NEW Resource: Campaigns and Marketing Overview with ideas on how to use marketing materials to educate and inform your community on testing, tracing, and prevention. We encourage you to use this resource and the campaign materials available on the NC DHHS website to continue engaging your community.

PRESS RELEASES since the last update include:

• (NC DHHS) NCDHHS Launches New Advertisements in Community-Based Print Publications to Urge North Carolinians to “Get Behind the Mask”

• (NC DHHS) NCDHHS Launches ‘SlowCOVIDNC’ Exposure Notification App; Available for Download Today
• (Governor) Governor Cooper Announces Additional $40 Million COVID Relief for Small Businesses; Steady numbers allow for large outdoor venues to open at 7% with safety precautions
• (NC DHHS) Medicaid Waiver Recipients Receive Additional Support During COVID-19 Pandemic
• (NC DHHS) SlowCOVIDNC, NCDHHS Exposure Notification App, Surpasses 50,000 Downloads in First Day

UPDATED guidance since the last update include:

• New Secretarial Orders 4 and 5 were added here
• New Fact Sheet: Connecting Residents to COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Support
• New Flyers added to Whatever Your Reason page
• Updated NCS Access Points can be found here
• New pages related to SlowCOVIDNC – the official exposure notification app of NC DHHS:

• • Main page: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/slowcovidnc
  • FAQs: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/slowcovidnc/frequently-asked-questions
  • Comms Toolkit: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/slowcovidnc/communications-toolkit
  • COVID-19 Resources for Higher Ed: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/higher-education-resources

• Updated Partner Testing Toolkit

UPDATED reports since the last update include:

• Updated CLI Surveillance report
• Updated Outbreaks and Clusters reports
• Updated Risk Factors for Severe Illness report
• Updated Patients Presumed to be Recovered report

NEW EVENTS ADDED to the community testing events page

UPDATED Contact Tracing numbers

Situational Awareness Dashboard

Novel Coronavirus Summary & Index page

• North Carolina Hospital Medical Surge Planning Scenarios (4/15/20)
• COVID-19 Medical Surge Briefing (4/15/20)

• NCDHHS COVID-19 Provider Guidance (4/20/20)
• NCDHHS COVID-19 Updated Lab Guidance (4/20/20)
• NCDHHS Strategies for Counties to Support Behavioral Health and Intellectual and Developmental Services during COVID-19 (4/17/20)
• Gov. Cooper Path Forward for North Carolina (4/15/20)
• North Carolina 1135 Waiver Approved (3/23/20)
• NCDHSR Guidance on Surge Capacity/Capability Temporary Structures Safety Memo, Guidelines, Considerations for Medical Surge (3/18/20)

Telehealth

• NCDHHS: Telehealth Provisions: Clinical Policy Modifications (3/27/20)
• NCDHHS: Telehealth Provisions for Enhanced Behavioral Health Services (3/27/20)

Clinical Guidance

• NCDHHS COVID-19 Updated Provider Guidance (3/29/20)

• NCDHHS Interim Updated Guidance for Outpatient Triage Assessment(3/23/20)

• NCDHHS COVID19 Patient Guidance (What To Do If You Feel Sick) (3/23/20)

• NCDHHS Updated Guidance on Investigations of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases (3/20/20)
• State Health Director Temporary Order Requiring the Reporting of Novel Coronavirus Infections Causing Death (3/23/20)
• NCDHHS COVID-19 Mitigation Measures (3/12/20)
• NCDHHS Webpage for Health Professionals 
• NCDHHS Webpage Clinical Laboratory Guidance 
• NCDHHS Strategies for Scarce Resource Situations
• NCDHHS Respiratory Protection Guidance
• NCDHHS Expanded testing guidelines
• NCDHHS Updated Screening, Testing & Isolation Guidelines (3/08/20)
• DHHS Guidance for Dental Providers (March 25, 2020)

Facility Guidance

• Letter from NCDHHS Requesting the Rescheduling of non-essential surgeries
• NC DHHS Guidance Letter to LME/MCOs
• NCDHHS Call for Healthcare Volunteers
• Child Care Resource Flyer (English and Spanish)

CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus Situation Summary & Index page

Health Professional Guidance

• Information for Healthcare Professionals: 2019-nCoV
• CDC Guidance on Discharging Patients with COVID-19 (3/23/20)
• Updated Screening Guidelines from CDC (3/24/20)
• New Guidance on Risk Assessment for Healthcare Worker Exposure (3/07/20)

