Headline News
COVID-19 News Updates for September 2, 2020

Trump Administration Announces Provider Relief Fund Application for Assisted Living Facilities (HERE)
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is announcing assisted living facilities (ALFs) may now apply for funding under the Provider Relief Fund Phase 2 General Distribution allocation. This announcement bolsters the Trump administration’s commitment to support health care providers in addressing both the economic harm and additional expenses caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).This funding was made possible through the bipartisan CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.
NIH Continues to Boost National COVID-19 Testing Capacity (HERE)
- The National Institutes of Health today announced $129.3 million in scale-up and manufacturing support for a new set of COVID-19 testing technologies as part of its Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative.
How we’re developing a COVID-19 Vaccine at ‘Warp Speed’: Alex Azar (HERE)
- “President Trump launched Operation Warp Speed (OWS) to accomplish something the world has never done before: harnessing the full power of the Federal government, the private sector, the military and the scientific community to deliver substantial quantities of a safe and effective vaccine within a year after the discovery of a new virus.”
CMS Advancing Seniors’ Access to Cutting-edge Therapies and Technology in Medicare Hospital Rule (HERE)
- Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTCH) final rule, which includes important provisions designed to ensure access to potentially life-saving diagnostics and therapies for hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries. The changes will affect approximately 3,200 acute care hospitals and approximately 360 Long-Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs). CMS estimates that total Medicare spending on acute care inpatient hospital services will increase by about $3.5 billion in FY 2021, or 2.7 percent.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTCH) Final Rule (HERE)
- On September 2, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule for acute care and long term care hospitals that ensures access to potentially life-saving diagnostics and therapies by unleashing innovation in medical technology and removing barriers to competition. The final rule will update Medicare payment policies for hospitals under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for fiscal year 2021.
FDA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update Daily Roundup – September 2, 2020 (HERE)
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to announce actions taken in its ongoing response effort to the COVID-19 pandemic.
FEMA and Ad Council Urge Americans to “Make a Plan Today” (HERE)
- FEMA and the Ad Council have begun National Preparedness Month with new public service announcements informing Americans how they and their families can best prepare for disaster while accounting for the reality of COVID-19.
Treasury Announces MOU with the State of Delaware to Strengthen Information Sharing (HERE)
- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the State of Delaware announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting forth information sharing procedures between the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the State of Delaware Department of Justice.
Federal Agencies Outline Plan to Help Farmers of Seasonal and Perishable Fruits and Vegetables (HERE)
- The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce today released a report outlining the Trump Administration’s plan to address the threat posed by increased foreign imports to American producers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables.
Exclusive Interview with Small Business Administrator on COVID Loans and Trump’s Hispanic Outreach (HERE)
- Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza discussed her role in the newly formed White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative, the Payment Protection Program, and potential future coronavirus aid packages.
U.S. Department of Labor Awards $646 Million in Employment Service Grants to States (HERE)
- The U.S. Department of Labor announced the disbursement of $646 million in Employment Service Grants to improve the functioning of the nation’s labor markets by providing labor exchange services to all job seekers and helping businesses to meet their hiring needs by referring qualified workers.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia Highlights USMCA and Economic Recovery in Michigan and Illinois (HERE)
- Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia traveled to Zeeland, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois to discuss economic recovery and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s (USMCA) recent entry into force.
U.S. Department of Commerce Continues to Invest Cares Act Funding to Boost Economic Development Programs Critical to Helping Communities Respond to Coronavirus (HERE)
· EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. For complete information, please visit EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance page.
DOD Awards $10 Million Undefinitized Contract Action to Copan Industries, Inc. to Establish Domestic Production Capacity of Flock Tip Testing Swabs (HERE)
- On August 31, 2020, the Department of Defense (DOD), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), awarded an undefinitized contract action with a not-to-exceed value of $10,000,000 to Copan Industries Inc, to expand U.S. based industrial production capacity of flocked swabs.
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update (HERE)
- Updated travel restrictions for military installations.
For the most up-to-date information, please see the CDC’s website: www.coronavirus.gov.