COVID-19 Update | April 29, 2021

Staff Contact: Keri Barclay

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the two authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were effective in preventing hospitalizations. Individuals who were 65 and older, and who were fully vaccinated were 94% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who were not vaccinated. Partially vaccinated individuals, were 64% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19. These findings are based on real-world data in the U.S. and confirms Pfizer and Moderna’s clinical trial data of mRNA vaccines’ ability to prevent severe COVID-19 illness.

Staff Contact: Jackie Gatz

Saturday, May 1 is “May Day,” the traditional opening celebration of spring.

Just as spring marks rebirth, May will be a critical month in Missouri’s reopening and recovery. With growing pressure to return to normal, vaccination remains the best tool to suppress COVID-19 by putting space between the virus and Missourians.

Today, 1.6 million Missourians have completed vaccination. Much work remains to grow the population of vaccinated individuals and reduce vaccine hesitancy. As spring continues to unfold, it remains important for hospitals and clinicians to remind members of the community that vaccination now will help us reach immunity as early as late summer or fall — what we sow today, we will reap later this year.

Staff Contact: Sarah Willson

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released updated guidance for long-term care facilities regarding COVID-19 testing for residents and staff. QSO 20-38-NH has been revised to add definitions on vaccination status, and to clarify throughout the document where the vaccination status of the resident or staff being addressed should be considered.

Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the federal fiscal year 2022 Medicare acute inpatient, skilled nursing facility, psychiatric facility and rehabilitation facility prospective payment system payment and policy updates. CMS is proposing to add a new measure to each quality reporting program titled as COVID-19 Vaccination Among Health Care Personnel to the quality reporting program. CMS proposes to use the IPPS HCP data from Oct. 1,  through Dec. 31, 2021, for the FFY 2023 fiscal year.