Health
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Sutter Health officials said they are prioritizing patients who are 65-plus years of age and community healthcare workers. These populations are at greatest risk, according to CDC guidance.
By expanding capacity, they can continue deploying as much vaccine as possible to eligible patients, as supply allows. As vaccine supply expands, Sutter Health said it will broaden eligibility and notify our patients.”
Vaccination for Sutter patients 65 and older is now underway at locations throughout the health system’s Northern California footprint.
Sutter has worked quickly to expand COVID-19 vaccination rollout, including scaling up large-scale vaccination clinics across Northern California. Several are already operational.
Eligible Sutter patients can self-schedule through Sutter’s online patient portal, called My Health Online, or through a dedicated hotline, 844-987-6115.
Sutter’s call center is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Patients should allow for longer than normal wait times due to higher call volume. Not everyone who is eligible will be able to make an appointment right away.
Call center representatives can help eligible Sutter patients book appointments for their first doses.
Second dose appointments are scheduled at the time of the first vaccination.
Sutter patients should not contact their provider’s office to schedule COVID-19 vaccinations; they’re not able to book appointments or provide scheduling exceptions.
For more information on how Sutter patients can schedule their COVID-19 vaccination, go to https://www.sutterhealth.org/for-patients/health-alerts/covid-19-vaccine.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
These pilot sites, which will be based at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum and California State University, Los Angeles, are part of the wider effort to establish 100 vaccination sites nationwide in the federal administration’s first 100 days.
The sites will be co-run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and the State of California through the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
“In the fight against COVID-19, partnership is key, especially when it comes to reaching Californians in underserved areas,” said Gov. Newsom. “These new sites will help us get available supply to some of the California communities most in need. I thank the Biden Administration for standing with us as we continue our efforts to safely, swiftly and equitably vaccinate all Californians.”
“Both of these sites are perfect examples of how FEMA is working around the clock to support state led, federally supported vaccine delivery,” said Acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton on Wednesday. “Today’s announcement is a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to ensure every American who wants a vaccine will receive a vaccine.”
FEMA will provide resources and federal staffing support to establish these new community vaccination centers as well as operational support.
The two locations chosen for these efforts are in some of the most diverse and socioeconomically challenged communities in the country. They are also communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and are home to essential workers who have borne the brunt of keeping the economy open over the past year.
The goal of establishing these joint federal pilot sites is to continue to expand the rate of vaccinations in California in an efficient, effective and equitable manner, with an explicit focus on making sure that communities with a high risk of COVID-19 exposure and infection are not left behind.
In order to expand the reach of these state-federal sites further into the communities, each of these new sites will be paired with two mobile vaccination clinics which can be deployed to multiple locations to amplify and provide distribution to areas that otherwise lack sufficient support.
Preparations and buildout of these two locations are now underway and the sites are expected to be open to eligible members of the public beginning Feb. 16. Registration for vaccine appointments at these two sites will be available through the state’s MyTurn scheduling system in the coming days.
The state of California is coordinating closely with FEMA to ensure the vaccine doses used at these sites will not decrease the available supply for other sites in the hosting counties.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
This bipartisan bill would ensure the expanded use of telehealth after the Coronavirus public health emergency by eliminating restrictions on the use in Medicare and requiring a study on the use of the practices during the pandemic.
This would provide a bridge for patients who have come to rely on telehealth to both get important health care needs met while cutting down on the spread of the virus.
“Telehealth has been a game changer during the Coronavirus pandemic, ensuring that patients can continue to get care while reducing the spread of the virus during routine medical visits. However, patients could face an abrupt end to the practice once the pandemic is over, even though it’s long been a proven and cost-effective way to get care,” said Thompson. “That’s why I am proud to join with my colleagues to reintroduce the Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act. This bill ensures the expansion of telehealth can stay in place and be used for continuous care during future disasters and emergencies. I will continue working to get this bill passed and to expand the use of telehealth both during and after the pandemic.”
