This advisory supersedes specimen collection and handling guidance from NYSDOH, released originally on March 25, 2020.

This update further extends previous recommendations that nasal and oropharyngeal swab specimen collection is an acceptable alternative, with recommendations for the collection of one (1) nasal swab AND one (1) saliva specimen through healthcare personnel (HCP) observed patient self-collection for specimens submitted to Wadsworth Center,if nasopharyngeal (NP) supplies are unavailable.

If you are using a laboratory other than the Wadsworth Center, follow the laboratory’s guidance for all specimen collection, handling, and transport processes, including whether nasal swab AND saliva specimen, or nasal swab AND OP swab specimen collection methods are acceptable alternatives to an NP swab.

• For any suspected COVID-19 cases, ensure appropriate infection control precautions are in place and immediately notify the infection control lead at your facility and the local health department (LHD).
  
  
• Review local testing options for those who do not require clinical outpatient/inpatient medical care

> Read the complete advisory

This advisory supersedes guidance from the New York State Department of Health issued on March 28, 2020, to clarify that this guidance applies to essential personnel who have been exposed to a confirmed OR suspected case of COVID-19.

Public and private sector organizations that provide essential services or functions where personnel are needed to perform critical functions, including infrastructure, public safety, and other essential operations, may allow personnel who were exposed to or are recovering from COVID-19 to work in the workplace setting,if needed to maintain essential operations.

Essential services or functions include but are not limited to public health personnel, utility and water operators, skilled manufacturers and supporting supply chains, transportation infrastructure, law enforcement, and emergency response personnel.

Essential personnel who have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 can return if the following conditions are met.

This advisory supersedes guidance from the New York State Department of Health to Hospitals, Nursing Homes (NHs) and Adult Care Facilities (ACFs) pertaining to the COVID-19 outbreak, released on March 16, 2020, and further clarifies the updated guidance issued on March 28, 2020.

Entities may allow healthcare personnel (HCP) who are confirmed with COVID-19 or  have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, or who have traveled internationally in the past 14 days, whether healthcare providers or other facility staff, to work if all of the following conditions are met.

Given the current health crisis, our strategic partners are stepping up to help our members. The New York Chapter ACS is pleased to have selected Altfest Personal Wealth Management as its preferred wealth management education provider for its members. 

During this time, we believe our members may benefit by having access, at no cost or obligation, to a financial advisor from Altfest. 

On April 3, 2020, between 10am-12pm and 1:30pm-3pm, our members can schedule a  30 minute phone call to discuss concerns and questions regarding their financial matters.

These calls are designed to provide information regarding our member’s most pressing concerns. This is not meant to take the place of a formal introduction/ review/or recommendation process. Needless to say, Altfest will schedule a follow-up call or meeting with members who want more information, including about how to engage the firm’s custom financial planning and investment management services for themselves.

Should your interest exceed capacity for services on Friday, we will make sure that your needs are addressed.

Please note that these calls are to provide general information of a non-binding nature and do not replace detailed individual advice for investment or financial decisions.

Schedule a Call

Executive orders are a method for the state government to ensure all actions can be taken to respond effectively and efficiently to a state emergency without being impeded by state laws and regulations that ordinarily serve a purpose but during the emergency can often hinder the fastest and best response to an emergency.

The executive order accomplishes this goal by suspending or modifying certain laws or regulations that are listed in the order.

> See a complete listing and explanations of the Executive Orders as provided by MLMIC

The New York Chapter of the American College of Surgeons continues to mobilize efforts to assist in caring for New Yorkers and reduce the spread of the Coronavirus.

Recently the Chapter sent a letter to Governor Cuomo and shared with officials in the New York State Department of Health, New York Department of Financial Services, and the New York State legislature alerting them to the following items:

• Personal Protective Equipment
• Interpretation of Immunity
• Crisis Standards
• Maintenance of Emergency Access to Critical Medical and Surgical Care as Essential Public Health Services
• Liability Relief    
• Volunteer Immunity

The letter is enclosed. 

Additionally, the New York Chapter Board of Directors is meeting on a weekly basis to identify barriers, help our members navigate the outbreak and provide recommendations to policymakers.

On March 27, 2020 the Governor announced that for a 60 day period, consumers and small businesses experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 may defer paying premiums for property and casualty insurance, including auto, homeowners, renters, workers comp, medical malpractice, livery and taxi. No late fees will be assessed and no negative data will be reported to credit bureaus during this time, and late payments will be payable over a one-year period.  More details are forthcoming.

Additionally, you may call your malpractice carrier to ask about their additional accommodations for relief, such a reduction to part-time status:

• The Doctors Company
  
• MLMIC

Updated Content!

All NYS Licensed prescribers are again required to satisfy and attend to three hours of CME Pain Management Training.  The new cycle (renewal) deadline is 7/1/2020.

What You Need to Know

• Target Audience - Physicians, nurse practitioners, residents, registered nurses, nurses, physician assistants, dentists, and pharmacists.
• The initial course deadline was 7/1/17 and every 3 years thereafter.
• The new cycle (renewal) deadline is 7/1/2020.
• Newly licensed prescribers are mandated to complete training within 1 year of receipt of your license and every three years thereafter.
• For Residents prescribing under a hospital or facility DEA number:
  • Residents must complete the course within 1 year of the start of their residency and every 3 years thereafter
  • Hospitals must attest that ALL residents prescribing under their institutional DEA number have completed the required training
• The course is $20.00.

• Take the Course
  

The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human issued an announcement March 10 that a malicious website posing as the live map for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) global cases from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, is circulating on the Internet. Visiting the website infects the user’s computer with the AZORult trojan, an information-stealing program, which can exfiltrate a variety of sensitive data. It is likely being spread via infected e-mail attachments, malicious online advertisements, and social engineering. Furthermore, anyone searching the Internet for a Coronavirus map could unwittingly navigate to this malicious website. The American College of Surgeons urges members to avoid opening any electronic communications from corona-virus-map[dot]com and that health care provider security teams blacklist any indicators associated with this specific threat.

A sample of the malware being deployed by “corona-virus-map[dot]com” was submitted and analyzed and received an extremely malicious threat score of 100/100 with anti-virus (AV) detection at 76 percent. Hybrid-Analysis labelled this sample as a trojan.

For details, go to: https://blog.reasonsecurity.com/2020/03/09/covid-19-info-stealer-the-map-of-threats-threatanalysis-report/, send requests for information to HC3@HHS.GOV, or call the HC3, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm Eastern time, at 202-691-2110.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) joined other physician specialty organizations in sending a letter to congressional leaders as they work to reach a compromise on surprise billing legislation. The letter, which was sent to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, and Ways and Means, outlines key components for a fair and effective legislative solution to surprise billing. At present, committee leaders are working to reconcile differences in their approaches to tackling the issue with the goal of including language in a broader package to extend certain health care programs beyond May 22.  

For more information, contact Carrie Zlatos, ACS Senior Congressional Lobbyist, at czlatos@facs.org.