COVID Resources
The Oregon Office of Rural Health (ORH) is grateful for your continued hard work and dedication to providing care in your communities. Our Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, EMS providers and others are on the front lines of this outbreak and we are here to support you during these challenging times!
We recognize that information related to COVID-19 changes often. We are committed to providing you—our rural and frontier health facilities and services—with the most up-to-date information we have from vetted sources to address your questions. We keep this webpage updated on a continuous basis with the most current information we have as it evolves. Please check back often
If you have a question that is not answered through the resources listed below, please contact us at the email address under each section or at our General ORH Address and we will respond to your question as soon as we can.
Last updated September 16, 2021.
Data
EMS
Critical Access Hospitals
Grants
Policy
Rural Community Resources
Rural Health Clinics
Telemedicine
Workforce
National Data
- 91-Divoc COVID-19 Data Visualization
- The COVID Tracking Project: COVID-19 by Race and Ethnicity
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation: Projected Hospital Resource Use Based on COVID-19 Deaths
Please note: Click the green “United States of America” dropdown to retrieve state-by-state data. - How Full Are Hospital I.C.U.s Near You?
- Medicare COVID-19 Data
Impact of COVID-19 on Medicare beneficiaries. - New York Times: COVID-19 Risk By County
- New York Times: Vaccine Rollout By State
General Resources
- CDC EMS Interim Guidelines
- CDC Rural Health Question Email Address
- CDC Situation Summary
- EMS.gov COVID Resource Page
- Federal Office of Rural Health Policy COVID Page
- National Association of EMS Officials (NASEMSO) COVID-19
- National Association of EMTs
- Oregon Coronavirus Information & Resources
- Oregon Health Authority: Emerging Respiratory Infections—COVID-19
- Rural Health Information Hub Rural EMS and Trauma Resources
- State Emergency Registry of Volunteers (SERV)
- U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) COVID-19 Resources for Fire and EMS
- USDA COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide: A one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes information for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic.
EMS Agency Directors and Medical Directors
Questions
Please direct questions to Rebecca Dobert.
General Resources
- CDC Rural Health Question Email Address
- CDC Situation Summary
- CMS Coronavirus Partner Virtual Toolkit
- CMS.gov-Current Emergencies
- CMS-Issued EMTALA related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): clarifies EMTALA requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Federal Office of Rural Health Policy COVID Page
- Federal Office of Rural Health Policy COVID-19 FAQs
- HRSA Federal Office of Rural Health Policy COVID-19 FAQs
- National Rural Health Association Rural Toolkit
- NOSORH COVID-19 Updates
- Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems COVID-19
- Oregon Coronavirus Information & Resources
- Oregon Health & Science University COVID-19 Resources
- Oregon Health Authority: Emerging Respiratory Infections—COVID-19
- Oregon Health Plan Partners—COVID-19
- Policies and Protocols Resource Site: University of Washington Medicine COVID-19
- RHI Hub Resources
- RHI Hub COVID-19 Learning Events
- RHI COVID-19 Shared Community Innovations
- USDA COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide: A one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes information for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic.
