White House Hot Spot and Montana Mermaids

From DC to the nation’s heartland, officials are weighing economic and public health concerns against one another.

As states ponder the financial benefits and the public health risks of reopening workplaces, the White House itself has become something of a COVID-19 hot spot.

In addition to the President’s valet and the Vice President’s press secretary testing positive for COVID-19 last week, a number of administration officials have self-quarantined, including:

  • Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases;
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn;
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield;
  • On the Pentagon side: Chief of Naval Operations Michael Gilday and Chief of the National Guard Bureau Joseph Lengyel; and
  • S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, after one of his staff members tested positive.

Vice President Mike Pence, who, of course, was in contact with his press secretary that tested positive, reportedly stayed away from the White House this past weekend, but is not self-quarantining himself, and will show up for work this week. However, he is “laying low,” according to one source.

On the legislative side, “bit” and “Rooseveltian” are the words Democrats have been using when talking about the next stimulus package – priced at $3 trillion – which they introduced on Tuesday and are expected to vote on Friday. The package is to provide Americans with vast and wide-ranging economic relief from the coronavirus pandemic.

  • House Democrats intend to include funds for states and local government, as well as more direct payments to Americans and rental and homeowner assistance to stop evictions and foreclosures.
  • The Republican-led Senate, however, is pushing back and taking a “wait-and-see” attitude: wait and see how the stimulus we have passed works, they’re saying, and then do more, if necessary. President Trump seemed to take the Senate’s side this week, when he said that the White House is “in no rush” to pass additional stimulus.
  • Another obstacle is that the House has not decided on when to return to Washington. There are a number of political issues impacting this decision, but there are also health risks: 22 construction workers in the Canon Office Building in D.C. have tested positive for COVID-19. Now, the Canon Office Building is not only where many of the representatives have their offices, it’s also where some lawmakers sleep, in order to save on hotel or rental costs. It’s tough to social distance when you treat your office like a college dorm.

Finally, there was a story from a Montana tiki bar last week that reflects a trend at the national level, with regard to confusing government reopening guidelines. The bar owners were given contradictory instructions from the governor’s office and the county health department when they asked: could mermaids swim in the aquarium that patrons watch from their bar stools, or are schools of swimming mermaids going against social distancing? The governor said yes, health department said no.

Meanwhile, at the national level, the CDC released a draft of guidelines for reopening different types of workplaces on Tuesday of last week. On Thursday, the White House pulled that guidance back and said that it was too strict – and, maybe a little late in the game – so it would never see the light of day. Similarly, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission put out guidance on Wednesday for employers returning to the workplace, and pulled back on it by Thursday.

The state and local government finally agreed that the mermaids of Montana do get to swim – though they have to do it one at a time – but we are still waiting for consistent guidelines from the federal government on how they want to see workplaces reopen in the context of this pandemic.

Programming Note: Matthew Albright is a permanent panelist on Monitor Mondays. Listen to his live reporting every Monday, 10-10:30 a.m. EST

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Matthew Albright

Matthew Albright is the chief legislative affairs officer at Zelis Healthcare. Previously, Albright was senior manager at CAQH CORE, and earlier, he was the acting deputy director of the Office of E-Health and Services for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Related Stories

Leave a Reply

Please log in to your account to comment on this article.

Featured Webcasts

2026 IPPS Masterclass 3: Master MS-DRG Shifts and NTAPs

2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 3: MS-DRG Shifts and NTAPs

This third session in our 2026 IPPS Masterclass will feature a review of FY26 changes to the MS-DRG methodology and new technology add-on payments (NTAPs), presented by nationally recognized ICD-10 coding expert Christine Geiger, MA, RHIA, CCS, CRC, with bonus insights and analysis from Dr. James Kennedy.

August 14, 2025
2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 2: Master ICD-10-PCS Changes

2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 2: Master ICD-10-PCS Changes

This second session in our 2026 IPPS Masterclass will feature a review the FY26 changes to ICD-10-PCS codes. This information will be presented by nationally recognized ICD-10 coding expert Christine Geiger, MA, RHIA, CCS, CRC, with bonus insights and analysis from Dr. James Kennedy.

August 13, 2025
2026 IPPS Masterclass 1: Master ICD-10-CM Changes

2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 1: Master ICD-10-CM Changes

This first session in our 2026 IPPS Masterclass will feature an in-depth explanation of FY26 changes to ICD-10-CM codes and guidelines, CCs/MCCs, and revisions to the MCE, presented by presented by nationally recognized ICD-10 coding expert Christine Geiger, MA, RHIA, CCS, CRC, with bonus insights and analysis from Dr. James Kennedy.

August 12, 2025

Trending News

Featured Webcasts

The Two-Midnight Rule: New Challenges, Proven Strategies

The Two-Midnight Rule: New Challenges, Proven Strategies

RACmonitor is proud to welcome back Dr. Ronald Hirsch, one of his most requested webcasts. In this highly anticipated session, Dr. Hirsch will break down the complex Two Midnight Rule Medicare regulations, translating them into clear, actionable guidance. He’ll walk you through the basics of the rule, offer expert interpretation, and apply the rule to real-world clinical scenarios—so you leave with greater clarity, confidence, and the tools to ensure compliance.

June 19, 2025
Open Door Forum Webcast Series

Open Door Forum Webcast Series

Bring your questions and join the conversation during this open forum series, live every Wednesday at 10 a.m. EST from June 11–July 30. Hosted by Chuck Buck, these fast-paced 30-minute sessions connect you directly with top healthcare experts tackling today’s most urgent compliance and policy issues.

June 11, 2025
Open Door Forum: The Changing Face of Addiction: Coding, Compliance & Care

Open Door Forum: The Changing Face of Addiction: Coding, Compliance & Care

Substance abuse is everywhere. It’s a complicated diagnosis with wide-ranging implications well beyond acute care. The face of addiction continues to change so it’s important to remember not just the addict but the spectrum of extended victims and the other social determinants and legal ramifications. Join John K. Hall, MD, JD, MBA, FCLM, FRCPC, for a critical Q&A on navigating substance abuse in 2025.  Register today and be a part of the conversation!

July 16, 2025

Trending News

Happy National Doctor’s Day! Learn how to get a complimentary webcast on ‘Decoding Social Admissions’ as a token of our heartfelt appreciation! Click here to learn more →

CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24