Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for Community Health Centers

Learn more about COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and more by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website (English/ Spanish).

FAQs

HRSA’s FAQs include requirements and expectations for health centers, information on how to prepare for a surge in patient load, guidance for Primary Care Associations and more. The FAQs are available here.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) FAQs include information on diagnostic lab services, physician services, hospital services and more. Read them here. CMS also developed FAQs addressing concerns related to COVID-19 for people with HIV. The FAQs are available here.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released FAQs to help people understand who is eligible to enroll in coverage, available here.

Emergency Management Resources

• The Primary Care Association Emergency Management Coalition (PCA EMAC) has gathered resources for health care organizations to be prepared and responsive to COVID-19: https://www.pcaemac.org/covid19
• HRSA’s Emergency Preparedness & Continuity of Operations resources are available for review and download: https://www.hrsa.gov/emergency/index.html
• HRSA’s Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Resources for Health Centers https://bphc.hrsa.gov/emergency-response/hurricane-updates.html
• Emergency Preparedness Tabletop Exercises that include pandemics: https://nurseledcare.phmc.org/emergency-preparedness-tabletop-exercises.html
• COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness Video Is your health center ready? from Community Health Center, Inc. on Vimeo.

Provider Resources

• Interim Guidelines for Antibody Testing. CDC developed interim guidelines for how health care providers, labs and public health staff should use antibody tests. The guidelines include information about the development of antibodies and immunity, types of antibody tests, strategies for optimizing testing outcomes, test limitations, and recommendations for use.
• Sustaining the Well-Being of Healthcare Personnel During Coronavirus and Other Infectious Disease Outbreaks. This one-pager outlines the challenges of and strategies for maintaining provider well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Sample Procedures for Health Center Drive-through Clinic (Also available in Spanish here.)
• CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) updates.
• Updated CDC Guidance for health care workers: Facemasks are an acceptable temporary alternative for most medical services until the demand for N95 respirators lessens. Learn more.
• CDC Information for Health Care Professionals. This webpage offers interim guidance on evaluating and reporting persons under investigation (PUI), frequently asked questions, infection control, supplies and more.
• CDC Resources for Health Care Facilities. Find resources on steps to prepare for coronavirus, interim guidance, and strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators. Clarification of introductory language; Information added on Crisis/Alternative Strategies; Information added to expand upon strategies, including two new resources
• The Value Transformation Framework: Taking a Systems Approach to Addressing COVID-19. The Value Transformation Framework, developed by NACHC’s Quality Center, is a conceptual model to guide systems change by translating research and promising practices into manageable steps health centers can apply to improve care and outcomes.  The Quality Center presented the following information during the Elevate learning forum, a cohort of 42 PCAs/HCCNs and over 220 health centers, on 03/10/2020.  The presentation overlaid the Value Transformation Framework on current CDC guidelines to provide health centers with a systems approach to addressing COVID-19. Access it here.

Operations Resources

• The Health Center Resource Clearinghouse provides resources from all of the Bureau of Primary Health Care’s (BPHC) technical assistance investments (NCA, PCA, and HCCN).  These resources are highly curated and include items specifically related to health center operations during the COVID-19 emergency.
• Deadlines Related to Federal Funding Sources for COVID-19 Relief. This chart summarizes upcoming deadlines related to BPHC grant funds, Paycheck Protection Loans, Provider Relief Fund allotments, and other Federal funding sources related to COVID-19.  It is excerpted from Tab 2 of the NACHC spreadsheet on these funding sources.
• Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Family Leave in Response to COVID-19
• Cash Flow Options for Health Centers with More Than 500 Employees
• Reduced Workflows and Staffing Guidance for Non-Clinical Operations
• Managing Crisis through Resilient Leadership
• CDC Interim Guidance for Health Communicators: This interim guidance for planning communication strategies before, during, and after an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Find communications resources, including print, video, graphics and more here.
• The World Health Organization developed a COVID-19 simulation exercise to support countries’ preparedness effort on the COVID-19  outbreak. Access it here.

Regulatory Guidance 

• Main Site on CMS Response to COVID-19
• CMS FAQs on COVID-19 (released 3.9.2020)
• CMS Fact Sheet on Medicare Coverage and Payment Related to COVID-19
• CMS Fact Sheet on Medicaid Coverage and Payment Related to COVID-19
• CMS Announces Actions to Address Spread of Coronavirus. CMS announced several steps it is taking to prevent the spread of coronavirus, including asking providers to “ensure they are implementing their infection control procedures, which they are required to maintain at all times” and noting that State Survey Agencies and Accrediting Organizations will focus their facility inspections exclusively related to infection control and other serious health and safety threats.

