AHPA continues to follow new COVID-19 regulations, guidance and other government actions. The updates below are the latest guidance and other developments since February 22, 2021 to help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. For earlier COVID-19 regulations and guidance, visit the previous Policy Brief.

Executive Order: Securing America’s Critical Supply Chains

• President Biden has signed a new Executive Order aimed at improving America’s supply chains, including for COVID-19 pharmaceuticals. The order directs an immediate 100-day review across federal agencies of all vulnerabilities, including those related to the pandemic.

New Federal Actions Announced to Expand Testing Access

• President Biden’s newly-announced national strategy includes measures to expand COVID-19 testing capacity across the country. Actions include directing HHS and the Department of Defense to partner in expanding testing at schools and homeless shelters, increasing domestic manufacturing of supplies and materials, and increasing genomic sequencing.

New Guidance for Plans and Issuers on Covering COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing

• CMS, the Department of Labor and the Department of the Treasury have issued new guidance focused on strengthening the requirements that plans and issuers cover diagnostic testing without cost sharing.

HHS Taps Community Health Centers and Health Partners to Help Distribute PPE

The Biden Administration plans to deliver over 25 million masks to under-resourced communities by way of community health groups through partnerships managed by the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DoD).