Last week, HHS launched an application portal to distribute $15 billion in CARES Act Provider Relief Fund payments to eligible Medicaid and CHIP physicians and organizations. The payment will be at least 2 percent of reported gross revenue from patient care, and the final amount will be determined based on submitted data, including the number of Medicaid patients served. Eligible physicians and organizations have until July 20, 2020, to submit their application and report other necessary information, such as annual

This week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced the distribution of additional relief funds from the Provider Relief Fund to eligible Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) providers that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs. HHS expects to distribute approximately $15 billion to eligible providers that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs and have not received a payment from the Provider Relief Fund General Allocation.

As announced yesterday, the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Medical Association will be held virtually for the first time. The decision was made to move to an online platform out of concern for the safety of Kentucky’s physicians, who are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as out of respect for the time and schedules of members whose first priority remains caring for the patients of the Commonwealth. While much of the meeting’s programming will be

Medicine is a profession for humanity.  Over the last several months we have experienced and continue to live through the advance of a global pandemic as well as the magnification of disparities that have been well known for years.  As the spread of COVID-19 started to wane, other news arose to the forefront that demonstrated human suffering and mankind at its worst. To advance the needs of society we must condemn senseless acts of violence in our communities and instead

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) has released additional guidance regarding release from isolation for patients who have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 disease. This guidance adds an additional step to help clear patients with persistent PCR positive tests (and other considerations). This guidance applies to all persons returning to work and/or seeking clearance from isolation requirements, including healthcare professionals and residents returning to confined population environments (i.e. long term care facilities, behavioral health hospitals, prisons, etc.). The document from

Tomorrow, May 27, begins the fourth phase of Gov. Beshear’s reopening of healthcare services in Kentucky. During Phase IV, hospitals and healthcare facilities can determine their own patient capacities, as long as progress continues and the other tenets of the state’s order are followed.​ During Phase III, which began May 13, facilities were limited to 50% of their pre-COVID era volume. For more information, see the state’s order regarding the fourth phase https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/covid19/healthcarefinalsteps.pdf

Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack, M.D. has released a set of guidelines for the allocation of remdesivir to hospitals for the treatment of patients with severe disease related to COVID-19. Remdesivir is an experimental anti-viral drug that has activity against SARS-CoV-2 in cell cultures and animal models. It has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any indication and is considered an investigational drug. On May 1, based on preliminary data from clinical trials of

KMA is sharing the first-person accounts of physicians from across the state as they prepare for, battle, and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. These stories will also be published at kyma.org/covid19. If you are interested in submitting an account, please email Emily Schott, schott@kyma.org.  KMA spoke to Casey Lewis, M.D., Pediatrics of Bullitt County, 2017 Graduate, Kentucky Physicians Leadership Institute, and 2018 Graduate, Community Connector Leadership Program. How are you?  I’m asked this daily.  For the first time, my patients are asking

KMA is sharing the first-person accounts of physicians from across the state as they prepare for, battle, and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. These stories will also be published at kyma.org/covid19. If you are interested in submitting an account, please email Emily Schott, schott@kyma.org.  KMA spoke to James Borders, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Baptist Health Lexington and 2017 Graduate, Kentucky Physicians Leadership Institute COVID-19 Response: Baptist Health Lexington Baptist Health Lexington gathered expertise from many sources to make a response to the

Many healthcare facilities are beginning to permit a patient to have one visitor/support person present as part of Gov. Beshear’s Executive Order regarding Phases III and IV of the reopening of healthcare services. The new policies are at the discretion of the facility and based on the best judgement of the facility to protect patients, visitors and staff. All visitors must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival and must wear a mask while in the facility. The full Order,