- World Health Organization Coronavirus
Billing | Coding | Patient Care | Waivers
- CMS 1135 Blanket Waiver at a Glance
- CMS Coverage and Payment Related Fact Sheet
- CMS COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers (updated 5/24/2021)
- CMS COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Health Care Providers Fact Sheet
- CMS Letter to Clinicians Re. Billing
- HRSA: COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured
- Interim Coding Guidance
- New ICD-10-CM for COVID-19
- Oregon Health Authority: Changes to Hospital Presumptive Eligibility Processes—Effective Immediately (3/24/20)
- Oregon Health Authority: Oregon 1135 Disaster Relief Waiver COVID-19 Pandemic Approval Letter
- Oregon Health Authority: Oregon 1135 Waiver Update for Hospitals
Capacity Building
- CAH Transitional Care: An essential partnership and pathway for acute care hospitals to create desperately needed capacity during COVID-19 Pandemic
Press release
Register for or view recordings of webinar series here - CMS Fact Sheet Outlining Sweeping Regulatory Changes to Help Address COVID-19 Patient Surge
- CMS News Room: Trump Administration Engages America’s Hospitals in Unprecedented Data Sharing
Elective and Non-Urgent Healthcare Services
- CMS Guidance: Non-Emergent, Elective Medical Services, and Treatment Recommendations (4/7/20)
- CMS Issues Recommendations to Re-Open Health Care Systems in Areas with Low Incidence of COVID-19 (4/20/20)
- Oregon Health Authority: Guidance on Resumption of Non-Emergent and Elective Procedures at Hospitals (4/30/20)
- Oregon Health Authority: Hospital Attestation Form for Resumption of Non-Emergent and Elective Procedures (4/30/20)
- Oregon Health Authority: Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Elective and Non-Urgent Health Care Procedures (4/8/20)
Financial
- CARES Act Provider Relief Fund
- CARES Act Relief Fund Payment Terms and Conditions
Important: Within 30 days of payment, HHS requires providers to attest to receipt of the funds and agree to certain terms via a portal opening on April 13. If a provider receives payment and does not wish to comply with these Terms and Conditions, the provider must contact HHS within 30 days of receipt of payment and then remit the full payment to HHS as instructed. - CARES Act Summary of Payments and Methodologies (6/22/20)
- CMS Fact Sheet: Expansion of the Accelerated and Advance Payments Program for Providers and Suppliers During COVID-19 Emergency
- CMS Financial Relief for Medicare Providers
- Emergency Cash Flow and Planning (Presented by Stroudwater on 4/7/20)
Webinar Recording
Webinar Slides - Emergency Cash Flow Planning Recommendations (Stroudwater)
- HHS Announces Enhanced Provider Portal, Relief Fund Payments for Safety Net Hospitals, Medicaid & CHIP Providers
Personal Protective Equipment
- CDC COVID-19 Update: Optimization Strategies for Healthcare Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (3/25/2020 recording)
- Contact Your County Emergency Operation Center to Request PPE. Click here for contact information.
Providers
Quality
- CMS Announces Relief in Quality Reporting Programs in Response to COVID-19
- CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs): FAQs, Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement, Limits to Visitation and Availability of 1135 waivers. (posted 4/8/2020)
- CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Outpatient Settings: FAQs and Considerations (posted 4/8/2020)
- CMS Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) Requirements and Implications Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Revised) (posted 4/8/2020)
- CMS News Room: Trump Administration Engages America’s Hospitals in Unprecedented Data Sharing
- HHS Letter to Hospital Administrators: COVID-19 Data Reporting FAQs & Hospital Letter from Vice President Pence
- NHSN COVID-19 Patient Impact and Hospital Capacity Module—Data Elements
- NHSN COVID-19 Patient Impact and Hospital Capacity Module—How to Use the Patient Impact and Hospital Capacity Module
- Template for Daily Hospital COVID-19 Reporting
Reopening
- CDC: Framework for Healthcare Systems Providing Non-COVID-19 Clinical Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- CDC: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings
- CDC: Resuming Business Tool Kit COVID-19
- CMS Issues Recommendations to Re-Open Health Care Systems in Areas with Low Incidence of COVID-19
- CMS Recommendations for Reopening Facilities to Provide Non-Emergent Care
- MGMA-COVID-19 Medical Practice Reopening Checklist
Telemedicine
See Telemedicine dropdown below.
Testing
- Abbott Labs BinaxNOW Rapid COVID-19 Tests Available
The Oregon Office of Rural Health is working in partnership with OHA to make Abbott Labs BinaxNOW Rapid COVID-19 Tests available to Rural Health Clinics and Critical Access Hospitals. Please contact Sarah Andersen for more information. - CDC Tests for COVID-19
- CDC Evaluating and Reporting Cases
- OHA Guidance for Providers Regarding COVID-19 Testing (12/14/2020)
- OHA Revises Testing Guidelines (4/21/20)
Vaccine
- The CDC’s Vaccine Inquiry Center for all healthcare providers is now available to answer vaccine questions.
- HRSA: COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured
- OHA COVID-19 Vaccine Website
- OHA COVID-19 FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine in Oregon - OHA: COVID-19 Phase 1a Vaccine Sequencing Plan and Phase 1a Sequencing Update
- OHA COVID-19 Phase 1a Sequencing FAQ
Oregon’s Phase 1a Vaccine Sequencing Plan FAQs - OHA Provider COVID-19 Vaccine Planning
- OHA Provider COVID-19 Vaccine Enrollment Site
- OHA General Questions
Visitation
Questions
Please direct questions to Stacie Rothwell.
