HHS Expands Telehealth Coverage of COVID-19 Countermeasures

In a press release, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced expanded physician coverage of COVID-19 countermeasures, specifically those related to telehealth, outlined in the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP). As reported by HHS, the new PREP Act grants permission to physicians for the delivery of telehealth services across state lines, a guideline that has already been adopted by many states. PREP’s expanded Covered Countermeasures include, but are not limited to, specifics on the following:

• Physician permission to use telehealth across state lines for diagnostic testing that has received an Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA);
• Broadened immunity for healthcare personnel, such as pharmacists, who administer the COVID-19 and other vaccines via modification and clarification on CPR and other training requirements; and
• Expanded immunity for the use of on-label Covered Countermeasures that are licensed, approved, cleared, or authorized by the FDA to support COVID-19 public health emergency efforts.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar says the amendment will increase “access to important services via telehealth, increase availability of authorized PPE, and make it easier to administer eventual COVID-19 vaccines.”

MLMIC encourages policyholders to review the complete HHS amendment.

Additionally, MLMIC has assembled a number of other critical resources to support New York physicians as they navigate the pandemic. This information, which includes the latest developments in medicine and government, can be accessed on our website.