Health Facility Guidance

• CDC Updated COVID-19 Infection Control Guidance (4/13/20)
• Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities (3/21/20)
• Interim Guidance: SNFs Accepting Admissions from Hospitals During COVID-19 (3/20/20)
• Interim Infection Prevention and Control for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings (3/19/20)
• CDC Infection Control Guidance for COVID-19 Patients in Hospitals (3/10/20)
• Interim Guidance for Healthcare Facilities: Preparing for Community Transmission of COVID-19 in the United States (2/29/20)
• Steps Healthcare Facilities Can Take (3/20/20)
• Considerations for Inpatient Obstetric Healthcare Settings (4/06/20)
• Interim Guidance for Healthcare Facilities (2/29/20)
• COVID-19 Resources for Physician Practice Offices (3/15/20)
• Interim Guidance: Home Care for 2019-nCoV (2/12/20)

PPE and Respirator Guidance

• Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators (4/09/20)
• CDC: PPE Burn Rate Calculator (3/25/20)
• Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators (4/09/20)
• CDC Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE
• Recommended Guidance for Extended Use and Limited Reuse of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators in Healthcare Settings (3/12/20)
• Guidance for Using Certain Industrial Respirators by Health Care Personnel (3/10/20)
• CDC Guidance on Exposed Health Care Workers(3/7/20)
• Respirator Guidance Changes from NIOSH

Testing Information

• Evaluating and Testing Guidelines (3/24/20)

Reports

• Preliminary Estimates of the Prevalence of Selected Underlying Health Conditions Among Patients with COVID-19 (04-03-20)
• For Clinicians: New CDC Report on Severe Outcomes in US Patients (3/18/20)

Coding Guidelines

• ICD-10-CM Official Coding Guidelines for COVID-19 (April 1, 2020)

• FDA Guidance to Mitigate Ventilator Supply Disruptions (AHA Advisory)
• Vizient Coronavirus page
• LabCorp Test Ordering Info
• NEW State Laboratory Specimen & Collection Information
• CDC: Healthcare Supply of Personal Protective Equipment
• CDC: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators
• OSHA: “Hospital Respiratory Protection Program Toolkit” 
• Respirator Guidance Changes from FDA
• FDA Conservation Strategies
• EPA List of Approved Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19

• AHA COVID-19 Models: Forecasting the Pandemic’s Spread (4/14/20)
• NCDHHS Projection Models: NC Hospital Capacity (4/06/20)

• NC County Emergency Management Agencies
• NC Healthcare Preparedness Coalitions
• NCOEMS PPE Resource Monitoring and Request Algorithm (3/23/20)
• NCOEMS PPE Scarce Resource Management (3/23/20)
• Waiver or Modification of Requirements Under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act (3/13/20)
• Preparing for a COVID-19 Pandemic (Johns Hopkins) (2/27/20)
• NCEM Guidance on the Disabled and those with functional needs
• 2017 DHHS Pandemic Flu Plan
• Facility Hardening Suggestions (3/04/20)
• Checklist for Telework Surge (3/20)
• Facility Planning Checklist

• FEMA COVID-19 Hospital Resource Package (4/21/20)
• FEMA COVID-19 Hospital Resource Package (4/15/20)
• FEMA COVID-19 Response Update (3/23/20)

• FEMA COVID-19 Eligible Emergency Protective Measures

NC Governor Cooper

• NC Governor State of Emergency Declaration and Press Release

President Trump

• National Emergency Declaration
• Executive Order on Prioritizing and Allocating Health and Medical Resources to Respond to the Spread of Covid-19

CMS Guidance

• Emergency Declaration Health Care Providers Fact Sheet

World Health Organization

• WHO Pandemic declaration

To receive daily NCHA COVID-19 Updates, email communications@ncha.org to be added to the distribution list.

• Strategies to Support Nursing Surge Capacity During Biological Events (4/20/20)

• NC Protocol Recommendations for Allocating Scarce Resources and Letter to NCDHHS Secretary (4/06/20)

NCHA and Sister Association Letters

• NCHA Letter: NC 1135 Waiver Flexibilities — Swing Beds for SNF Patients (4/02/20)
• NCHA 1135 Waiver Additional Request Letter (3/23/20)
• NCHA Letter to Gov. Cooper Requesting Shelter in Place Order (3/23/20) 
• NC Nurses Association Letter to Gov. Cooper Requesting Shelter in Place Order (3/23/20) 
• NCHA Letter to Congress Requesting Healthcare Stabilization Fund (3/19/20)
• AHA Letter to Congress Requesting Funding for Hospitals

