GOVERNMENT & COVID

• Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente to Take Over California COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
• Lasting Immunity Found After Recovery from COVID-19
• Biden OKs $230M for Covid Home Test Kits that Take 15 Minutes & Are 95% Accurate

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEWS

• Biden Signs Executive Orders on Covid & More
• CMS Withdraws 3 Proposed Rules re: Medicare Part A, Dialysis Coverage, & Oversight of Accrediting Organizations

HEALTHCARE NEWS & TRENDS
• #1 Lesson From 2021 JP Morgan Healthcare Conference: Healthcare is "Too Vital to Fail"
• 8 VCs Agree: Behavioral Support & Remote Visits Make Digital Health a Strong Bet for 2021
• LA's Sidecar Health: Low-Cost, Cash-Pay Health Insurance Service Now Valued at $1 Billion

Alinea Medical Imaging has partnered with the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles to provide free mammography screenings at multiple locations in January and February. All COVID safety protocols are followed, screenings only take 15 minutes, and a referral to a medical profession for follow-up care is also provided. (Monish Laxpati, MD, OC)

In Cybersecurity Trends to Watch for in 2021, Alvaka Networks reports that CompTIA has established a Cybersecurity Advisory Council, which includes Alvaka's COO/CISO, and which aims to provide cybersecurity best practices and education to tech companies. The council has named the top 3 cybersecurity trends to look out for in 2021; in summary they are: long-lasting effects of the FireEye compromise will continue to surface due to the lack of awareness or action from some companies and organizations; the amount and frequency of email compromise will continue to rise in 2021, and themes surrounding Covid and politics will still be prevalent; and at the rate ransomware is moving, everyone in the industry will likely need to address it in some way.
Read other recent posts from Alvaka here, including: "Does Your Firm Qualify for Cyber Breach Insurance? And if your firm buys cyber breach insurance, will the insurance pay?;" "The #1 Question: If I Pay the Ransom, Will I Get My Data Back?;" and "Ransomware Recovery Timeframes: How Long Does It Take to Recover?" (Oli Thordarson, OC)

Axene Health Partners recently announced participation as a founding member of IMPACT - Virtual First Medical Practice Collaboration. IMPACT founding members are working to enable expanded access to high quality, evidence-based virtual care for patients, healthcare providers, and payers in order to improve clinical and health economic outcomes, enhance access, and provide a better overall patient experience. (John Price, SF)

Senti Biosciences, a leading gene circuit company, announced a $105 million Series B financing round, led by Leaps by Bayer, the impact investment arm of Bayer AG. Senti Bio's technology platform has the potential to optimize cell and gene therapies across delivery modalities and therapeutic areas. Also, Bayer has signed a collaboration and services agreement with CureVac, a biopharmaceutical company, to support the further development, supply and key territory operations of CureVac´s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, CVnCoV. Bayer will contribute its expertise and established infrastructure in areas such as clinical operations, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, medical information, supply chain performance, and support in selected countries. (Rama Penta, SV)

At the recent CES 2021, Biospectal announced the public beta launch of its Biospectal OptiBP for Android, which provides people worldwide with a medical-grade device that integrates directly into the "ubiquitous smartphone already in their pocket," enabling instantaneous blood pressure measurement and monitoring, anytime and anywhere. As a result, Biospectal and CEO Eliott Jones have received extensive media coverage, including:
>> Eliott Jones's Big Idea That Might Change The World, in Authority Magazine;
>> Video interview with Eliott by CNET: OptiBP lets you monitor blood pressure on the go with your phone;
>> Health tech unveiled at CES: New high-tech ways to monitor blood pressure, detect Alzheimer's and crush germs, in USA Today;
>> CES 2021 Highlights: 79 Gadgets and Glimpses Into the Future, in Wired magazine. (Eliott Jones, SV)

