August 20, 2020

Dear Friends,

The Food and Drug Administration(FDA)issued an emergency use authorization for a saliva based COVID-19 test developed by Yale School of Public Health.

• FDA worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to develop a checklist for food industry employers to conduct safe operations.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services(CMS) will resume routine onsite inspections of all certified providers and suppliers.

• CMS has updated“Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes."
• CMS issued guidance for dialysis facilities so that providers can keep essential services safe from COVID-19 transmission.
• CMS published resource documents especially for rural health clinics, hospitals and care facilities.

The Department of Health and Human Services(HHS) amended the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act to increase access to childhood vaccines.

• HHS invested $35 million in telehealth services, health workforce training, technical assistance and rural health research for over 50 rural organizations across 33 states.

Until next time, this is your doctor’s note.

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D.