Videos to share on social networks

• Senate Bill 704 (5/04/20)
• House Bill 1043 (5/04/20)

• H.R.266 – Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (4/24/20)
• H.R 748 – The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) (3/27/20)
• H.R.6201 – Families First Coronavirus Response Act and AHA Analysis
• H.R.6074 – Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 and AHA Analysis

• CMS Recommendations Re-opening Facilities to Provide Non-emergent Non-COVID-19 Healthcare: Phase I(4/19/20)
• CMS Guidance Implementing CARES Act Provisions (4/15/20)

• CMS Guidance for Processing Attestation Statements from ASCs Temporarily Enrolling as Hospitals (4/03/20)

• CMS COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Guidance (4/02/2020)
• CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention COVID-19 in Outpatient Settings (3/30/20)

• CMS New COVID-19 MS-DRG Assignment Effective April 1 (3/23/20)
• CMS Memo Prioritization of Survey Activities (3/23/20)
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning COVID-19: FAQs and Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement and Hospital Discharge
• CMS EMTALA COVID-19 Guidance (03/30/20)
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of COVID-19 in nursing homes
• CMS’ Guidance for home health providers
• CMS Guidance for dialysis facilities providers
• Medicare Coverage and Payment
• CMS Guidance for Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans
• Medicaid and CHIP Coverage and Payment
• Individual and Small Group Coverage and Payment
• FAQs to Assist Medicare Providers for Payment for Testing and Other Services related to COVID-19
• FAQs on Essential Health Benefit Coverage and COVID-19

Temporary Change in Bed Capacity — DHSR has developed the attached policy, effective immediately, to enable hospitals to receive a temporary waiver of some 10A NCAC 13B .3111 requirements (90% occupancy, 60 day limitation) to serve patients that may be stricken by COVID-19. The hospital should provide a written request for a specific number of beds, along with a description of the space to be used and the anticipated duration of need. Requests should be addressed to the DHSR Acute and Home Care Licensure and Certification Section Chief, Azzie Conley, by email at Azzie.Conley@dhhs.nc.gov.

• CMS Statement on Prioritization of Surveying Activities
• The Joint Commission Suspends Surveying
• OSHA: “Hospital Respiratory Protection Program Toolkit” 

• AMA Updated COVID-19 Coding and Guidance (4/10/20)

• NCDHHS Medicaid Policies (3/11/20)
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act – Increased FMAP FAQs (3/24/20)
• Use of Defense Production Act Authorities to Support the Pandemic Response (3/20/20)
• Procurement Under Grants: Under Exigent or Emergency Circumstances (3/20/20)
• Eligible Emergency Protective Measures (3/19/20)
• New ICD-10 Code Effective April 1 (3/19/20)
• New CPT COVID-19 code & description for testing
• Medicare Coverage & Payment of Telehealth Services (3/17/20)
• Guidance for Medicare Advantage plans & Part D Sponsors (3/10/20)
• Medicare Coverage and Payment Related to COVID-19 (3/5/20)

• FCC Telehealth Grant Application Information (4/16/20)
• CMS Guidance on Telehealth Patients for Rural Health Centers (4/17/20)

• CCNC COVID-19 Triage Plus Patient Information and Support Line: 1-877-490-6642 (4/06/20)

• NCDHHS: Telehealth Provisions: Clinical Policy Modifications (3/27/20)
• NCDHHS: Telehealth Provisions for Enhanced Behavioral Health Services (3/27/20)

• CMS Guidance on Telehealth Patients for Rural Health Centers (4/17/20)
• Telehealth Toolkit for End-Stage Renal Disease Providers (3/20/20)

• Telehealth Toolkit for General Practitioners (3/20/20)
• FCC Waiver Allows Rural Health Car Program Free Broadband Connections and Devices for Telehealth (3/18/20)
• CMS Fact Sheet: Medicare Coverage and Payment of Virtual Services (Telehealth) and AHA Advisory (3/17/20)
• Medicare Telehealth Frequently Asked Questions(3/17/20)

NCHA Rural Plan for Medical Surge 

NCHA has developed a rural plan, that is also being utilized by the state, to encourage use of rural hospitals both prior to and during a medical surge for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. Our rural hospitals must remain financially solvent, keeping their doors open in order to serve their communities both prior to and following COVID-19. The plan highlights opportunities for further discussion, as well as potential considerations regarding waivers, workforce, transportation, telehealth, and state government’s vital role in this work. For more information about this plan, please contact Shakeerah McCoy, NCHA Director of Rural Health Innovation at smccoy@ncha.org.

