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CDPH Sends Hospitals Enrollment Instructions for COVID-19 Vaccination Program
On Nov. 16, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) notified general acute care hospitals via email that its COVID-19 vaccination provider registration system, COVIDReadi, is available for hospitals to complete the registration process. All providers that plan to receive and administer COVID-19 vaccines must be enrolled. To assist with the multi-step enrollment process, CDPH has provided these instructions and a step-by-step guide.
Due to expected limited vaccine availability during initial phases of the program, vaccination provider enrollment is currently prioritized for settings where the vaccine will be administered in Phase 1a. Additional providers that are likely immunizers for Phase 1a will be invited by their local health departments. CDPH and local health departments are currently determining which multi-county entities will receive vaccine allocations directly from the state versus through the local health departments; more information will be forthcoming as those decisions are made. In the meantime, the department asks that all general acute care hospitals enroll in the vaccination program now so that all are prepared when vaccines become available. Questions can be directed to COVIDCallCenter@cdph.ca.gov.
CHA Releases Follow-Up Questions from Nov. 13 CDPH Vaccination Call
On Nov. 13, CDPH hosted a call for general acute care hospitals to discuss various aspects of COVID-19 vaccine planning and implementation. Follow-up questions submitted by hospitals to CHA, along with answers from CDPH, are available here. For those who were unable to participate, CDPH has communicated that it was not recorded. However, CHA has posted this slide deck from the call.
CDPH Issues Fact Sheet, Allocation Plans for Monocolonal Antibody Treatment
CDPH has issued a distribution fact sheet about bamlanivimab, the monoclonal antibody therapy produced by Eli Lilly and Company that was approved for emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). CDPH also issued a hospital-by-hospital and county-by-county allocation spreadsheet, showing its proportional distribution of the drug to counties based on the number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection in the previous seven days.
CMS Takes Steps to Ensure Medicare Beneficiaries Have Wide Access to COVID-19 Antibody Treatment
Following the FDA’s emergency use authorization of bamlanivimab, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will cover monoclonal antibody therapies, with no beneficiary cost-sharing for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Bamlanivimab is authorized to treat certain patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 diagnosis and must be administered in settings where health care providers have immediate access to medications to treat a severe infusion reaction, such as anaphylaxis, and the ability to activate the emergency medical system if necessary. More details about the CMS announcement are available here.
CDPH Issues Infection Control Guidance for SNFs During Holidays
CDPH has issued All Facilities Letter 20-86, which provides recommendations for COVID-19 infection control during holiday celebrations for skilled-nursing facilities. The letter includes guidance for communal activities, private gatherings, and resident placement upon return to the facility.
Next CDPH Call for Health Care Facilities: Nov. 24, 8-9 a.m. (PT)
Dial: (844) 721-7239
Passcode: 7993227
Summary of Nov. 10 CDPH Call
CDPH has provided a summary of its recent weekly call with health care facilities.