19 patients for the duration of the pandemic. Information about safety and effectiveness is still limited, but preliminary results show that remdesivir can shorten recovery time for COVID-19 patients. National Update: The Department of Health and Human Services announced how it will distribute Provider Relief Fund dollars included in the CARES Act to COVID-19 hotspots and rural providers. $12 billion will go to 395 hos... Read More »
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), a member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, held a bipartisan teleconference forum with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat, M.D. “I appreciate that the Energy and Commerce Subcommittees on Health and Oversight and Investigations were able to hold a bipartisan briefing with CDC to discuss critical issues surrounding COVID-19,” said Burgess. “Racial disparities in COVID-19 have been covered comprehensively i... Read More »
April 30, 2020 Dear Friends, Tonight, I will be hosting a tele-townhall about this Coronavirus Pandemic. My intention is to hear first-hand from Texas-26 and how they have been affected by this virus. You can listen in here at 8:00 p.m. EST/ 7:00 p.m. CST. National Update: Recently, the Internal Revenue Service launched the "Get My Payment" web portal and FAQ page to let taxpayers check on the status of the Economic Impact Payment (EIP).If you need assistance with your EIP, please contact my Lake Dallas office to speak with my Constituent Services staff at (940) 497-5031. The Centers for Medi... Read More »
April 29, 2020 Dear Friends, Today, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Gilead Sciences announced that positive data is emerging from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ study of the antiviral remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19. Preliminary results show that patients receiving remdesivir recovered at a rate 31% faster than those receiving a placebo. National Update: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated the information for state and local health departments on laboratory capacity and contact tracing. The Food and Drug Administration has is... Read More »
April 28, 2020 Dear Friends, Texas stay-at-home orders will expire on April 30, beginning phase one of reopening the state. I appreciate Governor Abbott’s wisdom in setting up different phases to re-open the state. We are turning a dimmer switch, not flipping a switch. In preparation to re-open, Texas has made efforts to expand testing and contract tracing capabilities. National Update: The Trump Administration released a testing overview, blueprint, and fact sheet to aid state development of testing and rapid response plans. Moderna submitted an Investigational New Drug application to the Fo... Read More »
April 27, 2020 Dear Friends, This morning, the Paycheck Protection Program started to receive applications again. The Small Business Administration and U.S. Treasury Department provided a FAQ document to aid borrowers and lenders. National Update: The Department of Health and Human Services launched its COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal today. Providers who have tested uninsured individuals for COVID-19 or have treated uninsured COVID-19 patients on or after February 4, 2020, can access more information here about submitting claims for reimbursement. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Servic... Read More »
April 26, 2020 Dear Friends, Over the past month, I have been asked several times about the origins of this Coronavirus. Many, including myself, believe that China needs to take more responsibility for the spread of this virus. Earlier this month, I spoke with KLIF's Dave and Amy. During the show I was asked if China should take responsibility for the virus. I told them in January, I became very concerned when China shutdown a city of over 10 million people because not only were people not able to travel to and from Wuhan, but news was also stopped from coming out of the city. Now there are r... Read More »
April 24, 2020 Dear Friends, Today, President Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. Additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program. Clarity that publicly-owned rural hospitals and community-owned hospitals qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program. Additional emergency appropriations for COVID-19 response aimed at testing, health care providers, and research. National Update: The Department of Health and Human Services extended the deadline until 3:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, April 25, for hospitals to submit data that will inform how resources f... Read More »
