Vizient members:
View our latest COVID-19 updates

Our COVID-19 member resources provide the latest clinical, surgical and pharmacy supply updates, including information from the Vizient Disaster Response team, suppliers, regulatory agencies and industry organizations.

Visit the COVID-19 Disaster Preparedness page

COVID-19 webinars and podcasts

During the COVID-19 outbreak, we host webinars and podcasts featuring our members and experts from Vizient and the industry.

Watch our latest webinar – Impact of COVID-19 on social determinates of health 

Surge Demand Calculator

Project demand for the current and subsequent surges with our free customizable COVID-19 Surge Demand Calculator.

Visit the updated calculator to access the latest features.

Emerging practices

Vizient is committed to ongoing research of Vizient members’ emerging practices and other related updates to federal and regulatory guidelines in support of efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. As new information surfaces, updates will be provided.

The CDC has recommended strategies for hospitals to optimize their supply of N95 masks stratified by the severity of their shortage. Read more about it in the Emerging Practice Summary: Reprocessing of N95 masks during severe shortages.

 

COVID-19 resources

Guidance

Medical societies

Supplier resources

Training resources

Member-provided resources

Literature and research sources

Vizient has published clinical resources to provide information and increase public health awareness about COVID-19. Current information is disseminated from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These resources provide guidance to assist with effective prevention and further spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Vizient Clinical Resource Guide: COVID-19

Vizient Clinical Resource Guide: Face masks and filtering facepiece respirators

Vizient Clinical Resource Guide: Decontamination methods for filtering facepiece respirators

Vizient Clinical Resource Guide: Decontamination Systems EUA Updates

Vizient Clinical Resource Guide: Personal Protective Equipment EUA Updates

Vizient Clinical Resource Guide: Guide to isolation and surgical gown selection

At the forefront of pediatric innovation

The Vizient Pediatric Tech Watch delivers information on novel pediatric technologies, devices and pharmaceuticals. This issue covers a variety of topics, such as:

  • Lung protective technologies for the O.R.
  • Virtual reality for pediatric cardiology
  • Effects of COVID-19 on children and pregnant women
Download the Tech Watch

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS)

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Diagnostic Test Hotline- For test developers and labs who have questions about the EUA process or spot shortages of testing supplies. Contact our toll-free line 24 hours a day: 1-888-INFO-FDA, choose option *

U.S. Department of Health & Human
Services (HHS)

The Joint Commission (JC)

Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA)

Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA)

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

CDC Emergency Operations Center: (770) 488-7100

Advocacy

CMS Reevaluates Accelerated Payment Program and Suspends Advance Payment Program

Read the CMS press release from April 26, 2020

"Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it is reevaluating the amounts that will be paid under its Accelerated Payment Program and suspending its Advance Payment Program to Part B suppliers effective immediately. The agency made this announcement following the successful payment of over $100 billion to healthcare providers and suppliers through these programs and in light of the $175 billion recently appropriated for healthcare provider relief payments.

CMS had expanded these temporary loan programs to ensure providers and suppliers had the resources needed to combat the beginning stages of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Funding will continue to be available to hospitals and other healthcare providers on the front lines of the coronavirus response primarily from the Provider Relief Fund. The Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) Programs are typically used to give providers emergency funding and address cash flow issues for providers and suppliers when there is disruption in claims submission or claims processing, including during a public health emergency or Presidentially-declared disaster.

Since expanding the AAP programs on March 28, 2020, CMS approved over 21,000 applications totaling $59.6 billion in payments to Part A providers, which includes hospitals. For Part B suppliers, including doctors, non-physician practitioners and durable medical equipment suppliers, CMS approved almost 24,000 applications advancing $40.4 billion in payments. The AAP programs are not a grant, and providers and suppliers are typically required to pay back the funding within one year, or less, depending on provider or supplier type. Beginning today, CMS will not be accepting any new applications for the Advance Payment Program, and CMS will be reevaluating all pending and new applications for Accelerated Payments in light of historical direct payments made available through the Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Provider Relief Fund.

Significant additional funding will continue to be available to hospitals and other healthcare providers through other programs. Congress appropriated $100 billion in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (PL 116-136) and $75 billion through the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (PL 116-139) for healthcare providers. HHS is distributing this money through the Provider Relief Fund, and these payments do not need to be repaid.

The CARES Act Provider Relief Fund is being administered through HHS and has already released $30 billion to providers, and is in the process of releasing an additional $20 billion, with more funding anticipated to be released soon. This funding will be used to support healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure uninsured Americans can get treatment for COVID-19.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS)

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Diagnostic Test Hotline- For test developers and labs who have questions about the EUA process or spot shortages of testing supplies. Contact our toll-free line 24 hours a day: 1-888-INFO-FDA, choose option *

U.S. Department of Health & Human
Services (HHS)

The Joint Commission (JC)

Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA)

Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA)

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

CDC Emergency Operations Center: (770) 488-7100