COVID-19 Resources

CCHN FAQs on Vaccine Issues: This information changes rapidly. This represents CCHN’s best understanding as of the writing of this FAQ. CCHN will continue to add to this document. Please continue to refer to CDPHE’s website for vaccine planning information: https://covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine. CCHN has a “no wrong door” approach, so please reach out to Holly, holly@cchn.org, or another CCHN staff member with any questions.

• For Vaccine Providers

CHC Vaccine Reimbursement by Coverage Type

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an Interim Final Rule in November 6, 2020, which describes plans for reimbursement for COVID vaccine administration in Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and private insurance. This document summarizes those interim regulations and provides other details. CCHN will update this document with new information as it is released.

Other Vaccine Resources

CDC COVID Vaccination FAQ

Statewide standing orders: Pfizer and Moderna

CDC Toolkit: Considerations for Planning Curbside/Drive-Through Vaccination Clinics

CDPHE Off-Site Vaccination Clinic Operational Playbook

CDPHE Communications Toolkit

HRSA COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs

CDPHE Vaccine Provider Toolkit

FAQs from Office of Pharmacy Affairs: The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) has posted FAQs on the 340B pharmacy program as it relates to COVID-19. 

340B Flexibilities During Disasters: This page provides guidance for 340B providers participating in relief efforts during a declared public health emergency. Provisions of the guidance include:

• In a declared emergency, an abbreviated health record may be adequate for purposes of the 340B Program.
• In the event of a declared emergency, where volunteer health professionals are providing health care, emergency documentation should be generated to make the relationship between the provider and the covered entity clear and to make clear the covered entity’s responsibility for providing care.

Ag Worker Access Campaign Task Force Resources: COVID-19 resources compiled by the National Center for Farmworker Health include Voucher Program meeting notes; COVID Resources from NC and PA, including guidelines, protocols, and a Letter to Grower; HRHCare Transportation sample protocols; Indigenous Language resources; FJ letter sent to DOL, DOS, and DHS outlining recommendations to protect H-2A workers from COVID-19; and UFW articles. Resources will continue to be added as they are made available.

COVID-19 Resources for Agriculture: Resources from the UC Davis Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety related to COVID-19 as it affects agricultural workers, including frequently asked questions for growers and farmworkers, and audiovisual COVID-19 videos in Mixteco and Spanish.

Billing Information: Updates on policies, codes and other important information for providers will be posted on the new COVID-19 Provider Information web page. Communications will continue to be sent out via bulletins and newsletters. Please sign up for updates on the Provider News web page.

Health Center Boards and Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – resource from NACHC

This document discusses how CHC boards are exercising their governance duties related to COVID-19. Examples include ensuring there are plans in place, considering resource needs and long-term strategic implications, ensuring they can stay connected and continue to meet monthly, and continuing to serve as community ambassadors.

• Health Center Boards and Novel Coronavirus, English
• Health Center Boards and Novel Coronavirus, Spanish.

The third episode of CCHN’s Governance Podcast explores how one CHC board responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Episode 3: CHC Boards and COVID-19 (16:43)
  • Access the episode
  • View the episode handout

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Colorado

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has assembled COVID-19 resources for healthcare providers and local public health agencies. This includes information on the following:

• Alternate Care Site (ACS) Health Center Medical Staff Training COVID Nursing Care
• COVID-19 Workforce Virtual Toolkit
• Dental Procedures
• Emergency medical services
• Health Alert Network (HAN) Messages
• How to conduct a facility health screening
• Long-term & residential care facilities
• Outbreak resources
• Patient Care
• Prevention and Preparation
• Veterinarian practices
• Water quality
• Colorado COVID-19 Serological Testing
• Accessibility
• Labor, delivery and breast feeding guidance

CHCs

• Approaches shared by CHCs

Disability

• COVID-19: Resources, Links, and Information for People With and Without Disabilities from the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition

General Equity

• CIRCLE Biblioteca: A health equity resource library created in collaboration with The Health Equity Advocacy Cohort and with support from The Colorado Trust
• Maps showing the impact of COVID from the CARES Engagement Network at the University of Missouri
  • COVID-19 Vulnerability Footprint
  • COVID-19 Economic Impact
  • Demographic Vulnerability

• State of the Field – Findings from a 2020 Scan of Colorado’s Health Equity Advocacy Field from the Colorado Trust
• Topic Collection – COVID-19 Health Equity from the HHS Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE)

Housing

• COVID Informational Guide for Public Housing Residents – Know the Basics of Seeking Care: From the National Center on Public Housing
  • Public Housing Guide in English  
  • Public Health Guide in Spanish

Language

• CDC Resources in Languages Other Than English, including COVID-19 facts sheets
• Communication Toolkit for Migrants, Refugees, and Other Limited English-proficient Populations from the CDC, includes print resources, audiovisual resources, and guidance resources
• COVID-19 Health Literacy Project provides translations of essential information about COVID-19 in more than 35 languages. The project was started by a medical student at Harvard and all the information is vetted by Harvard faculty. 
• Translated COVID-19 resources from the Center of Excellence in Refugee Health: In an effort to support outreach and messaging to communities with limited English proficiency (including refugees, immigrants, and others) CDPHE has compiled a database of translated materials in 64 languages (fact sheets, posters, multimedia, and videos) covering a wide range of topics. This online database can be filtered by language or topic.