- Northwest Farm Credit Services: Rural Community COVID Response Grant
2021 grant cycle starts 1/2/2021 - RHI Hub Funding & Opportunities
- Rural Broadband Capacity Program (Deadline 7/2/20)
- USDA COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide: A one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes information for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic.
- USDA Rural Development Implements Immediate Measures to Help Rural Residents, Businesses and Communities Affected by COVID-19
Questions
Please direct questions to Sarah Andersen.
Questions
Please direct questions to Robert Duehmig.
Food Resources
Health Care and Mental Health Services
General Resources
- ASPR TRACIE-Novel Coronavirus Resources
- CDC Rural Health Question Email Address
- CDC Situation Summary
- CMS Coronavirus Partner Virtual Toolkit
- CMS.gov-Current Emergencies
- Federal Office of Rural Health Policy COVID Page
- Federal Office of Rural Health Policy COVID-19 FAQs
- NOSORH COVID-19 Updates
- National Rural Health Association Rural Toolkit
- Oregon Coronavirus Information & Resources
- Oregon Health & Science University COVID-19 Resources
- Oregon Health Authority: Emerging Respiratory Infections—COVID-19
- Oregon Health Plan Partners—COVID-19
- RHI Hub Resources
- RHI Hub COVID-19 Learning Events
- RHI COVID-19 Shared Community Innovations
- USDA COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide: A one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes information for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic.
- World Health Organization Coronavirus
Billing | Coding | Waivers
- CMS 1135 Blanket Waiver at a Glance
- CMS Coverage and Payment Related Fact Sheet
- CMS COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Health Care Providers Fact Sheet
- CMS COVID-19 Medicare Provider Enrollment Relief FAQs
- CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19 for Physicians and Other Clinicians
- CMS Letter to Clinicians Re. Billing
- CMS: New and Expanded Flexibilities for RHCs and FQHCs During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency—Telehealth for Medicare Beneficiaries (Revised 12/3/2020)
- HRSA: COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured
- Interim Coding Guidance
- New ICD-10-CM for COVID-19
- Oregon Health Authority: Oregon 1135 Disaster Relief Waiver COVID-19 Pandemic Approval Letter
- Oregon Health Authority: Medicare Novel Coronavirus Coding Summary of all COVID-Related Coding Issues
Elective and Non-Urgent Healthcare Services
- CMS Issues Recommendations to Re-Open Health Care Systems in Areas with Low Incidence of COVID-19 (4/20/20)
- CMS Guidance: Non-Emergent, Elective Medical Services, and Treatment Recommendations (4/7/20)
- Oregon Health Authority: Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Elective and Non-Urgent Health Care Procedures (4/8/20)
Emergency Preparedness
Financial
- CARES Act Provider Relief Fund: HHS Announces Additional Allocations (4/22/20)
- CARES Act Provider Relief Fund
Note: to be considered for the Medicaid and CHIP Distribution, providers must submit their gross revenues from patient care for CY 2017, 2018, or 2019 by 7/20/20. - CARES Act Summary of Payments and Methodologies (6/22/20)
- CMS Fact Sheet: Expansion of the Accelerated and Advance Payments Program for Providers and Suppliers During COVID-19 Emergency
- CMS Financial Relief for Medicare Providers
RHC Relief Options in Recently Signed CARES Legislation (3/30/10): NARHC Executive Director Bill Finerfrock reviews these four provisions in the link above:
• RHC telehealth benefit;
• Healthcare provider “lost revenue” grants;
• Small Business Administration loans/grants; and
• Medicare Advanced Payments. - HHS Announces Enhanced Provider Portal, Relief Fund Payments for Safety Net Hospitals, Medicaid & CHIP Providers
Personal Protective Equipment
Quality
- CMS Announces Relief in Quality Reporting Programs in Response to COVID-19
- CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Outpatient Settings: FAQs and Considerations (posted 4/8/2020)
- CMS COVID-19 Focused Infection Control Survey for Acute and Continuing Care from The Joint Commission
- OHA: Clinical Care and Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for COVID-19
Reopening
- CDC: Framework for Healthcare Systems Providing Non-COVID-19 Clinical Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- CDC: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings
- CDC: Resuming Business Tool Kit COVID-19
- CMS Issues Recommendations to Re-Open Health Care Systems in Areas with Low Incidence of COVID-19
- CMS Recommendations for Reopening Facilities to Provide Non-Emergent Care
- MGMA-COVID-19 Medical Practice Reopening Checklist
Survey & Certification
- COVID-19 Focused Infection Control Survey: Acute and Continuing Care
Survey tool for RHCs begins on page 19
Telemedicine
See Telehealth dropdown below.