Choice in Aging (CiA) recently partnered with Contra Costa Health Services to create mobile vaccine clinics for elders and care providers/givers in Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly - watch this press conference video featuring CEO Debbie Toth, and this ABC7 News feature also including remarks by Debbie. According to Debbie, "We are doing about 15 mobile clinics a week and there are 360 small RCFEs - so it's going to be a bit. We are also helping launch in low-income senior housing complexes in areas with the lowest Healthy Place Index (HPI) ratings - so getting to those at greatest risk for death beyond age."
Meanwhile, in California's Master Plan For Aging Released, CiA discusses the recently released "10-year blueprint for systemic equitable change for older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers," for which Debbie served on Governor Newsom's Stakeholder Advisory Committee. And, CiA's Annual Crab Feed will be held virtually this year, on the evening of February 20. (Debbie Toth, OAK)

Taking a whole-person approach to health by integrating Cigna medical, pharmacy and behavioral benefits drives better health engagement, outcomes, and lowers total healthcare costs, according to Cigna's fifth annual Value of Integration study, based on a two-year analysis of more than 2.2 million customer medical claims. For example, the study found annual cost savings greater than $6,700 for patients with an oncology diagnosis and more than $2,700 for individuals with a diabetes diagnosis. Also, the study found higher engagement for customers living with depression (21%), diabetes (11%), or an oncology diagnosis (10%). (Chris De Rosa, OC)

Covered California announced that effective February 1, anyone uninsured and eligible to enroll in healthcare coverage through Covered California can sign up through May 15, following President Biden's executive order to declare a special enrollment period. The California Department of Managed Health Care and the California Department of Insurance have also extended the special-enrollment period through May 15, which applies to all health plans in the individual market, including off-exchange health plans. CoveredCA also recently announced that it began the New Year with a record number of people who have signed up for coverage: 1.6 million had either renewed coverage or selected a plan during open enrollment, representing an increase of almost 200,000 (14%) over the same time period last year. (Kathy Keeshen, JD, SF)

El Camino Health has received Magnet Designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for the fourth consecutive time for nursing excellence and quality patient care. Only 8% of hospitals in the country have Magnet designation, and less than 1% are four-time designees. Independent research has shown that Magnet-designated facilities consistently deliver better results for patients and increase their satisfaction, as well as that of the nursing staff. In addition, Magnet recognition allows hospitals to recruit and retain the best nursing talent. (Cecile Currier, SV)

A recent cover story in ICE Magazine (Advancing Imaging Professional) spotlights Elemeno Health and its CEO Arup Roy-Burman, MD. An excerpt from the article - The New Normal: The Imaging Landscape in Late-Stage Pandemic Days - includes: "With pandemic-related protocols changing on the fly, and especially when depleted staff may not have a full roster of colleagues on hand to consult, technologies that replace face-to-face interactions allow valuable information to be shared in a chaotic time without compromising safety ... Elemeno Health offers a technological solution to what Roy-Burman describes as 'the knowledge-practice gap,' i.e., the shortfall between institutional knowledge and bedside manner: on-demand videos comprising the accumulated learning of the organization's 'best and brightest.' He calls it 'bite-sized micro-learning at the point of care.'" (Arup Roy-Burman, MD, OAK)

In Top Strategies for Improving Your Medical Coding Audits, GeBBS Healthcare Solutions notes that over-coding comes with the potential for massive financial penalties and regulatory concerns, but at the same time, under-coding can mean millions of dollars in lost revenue. It's a delicate balance that requires ongoing education, training, process improvement, and yes - auditing. And, in In the Extended Wake of COVID-19, is Outsourcing Medical Coding the Answer?, GeBBS says that in 2020, 29 more hospitals filed for bankruptcy, and many more are on the brink with losses mounting. For healthcare organizations working tirelessly to reduce overhead expenses, improve margins, and streamline operations, many look to outsourcing as a sound decision both logically and fiscally. (Gabe Stein, LA)

In this 3-minute video, Brad Schmidt, CEO of Inglewood Imaging Center, provides a brief tutorial on 3D tomosynthesis mammograms, including what they are, how artificial intelligence is involved, and how 2D mammo technology differs from 3D. (Brad Schmidt, LA)