“This unprecedented pandemic has proven that telehealth not only works, but that it’s essential,” said Welch. “These practical telehealth provisions have been successfully implemented and should be continued to ensure that everyone has access to quality healthcare no matter where they live or how mobile they are. This is a commonsense step to make sure our policies keep pace with our technology.”
“Telehealth has played a major role in keeping vulnerable patients safe during this pandemic, and this bipartisan legislation keeps telehealth expansion in place. In Eastern and Southeastern Ohio and across rural America, we’ve seen that telehealth can be effectively and conveniently used in both times of crisis and in normal times,” said Johnson. “Increasing access to telehealth has long been a priority of mine, and I encourage my colleagues to support this important bill; it’s time for Congress to make telehealth expansion and access permanent.”
“I am pleased to re-introduce this legislation with my colleagues on the Telehealth Caucus, continuing our work to advance solutions for how we can provide efficient and accessible care into the 117th Congress,” said Schweikert. “It is clear that telemedicine is part of the future of our healthcare system and should be continued as an attainable tool for all Americans. I am hopeful we can advance this legislation in the House soon, to ensure once the pandemic is declared over, patients can continue to have access to the care they deserve wherever they are.”
“As the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to fundamentally change how patients and providers engage in health care delivery, we have seen that leveraging telehealth is a long-term solution to ensure patients have access to the care they need,” said Matsui. “The expansion of digital services throughout the pandemic has been crucial to our most vulnerable patients, Older Americans, and the traditionally underserved – and we must ensure that this level of access to care survives well beyond this crisis. This legislation provides a vital bridge for patients to continue their virtual care at home and supports the further implementation of innovative solutions as we continue our mission to equalize access to care.
You can click here to read the full text of the Protecting Access to Post-Covid-19 Telehealth Act.
This bipartisan bill was first introduced in July 2020. It works to expand the use of telehealth after the end of the Coronavirus crisis by:
– Eliminating most geographic and originating site restrictions on the use of telehealth in Medicare and establishing the patient’s home as an eligible distant site so patients can receive telehealth care at home and doctors can still be reimbursed;
– Preventing a sudden loss of telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries by authorizing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service to continue reimbursement for telehealth for 90 days beyond the end of the public health emergency;
– Making permanent the disaster waiver authority, enabling Health and Human Service to expand telehealth in Medicare during all future emergencies and disasters; and
– Requiring a study on the use of telehealth during COVID, including its costs, uptake rates, measurable health outcomes, and racial and geographic disparities.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
This bipartisan bill addresses the mental health care gap for seniors by expanding the network of providers that can deliver mental and behavioral health services to Medicare beneficiaries.
“Often seniors are at a greater risk for mental illnesses and can find it hard to get access to the mental health services they need. That’s why I’ve reintroduced my bill to help close the gap for seniors by allowing them to see a wider range of qualified mental health care providers through Medicare,” said Thompson. “When we address these mental health care needs, we help ensure they don’t lead to greater health problems that can be costly for our nation’s seniors. I am glad to again introduce this important bill and to continue my work caring for the health and well-being of older Americans.”
“I’m proud to join my colleague Rep. Thompson in re-introducing the Mental Health Access Improvement Act. This important bipartisan legislation would improve access to mental healthcare for older Americans and alleviate the strain on our nation’s mental health and addiction treatment workforce,” said Katko. “At home in Central New York and in Congress, I’ll continue fighting to ensure individuals and families have access to the care they need.”
Under current regulations, psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers and psychiatric nurses are currently recognized to offer covered mental health services under Medicare.
This does not include mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists who have the same training and education but are not able to be reimbursed by Medicare and thus more expensive for seniors.
This bill closes that gap by adding those providers to the list of those accessible to Medicare beneficiaries.
You can click here to read the full text of the bill, first introduced in January 2013.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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