Testing
- Abbott Labs BinaxNOW Rapid COVID-19 Tests Available
The Oregon Office of Rural Health is working in partnership with OHA to make Abbott Labs BinaxNOW Rapid COVID-19 Tests available to Rural Health Clinics and Critical Access Hospitals. Please contact Sarah Andersen for more information. - CDC Tests for COVID-19
- CDC Evaluating and Reporting Cases
- OHA Guidance for Providers Regarding COVID-19 Testing
- OHA Revises Testing Guidelines (4/21/20)
- Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Testing Program Data Report (RHC CTR)
Vaccines
- The CDC’s Vaccine Inquiry Center for all healthcare providers is now available to answer vaccine questions.
- HRSA: COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured
- OHA COVID-19 Vaccine Website
- OHA COVID-19 FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine in Oregon - OHA: COVID-19 Phase 1a Vaccine Sequencing Plan and Phase 1a Sequencing Update
- OHA COVID-19 Phase 1a Sequencing FAQ
Oregon’s Phase 1a Vaccine Sequencing Plan FAQs - OHA Provider COVID-19 Vaccine Planning
- OHA Provider COVID-19 Vaccine Enrollment Site
- OHA General Questions
Webinars
Oregon Office of Rural Health: Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Listening Sessions
- Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Listening Session 3
April 23, 2020
RHC leaders have a roundtable discussion regarding operating in the present environment amid COVID-19.
Slides
Notes - Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Listening Session 2
April 9, 2020
RHC leaders discuss concerns and challenges internally and in their community.
Slides
Local EOC List January 2020
Notes - Telehealth for Oregon Rural Health Clinics: Resources and Reimbursement
April 7, 2020
Rose Locklear (Oregon Office of Rural Health) and Tammy Norville (National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health) walk you through a new resource created to help you navigate the policy and resources related to telehealth amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Video
Slides - Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Listening Session 1
March 26, 2020
RHC leaders discuss top concerns which include: supplies, testing, community, policies and procedures, amid COVID-19 pandemic.
Slides
Questions Answered: Updated April 2, 2020
Questions
Please direct questions to Rondyann Gerst.
ORH has created a new resource that and organizes the federal and state telehealth policy implications of the CARES Act, Oregon 1135 waiver and Oregon Health Plan temporary administrative orders, as well as payment and external organization resources, webinars, start-up guides and more in this interactive story map.
Questions
Please direct questions to Sarah Andersen.
Providers Under Loan Repayment or Loan Forgiveness
In the event a practice site requires or requests Loan Repayment or Loan Forgiveness awardees to alter their typical work day or care delivery method, please have them contact ORH Rural Workforce, and include as much detail regarding the change as possible. The more details provided, the easier it will be for ORH to assist them and their practice sites if serious complications arise.
If a Loan Repayment or Loan Forgiveness awardee’s duties or hours are affected by their practice site’s response to COVID-19, they will not be found in violation of their program’s service agreement. ORH will work closely with the Oregon Health Authority and HRSA on a case-by-case basis to ensure that awardees can respond to their community’s needs and circumstances at their practice site.
Resources
- COVID-19 Workforce Virtual Toolkit: Resources for Healthcare Decision-Makers Responding to COVID-19 Workforce Concerns
On April 22, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response (ASPR) released a new toolkit to help state and local healthcare decision-makers maximize workforce flexibilities when confronting COVID-19 in their communities.The link above provides tools and resource collections related to federal regulatory and funding flexibilities, licensure and scope of practice expansions, liability protections, workforce resilience and protection, and COVID-19-related training resources.
Questions
Please direct health care recruiting and licensing questions to Stacee Reed.
Please direct questions specific to provider incentive programs to Bill Pfunder.