Regimens are being provided to individual states free of charge, pending EUA.
The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus burned itself out almost as quickly as it created record surges in infections, but patients affected by any lingering cases may soon have a welcome solution.
The federal government announced last week that it was purchasing 600,000 treatment courses of a new monoclonal antibody treatment shown to be effective against the new variant. The antibody regimen, known as bebtelovimab, is manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company, and if it receives emergency use authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will make the treatment available to states free of charge.
“Under President Biden’s leadership, we are prepared for the challenges we face with COVID-19 and are laser-focused on saving lives,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “We have more COVID-19 treatments than ever before, we are providing a billion free at-home tests, and we have enough vaccines to get everyone vaccinated and boosted. If authorized by FDA, this purchase will add an additional 600,000 courses of treatment to our nation’s ‘medicine cabinet’ that could help prevent severe outcomes for Americans who do get sick with COVID-19. Our top priority is preventing people from getting sick in the first place, which is why it is critical that Americans continue to get vaccinated and get their booster shot as soon as they’re eligible.”
HHS indicated in its announcement that it expects to receive approximately 300,000 treatment courses of the monoclonal antibody by the end of February, and approximately 300,000 more treatment courses in March.
HHS added that early data suggests that the new treatment not only is effective against the Omicron strain, but also the BA.2 Omicron subvariant, which carries the potential for creating a national surge of its own.
“We want to make sure if an American gets sick with COVID-19, they can get a treatment that works,” Becerra said.
Since the start of 2022, HHS has reportedly already provided more than 2.5 million COVID-19 treatments and therapies to states for Americans who get sick with COVID-19 to use, including antiviral pills, monoclonal antibodies, and pre-exposure prophylaxis therapies for people with compromised immune systems. The new contract also includes a future option for 500,000 more doses, and was awarded as a result of collaboration between the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense.
The COVID-19 virus and its variants have reportedly sickened more than 418 million people and killed more than 5.8 million worldwide, including nearly 80 million illnesses and nearly 950,000 deaths in the U.S. alone.
MDaudit recently released its 2023 Benchmark Report on the trends, challenges, and opportunities being encountered by healthcare organizations in the United States. Crucial needs emphasize that
Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) have special audits – or, should I say, more robust audits. We all know that in March 2020, both The Joint
Please log in to your account to comment on this article.
Unlock the keys to bridging the clinical-finance disconnect by transforming your approach to revenue cycle collaboration for superior patient care and financial prosperity!
Join Dr. Ronald Hirsch as he delves into the pivotal connection between case management, utilization review, and hospital revenue cycles, unveiling strategies to enhance communication and align goals effectively. Discover how to overcome hidden challenges hindering seamless collaboration and gain insights imperative for success
During this webcast Dr. Hirsch will breakdown the CMS-4201-F rule and the new federal regulations, how and when they will apply to Medicare Advantages plans.
The CMS Two-Midnight Rule and short-stay audits are here to stay, impacting inpatient and outpatient admissions, ASC procedures, and Medicare Parts C & D. New for 2024, the Two-Midnight Rule applies to Medicare Advantage patients, requiring differentiation between Medicare plans affecting Case Managers, Utilization Review, and operational processes and knowledge of a vital distinction between these patients that influences post-discharge medical reviews and compliance risk. Join Michael G. Calahan for a comprehensive webcast covering federal laws for all admission processes. Gain the knowledge needed to navigate audits effectively and optimize patient access points, personnel, and compliance strategies. Learn Two-Midnight Rule essentials, Medicare Advantage implications, and compliance best practices. Discover operational insights for short-stay admissions, outpatient observation, and the ever-changing Inpatient-Only Listing.
A massive task lies ahead! Now’s the time to start preparing your case management and utilization review teams for successful implementation of changes contained in the 2024 IPPS, OPPS and MPFS rules.
Uncover effective techniques to foster provider understanding of CDI, empower CDISs and coders to customize their queries for enhanced effectiveness, and learn to engage adult learners, leveraging their experiences for superior learning outcomes. Elevate your CDI expertise, leading to fewer coding errors, reduced claim denials, and minimized audit issues.
This exclusive ICD10monitor webcast series will help you acquire the critical knowledge you need to completely and accurately assign ICD-10-PCS and CPT® codes for spinal fusion and other common spinal procedures.
This exclusive ICD10monitor webcast is intended to elevate and streamline outpatient coding for spinal procedures. Our expert presenter, Kim Felix, RHIA, CCS., will provide clear, detailed explanations covering spinal anatomy, spinal procedures, and correct CPT coding practices.
During this exclusive ICD10monitor webcast, inpatient coders will gain a profound understanding of prevalent spinal procedures. They’ll delve into the intricate anatomy, grasp the purpose and method behind these procedures, uncover essential elements within physician documentation, and receive expert guidance, step by step, on constructing accurate ICD-10-PCS codes. It’s the key to enhancing their expertise and ensuring coding precision.
Copyright © 2023 RACmonitor. Powered by MedLearn Media.