Kaiser Permanente (KP) has awarded $8.15 million to support dozens of nonprofit and community-based organizations whose programs address systemic racism and accompanying trauma on individuals and communities of color. These grants are part of a $25 million commitment KP announced in June 2020 to promote health equity. This first set of grants supports established national and regional community-based organizations led by people of color, that address racial and social justice or trauma, including the lifelong impacts of adverse childhood experiences. Funding will be used for community organizing, policy advocacy, and movement building, among other objectives. (Marcos Vasconcelos, OAK)

In its recent issue of Health Headlines, King & Spalding reports on HHS Expands Categories of Persons Covered Under the PREP Act Who Can Administer COVID-19 Vaccines; as well as HHS Releases New Frequently Asked Questions Regarding CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. The FAQs cover a wide range of topics, including sharing funds between subsidiaries, using funds for COVID-19 vaccines, and more.
King & Spalding also covers President Biden Orders Special Enrollment Period for Federal Marketplaces and Review of Policies "Inconsistent" with ACA and Medicaid Goals. (Marcia Augsburger, JD, SF, & Travis Jackson, JD)

In A Testing Site With No Lines - Learn How the Whatcom County Health Department Became a Model for Others to Follow, Lynn Pittsinger, a Supervisor for Washington's Whatcom County Health Department, shares how her smaller team is able to handle the site's current testing capacity (currently testing between 2,500 and 3,000 patients every five days) while providing patients with a smooth and stress-free experience: the keys are a well-oiled team, an excellent lab testing partner in Northwest Laboratory, and a system centered around LigoLab Information Systems'TestDirectly Direct-to-Consumer Portal.
Read other posts from LigoLab here, including: "Is Your Clinical Laboratory Ready to Support The Biden Administration's COVID Testing Plan?" and "LigoLab Gives Labs a Convenient and User-Friendly Way to Incentivize Patients and Accelerate Payments." (Suren Avunjian, LA)

Mazzetti is "calling all healthcare facility personnel, operators, leadership, designers, etc. to join them for the free kick-off virtual workshop commissioned by the California Energy Commission to decarbonize healthcare," on February 9, called Time to Get Serious About the Greatest Threat to Human Health (And it's not COVID). Also, in IFHE Adopts New Environmental Policy, Launches Energy Reduction Awards, Mazzetti CEO Walt Vernon shares the International Federation of Healthcare Engineering's new Environmental Sustainability Policy, recognizing the profound health threat represented by climate change, and its new Energy Reduction Awards program. (Walt Vernon, JD, SF)

Brazil's popular tech outlet, CanalTech, named MedWand one of the 12 biggest innovations in health and science of 2020; notably MedWand is the only telehealth company on the list. CanalTech said: "Telemedicine was in evidence in 2020, being a solution to avoid contact with other people who may be contaminated by the coronavirus, whenever possible. And to further enhance the trend, the MedWand diagnostic kit was created, which allows patients to screen their health in their own home, with medical monitoring."
Meanwhile, other recent media coverage for MedWand includes: CES 2021: Will the Meteoric Rise of Telemedicine Continue Post-Covid, in Medical Expo e-mag, and How Smart Toilets, Toothbrushes and Thermometers May Soon Save Your Life, in Entrepreneur. (Bob Rose, OC)

In this 3+-minute video, Harry Nelson, of Nelson Hardiman, makes his non-COVID-related predictions for federal health policy in 2021. In summary, he thinks the Biden administration will "go slow" and "back-load rather than front-load healthcare," after seeing what affect healthcare reform had on the early Obama administration. However, "the selection of Secretary Xavier Becerra to run HHS is telling that the ACA is going to be a priority, that rebuilding it, strengthening it, is going to be a major item." Harry also mentions the need to shore up the Medicare trust fund, predicts that patient affordability is going to be a driving issue, and speculates on how much more we're going to see on drug pricing. Meanwhile, Harry was named to the "2021 Southern California Super Lawyers" list for the 11th consecutive year. (Harry Nelson, JD, LA)