LGBTQA

• One Colorado collection of resources for the LGBTQ community

Race and Ethnicity

• CDPHE Office of Health Equity Racism and COVID-19
• Center for African American Health COVID-19 Resources
• Centering Race in Health Equity Advocacy from the Colorado Trust
• Colorado Black Health Collaborative Articles: Includes a number of articles focused on topics such as when to get tested for COVID, wearing a mask, and COVID and mental health
• Salud America Infographic: 8 Big Ways Coronavirus Impacts Latinos
• The Skin You’re In:  A multimedia project that aims to inspire a movement to produce positive change to close the unjust health gap that plagues African Americans

NACHC Sample Drive-Through Clinic Resources: The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has put together a resource packet CHCs can utilize for drive-through clinics. The packet includes a script for patient phone calls, sample procedures, a patient screening tool, a patient self-monitoring tool, and a sample budget for setting up a drive-through clinic.

• Drive-Through Clinic Resources in English
• Drive-Through Clinic Resources in Spanish

FTCA Requirement FAQs from HRSA

SHRM Article – When Disasters Strike: Pay, Leave, and Related Issues

U.S. Department of Labor Definition of Hazard Pay: Hazard pay means additional pay for performing hazardous duty or work involving physical hardship. Work duty that causes extreme physical discomfort and distress which is not adequately alleviated by protective devices is deemed to impose a physical hardship. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not address the subject of hazard pay, except to require that it be included as part of a federal employee’s regular rate of pay in computing the employee’s overtime pay. Office of Resources Management – Hazard Pay Compensation Policy.

Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration – Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Directors Administrative Procedures (Section 3-51 is about Hazardous Duty)

HRSA Novel COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions: These questions are updated regularly

• COVID FAQs
• Funding FAQs
• COVID-19 Grantee FAQs

ECRI COVID-19 Resource Center: This site includes preparation and patient handling checklists, equipment and alternative supplier lists, patient care equipment evaluations, including portable ventilators, recommendations for infection control, and links to Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization. 

Updated Infection Control Toolkit from ECRI: Requires a free ECRI login, email clinical_rm_program@ecri.org for access)

Coronavirus COVID-19 Resource from the Centers for Disease Control

COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Response and 42 CFR Part 2 Guidance From SAMHSA: The increased need for telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency has led to instance in which providers may not be able to obtain written patient consent for disclosure of substance use disorder records. In these cases, the prohibitions on use and disclosure of patient identifying information under 42 C.F.R. Part 2 would not apply to the extent that, as determined by the provider(s), a medical emergency exists.

Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Division COVID-19 Information Page

American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) National Practice Guidelines – OUD and Alcohol Withdrawal Management: ASAM released updates in March 2020 to the following guidelines:

• National Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder
• Visit ASAM’s COVID-19 page here

Colorado Health Services Corps Contract Obligations: The Primary Care Office has shared with CCHN that any disruption to normal practice time directly related to the COVID will “count” under the CHSC provider direct care contract requirements for the time being. If furloughs or layoffs occur, then the PCO will suspend contracts for up to a year. 

NHSC and Nurse Corps: At the discretion of the NHSC or Nurse Corps site/institutions loan repayment recipients can request approval for shifting their clinical service to telehealth to accommodate infection control, social distancing, or other appropriate measure to assist in meeting recommended outbreak reduction/control measures. Additional details on this and other flexibilities are available on the NHSC COVID-19 FAQs page.

OIG Portal for COVID-19 Resources

TRACIE Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Information Gateway Novel Coronavirus Resources: This page highlights resources identified or developed to address current response and recovery operations to novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

• COVID-19 Response Assistance Field Team (CRAFT) Observations: This collection provides a set of resources provided by local jurisdictions and community-based organizations during COVID-19 Response Assistance Field Team visits across the country.

For information about teledentistry, please visit CCHN’s dedicated page for telehealth resources and click on “Telehealth – Dental.”