• Rural Health Information Hub – Rural Response to COVID-19
• OCR Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications During the COVID-19
• Aspen Institute – COVID-19 Resources Useful for Rural People & Communities
• USDA Rural Development COVID-19 Response  and USDA COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide
• National Rural Health Association COVID-19 Resources
• Optimizing Rural Health – Rural Responses to COVID-19
• AHA Rural Health Special Edition
• FCC Waiver Allows Rural Health Car Program Free Broadband Connections and Devices for Telehealth (3/18/20)
• NRHA Members: Free Access to Customizable Communications Toolkit
• Respiratory Clinic Toolkit (Washington Regional Medical Center Plymouth)
• 5-Part CAH Webinar Series on Transitional Care: An Essential Pathway for Acute-Care Hospitals to Create Needed Capacity During COVID-19
• March 23 CDC Webinar Recording: Update for Rural Partners and Communities on COVID-19 Response
• AHA On Demand Webinar: MANAGING COVID-19 IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
• AHA Rural Hospitals Interventions for Coronavirus (COVID-19) website
• Rural COVID-19 Innovations resource page

• AHA Advocacy Alliance for Rural Hospitals provided a Federal Update, recording  (5/01/20)
• NCHA Webinar: COVID-19 Related Waivers and Flexibilities, Webinar Slides, Recording (4/29/20)
• NCHA and NCMS White Paper: North Carolina’s Responsible Return to Elective Surgeries and Procedures (4/28/20)
• NCHA Webinar: Guidance for Implementing a Crisis Standard of Care for NC, Webinar Slides, Recording (4/28/20)
• NCHA and Marsh McLennan Webinar: Insurance Strategies During Coronavirus Pandemic, slides and recording (4/22/20)
• NCHA Webinar Slides and Recording: North Carolina Emergency Management FEMA Applicant Briefing (4/14/20)
• NIH Launches COVID-19 Safety Training Platform (3/23/20)
• NCAHEC COVID-19 Courses
• NCAHEC Workforce Surge Planning Playbooks

Hope4Healers Resource for Health Care Staff, details, promotional flyer 1 (English, Spanish), flyer 2 (English, Spanish)
Free resilience and emotional support for North Carolinians working on the frontlines of the state’s COVID-19 response.

Behavioral health specific guidance + resources:

• NCHA submits 1135 waiver to CMS; requests specific to behavioral health patients
• NC DHHS guidance for behavioral health outpatient and crisis providers
• Congregate Living Setting Guidance for COVID-19
• Guidance provided to LME/MCOs
• Free Learning Hub to Help Transition Practice to Telemental Health

General guidance and resources:

• Telehealth modifications for NC Medicaid
• NC DHHS updates COVID-19 guidance regarding testing and isolation
• Guidance for homeless shelters + providers
• PPE request flowchart + PPE resource document

Self Care

• PsychHub: COVID-19 Mental Health Resource Hub
• Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health During an Infectious Outbreak (SAMHSA)
• CDC guidance – Managing Anxiety and Stress during COVID-19
• NAMI FAQ Behavioral Health COVID-19 Information and Resources
• WHO Mental Health Considerations during COVID-19 Outbreak
• Mental Health America COVID-19 Resources
• HopeLine: Call or text 919-231-4525 or 877-235-4525 (COVID-19 Press Release)

• AdventHealth Hendersonville
• Appalachian Regional Health System
• Atrium Health
• Cape Fear Valley Health System
• CaroMont Health
• CarolinaEast Health System
• Carteret Health Care
• Catawba Valley Health System
• Cone Health
• Davis Regional Medical Center
• Dosher Memorial Hospital
• Duke Health
• Erlanger Murphy Medical Center
• FirstHealth of the Carolinas
• Granville Health
• Haywood Regional Medical Center
• Holly Hill Hospital
• Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital
• Iredell Health System
• Lake Norman Regional Medical Center
• Martin General Hospital
• Mission Health/HCA
• NC Specialty Hospital
• New Hanover Regional Medical Center
• Northern Regional Hospital
• Novant Health
• Sampson Regional Medical Center
• Sentara Albemarle Medical Center
• Southeastern Health
• Triangle Springs
• UNC Health
• Veritas Collaborative
• Vidant Health
• WakeMed
• Wake Forest Baptist Health