Health Insurance Enrollment Resources

• CMS Newsroom—COVID-19 Updates. This page provides a summary of recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) actions taken in response to the COVID-19 virus, as part of the ongoing White House Task Force efforts. CMS updates these resources on an ongoing basis throughout the day.
• State DOI responses to COVID-19 (As of 3/23/2020)
• 3 things to know about coronavirus disease and your Marketplace coverage
• Payment and Grace Period Flexibilities for Issuers Offering Coverage on the FFE and SBE-FP and FAQS related to COVID-19. On Tuesday, March 24, CMS posted guidance on Payment and Grace Period Flexibilities for Issuers Offering Coverage on the Federally-facilitated Exchanges and State-based Exchanges on the Federal Platform. Under the newly released guidance, CMS announced that it will exercise enforcement discretion to permit issuers of qualified health plans (QHPs) and stand-alone dental plans (SADPs) to extend payment deadlines for initial binder payments as well as ongoing premium payments during the period of the COVID-19 national emergency In addition, CMS released two frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to health coverage in response to the COVID-19 outbreak:

5. • 1. 1. FAQs on Availability and Usage of Telehealth Services Through Private Health Insurance Coverage
        2. FAQs on Prescription Drugs and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for Issuers Offering Health Insurance Coverage in the Individual and Small Group Markets

• Guidance from the Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight re. COVID-19
• If you lose job-based coverage
• Information on Special Enrollment Periods

Health Center Board Resources

Please refer to NACHC’s COVID-19 FAQs for additional information for health center boards.

• Health Center Governance and Continuing to Navigate COVID-19 – This short article summarizes current focus areas for health center boards and details some forthcoming resources that will be available to boards in the coming weeks and months ahead.
• Orienting New Health Center Board Members During the Pandemic – This short resource outlines how health center boards and staff that work closely with the board can adapt board orientation during the pandemic.
• Health Center Boards and Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Information on exercising board governance duties during a crisis. This resource is also available in Spanish (Juntas de los centros de salud y nuevo coronavirus)
• Virtual Board Meetings: Tips for Health Center Boards. This short blog focuses on tips health centers can use if quickly adopting virtual meetings or increasing their use of such meetings given COVID-19. This resource is also available in Spanish (Reuniones virtuales de la junta: consejos para las juntas de los centros de salud).
• Legal Considerations: Board Meetings During COVID-19. This short blog focuses on some legal considerations related to board meetings during COVID-19.
• Virtual Meetings Untangled. This publication from BoardSource provides information on planning for, facilitating, and conducting virtual board meetings. BoardSource is temporarily offering this publication as a free resource given COVID-19.
• Sample Board Presentation on COVID-19.This short presentation can be used to discuss COVID-19 with a health center board and outline a health center’s plan for addressing the pandemic. This resource was developed by Lisa Bujno, APRN, Assistant Medical Director, Ammonoosuc Community Health Services, Inc. in New Hampshire and has been adapted to share with a broader audience. It is shared with permission and contains segments that can be adapted for use with the board at your health center.
• The Board and CEO Partnership During the Current Public Health Emergency. This short article includes items boards may wish to consider as they think about how to effectively support and partner with the CEO of the health center in the weeks and months ahead as health centers remain on the frontlines of responding to COVID-19. This resource is also available in Spanish (Asociación entre la Junta y el CEO durante la emergencia actual de salud pública).
• Board Financial Oversight Considerations During the Initial Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.This short article outlines some high-level considerations for boards as they continue to provide oversight of the center’s finances and consider issues related to long-term sustainability. This resource is also available in Spanish (Consideraciones de la Junta sobre supervisión financiera durante la respuesta inicial a la emergencia de salud pública por COVID-19).
• Grants Compliance During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Considerations for Health Center Boards. This short article addresses considerations for health center boards related to the accountability required of health centers that have received additional grant funds during the COVID-19 crisis. This article was written at NACHC’s request by Jansen Otterness and Scott Gold from BKD, a national CPA and advisory firm.
• Adapt, Refocus, and Retool: How Health Center Boards Can Support a Focus on the Future. This short article is provided to help boards and CEOs strategically initiate conversation about the future and prepare to adapt in a collaborative way.

Resources for Health Centers with Eldery Populations and PACE Programs

• National PACE Association COVID-19 Resource Page 
• From CMS:Guidance for Retirement Communities and Independent Living
• From CMS: Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities (Interim Guidance)
• From CMS:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Checklist: Older Persons

Community Resources

• CDC Information on COVID-19 and Pregnant Women and Children. There is not currently information from published scientific reports about the susceptibility of pregnant women to COVID-19 and there is no evidence that children are more susceptible.
• CDC Information on COVID-19 and Schools. Interim guidance for childcare providers and schools to plan, prepare and respond to novel coronavirus.
• Family-friendly public health reminders from Sesame Street in Communities-How to Wash Your Hands, H is for Handwashing Storybook, Handwashing: Step by Step.
• Sesame Street announced the release of its Caring for Each Other initiative, including animations on healthy habits, resources providing comfort, and learn-at-home activities to support families during COVID-19.
• Addressing stigma Resources from the CDC.
• The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) has curated several resources related to novel coronavirus/COVID-19, including several related to addressing stigma. Access them here.
• The Public Health Department of King County in Washington State has developed several anti-stigma resources including printable posters. Access them here.