American Dental Association:

• Return to Work Interim Guidance Toolkit
  

Colorado Dental Association: COVID-19 Resources

National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA): COVID-19 Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Strategies to Optimize the Supply of PPE and Equipment
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Burn Rate Calculator

Guidance for Dental Clinics:

• CDPHE Public Health and Executive Orders

OSHA COVID-19 webpage: provides information for workers and employers about COVID-19. The information includes links to interim guidance and other resources for preventing exposures and infection. 

• Key OSHA standards for COVID-19
• OSHA Healthcare ETS

Resources for Populations Disproportionately Impacted by COVID-19: The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have compiled a list of federal resources for Region 8 to support populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The purpose of the document is to help state and local agencies find resources and information that are available at the federal level. The document includes resources from the Administration for Children and Families, Administration for Community Living, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Food and Drug Administration, Office for Civil Rights, and FEMA.

CHAMPS Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Resources webpage
In response to the novel Coronavirus, CHAMPS has created a page of resources pertinent to the prevention, slowing of infection rate, and treatment of this illness. This page will be updated as new resources become available.

COVID-19 Just-In-Time ECHO for Primary Care: ECHO Colorado, a leader in developing primary care practice support and clinical education across the state, has developed an effort with numerous statewide key stakeholders to support primary care practices and safety net practices in managing the outbreak of COVID-19. ECHO Colorado has developed a program that is offered three times per week with all Colorado health providers eligible to participate. The virtual sessions offer these practices a connection with a multidisciplinary team and are structured to share a range of topics as a COVID-19 toolkit, followed by questions and case review.

HRSA Scope of Project Considerations for COVID-19 the Public Health Emergency: To support CHCs with scope of project questions HRSA has compiled several resources onto one page. The page also includes an outline of several questions for CHCs to consider when determining if something is within the scope of project.

Requesting a Change in Scope to Add Temporary Service Sites in Response to Emergency Events (PAL 2020-05): This PAL outlines the process and criteria for CHCs to request a temporary site.

CCHN has a dedicated page for Telehealth Resources 

CCHN’s Resources for Becoming a Community COVID-19 Testing Site: Includes a summary of CDPHE’s Community Testing Playbook, CHC site-specific considerations, and suggested next steps.

Help Colorado Now Website

FTCA for Volunteers: For liability protections to apply, the volunteer must be a health care professional who is licensed or certified to provide clinical services. This would include Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Medical Assistants (MAs) who are licensed or certified. Volunteers who are not licensed or certified are not eligible for volunteer health professional (VHP) coverage. VHPs are not automatically eligible for liability protections under the Health Center FTCA Program. Deemed health centers must apply for such protections for their individual volunteers through a VHP deeming sponsorship application. See Program Assistance Letter (PAL) 2020-03: Calendar Year 2021 Volunteer Health Professional Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Deeming Sponsorship Application Instructions. The deemed health center must submit to HRSA and receive approval of a VHP deeming sponsorship application for each individual volunteer.

What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws: Provides approaches employers may adopt as they plan for employees returning to the workplace, including providing information to all employees about who to contact with requests for disability accommodation or other flexibilities and inviting employees to make any requests in advance that the employer will consider on an individualized basis.

Work-Share Program Information: This program, as part of the Colorado Employment Security Act, permits employers to allow for staff to work reduced hours and be paid part of their regular unemployment benefits. Employees participating in the program are paid a portion of their unemployment benefits based on the percentage of reduced hours. This program provides employers an alternative to laying off employees. All employees are can be in the work share program, or employees from a particular unit can be in the program.

HUB International coronavirus resource center.

NACHC Reduced Workflows and Staffing Guidance for Non-Clinical Operations: This packet from NACHC contains procedures and workflows informed by health centers who are implementing reduced and/or telework staffing models specific to non-clinical services and functions

Resources from the HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR): ASPR has released several resources to provide tips and general guidance to mitigate the impacts of healthcare provider grief related to a patient’s or colleague’s death and to maintain workforce efficiency and individual well-being.

• Grief Following Patient Deaths During COVID-19
• Death of a Colleague During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Guidance for Rehiring Staff and Unemployment: As Coloradans in non-essential roles return to their workplace, many are concerned about their safety in the workplace. This resource addresses how employers can respond to staff who have safety concerns, what categories of staff are able to decline a return to their positions, and choices for CHCs who are participating in the Paycheck Protection Program who have had a reduction in full-time staff.  

Workforce Virtual Toolkit: TRACIE has a curated list of resources to assist in the workforce response to COVID-19 called COVID-19 Workforce Virtual Toolkit: Resources for Healthcare Decision-Makers Responding to COVID-19 Workforce Concerns. This free virtual toolkit includes guidance, sample policies, and training resources for CHC leadership, providers, and frontline staff.