April 20: APTA Recommended Resources on Physical Therapy and COVID-19 in the Outpatient Setting
Information around physical therapy and COVID-19 continues to evolve. Here's a recap of resources APTA has developed to help outpatient practices.
In the Media
April 20: These Occupations Have the Highest COVID-19 Risk (PTs and PTAs in Top 20)
The World Economic Forum has created an infographic and listing of the professions most at risk for contracting COVID-19. PTAs are in the 17th position, with PTs at 18 and OTs at 19.
April 19: Looking at a Second Wave of Coronavirus
From USA Today: "Even before the first horrific phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has run its course, scientists are worried about the second wave of the disease. It could crash worse than the first, killing tens of thousands of people who did such a good job of sheltering in place they remain virgin ground for the virus. Or it could be a mere swell, with so many people having been infected without symptoms that levels of immunity are higher than realized."
April 19: COVID-19 Is Normalizing Telehealth, and That’s a Good Thing
Opinion piece from FastCompany: "Habits that we form now will grow into preferences and default behaviors, and patients won’t want to return to a pre-COVID-19, less-convenient form of in-person healthcare."
COVID-19 Relief Funds
April 17: How to Find Out if You're Getting CARES Act Provider Relief
The $30 billion emergency fund created under the most recent COVID-19 relief package began being distributed to health care providers on April 10, but not all eligible providers have received funds yet. Those who do receive money need to agree to the program's terms and conditions. Here's what you need to know.
From CMS
April 19: CMS Requires Nursing Homes to Report on COVID-19 Cases
CMS has issued new regulatory requirements that SNFs inform residents, their families, and representatives of COVID-19 cases in their facilities, as well as report cases to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nursing homes are also required to cooperate with CDC surveillance efforts related to COVID-19.
April 19: CMS Issues Recommendations to Re-Open Some Health Care Systems
New guidance from CMS targets communicates that are in "Phase 1" of President Donald Trump's "Opening Up America Again" plan, with "low and stable incidence of COVID-19 cases." The new recommendations call for the limited return of nonessential surgeries and medical procedures, coordinated with local and state public health officials.
From the Department of Labor
April 16: OSHA Will Ease Enforcement Efforts
Acknowledging that "some employers may face difficulties" complying with OSHA standards during the coronavirus health emergency, the agency announced that OSHA inspectors will evaluate whether employers made "good faith efforts" to comply and, when compliance wasn't possible, that "employees were not exposed to hazards from tasks, processes, or equipment for which they were not prepared or trained."
Visit APTA's Coronavirus webpage for more information and updates.
