The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced renewal of the public health emergency (PHE) for the novel coronavirus, ensuring ongoing flexibilities and resources fought for by ACC and others in the House of Medicine while clinicians continue to treat patients on the front lines. The declaration is effective July 25 for 90 days, and would need to be renewed again for PHE-linked flexibilities to continue.

The emergency declaration was originally made by HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar II in late January of this year, after news broke that COVID-19 had started to spread in the United States, and was extended once before in April. The latest renewal will expire in late October without another extension. Read the full announcement.

As health care delivery systems changed overnight, the College has diligently worked to close the reimbursement gap between in-office visits and telehealth, including audio-only visits; to communicate the ongoing need for personal protective equipment (PPE), test kits, ventilators, and other equipment in direct conversation between ACC leadership and the Administration; to protect clinicians working in unprecedented circumstances, often outside of their area of expertise, as they pivot to treat COVID-19 patients; to reduce administrative burden; to ensure financial stability for cardiovascular practices around the country; to make patient care accessible; and to fight for the cardiology specialty with supplemental legislative packages as they arise.

Read a recent Leadership Page published in JACC by ACC HeartPAC Chair Sandra J. Lewis, MD, FACC, and ACC Health Affairs Committee Chair Samuel O. Jones, MD, MPH, FACC, to learn more about the College's Advocacy efforts during the pandemic.

Clinical Topics: COVID-19 Hub

Keywords: Coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, COVID-19, ACC Advocacy, Telemedicine, United States Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office Visits

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