OneLegacy announced that in 2020 it once again led the nation in deceased donor organ transplants, enabling the transplant of a record 1,661 organs from 548 donors - an increase of 2.5% over 2019 and the sixth consecutive year of record-breaking increases. Of note, OneLegacy was responsible for the most lung transplants in the nation in 2020: it recovered 313 lungs from generous donors, and these lungs were transplanted into 171 recipients. In addition, 190,000+ lives were healed, and their vision restored through cornea and tissue donation last year; a number especially impressive given the COVID-caused ban on elective procedures. (Tom Mone, LA)

A recent Bay Area Reporter article - Creative tools help LGBTQ seniors fight isolation - highlights On Lok's increased meal delivery services during the pandemic. Each year, On Lok Mission Nutrition typically delivers 130,000 meals, but this year it is contracted to deliver 228,556 meals, and has added delivery routes. The delivery driver also does a wellness check on each recipient, and sometimes brings toiletries and such items as hats and scarves, so the senior knows they are cared about. On Lok also has an active YouTube channel, with exercise videos, musical events, and more. And, a recent San Francisco Chronicle article reported on On Lok frontline healthcare staff receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. (Grace Li, SF)

Royal Ambulance has partnered with Dignity Health Global Education (DHGE), as both organizations champion continuing education for healthcare professionals. Through the partnership, employees of Royal will get special access to DHGE's programs, and DHGE, in turn, will use Royal's network of healthcare professionals to further explore which programs to add to its catalog to serve all areas of healthcare and allied industries. Meanwhile, Royal Ambulance was named to the "2021 Glassdoor Best Places to Work" list for small and medium companies, an employees' choice award. (Steve Grau, SV)

Satellite Healthcare recently announced that Chief Operating Officer Bernadette Vincent has been promoted to President, effective immediately. She will serve as both President and COO as she works in partnership with new CEO Jeffrey Goffman to achieve the company's strategic goals. Christobel Selecky, Chair of Satellite Healthcare's Board of Directors, said that Bernadette's blend of clinical expertise, dialysis experience, and business know-how will complement Jeff very well as Satellite looks forward to meeting the ongoing challenges facing kidney care. (Bernadette Vincent, OAK; Jim Glafkides, SV; Chris Selecky, OC)

In How Medical Practices are Embracing Hybrid Care Models, Savi Group says, as we move into the future, hybrid healthcare models will leverage the best of in-person and virtual care options. By understanding how and when to utilize each one, providers can improve access to medical care and make it increasingly beneficial for everyone. And, in E/M Coding Changes Coming in 2021, Savi Group notes that CMS has revised Evaluation and Management office visit codes in the hopes of improving documentation efficiencies. (Sumit Mahendru, OC)

VivaLNK has announced an agreement to supply its wearable ECG monitors to Stanford University for research on a study entitled, "Emotion Dysregulation and Sleep-Time Masticatory Muscle Activity in Sleep Bruxism." The NIH/NIDCR-funded study spans 150 subjects with data collection over a 21-day period during sleep. Data collected includes emotion reactivity and regulation, subjective sleep perception, sleeptime rhythmic masticatory muscle activity, and actigraphy. VivaLNK's ECG monitors provide an uninterrupted continuous stream of data that can be analyzed in real time or retrospectively for trends and patterns, or to derive correlations between physiological and emotional impact. (Jiang Li, Ph.D., SV)

On February 16, at 11 a.m. Pacific, Wipfli will present a webinar - Audit requirements for recipients of HHS Provider Relief Funds. Wipfli says, with the funding being subject to a Single Audit under the Uniform Guidance, it is critical that healthcare finance officers and their teams understand the regulatory, accounting, and auditing implications and start preparing now. Meanwhile, Wipfli has been selected as a member of the Bob Scott's VAR Stars for 2020 - a group of 100 organizations honored for their accomplishments in the field of midmarket financial software. Wipfli has made the list of VAR Stars every year since 2012. (Jeff Johnson, OAK, & Steve Rousso)