Blog – Page 6 – COVID-19 Resources for State Leaders

May 12, 2020May 12, 2020

Precautions Needed as States Begin to Reopen

By Brandy Whisman, CSG policy analyst

At the end of April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added six new possible symptoms of COVID-19: chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and loss of taste or smell. Since then, additional symptoms have been reported by doctors including gastrointestinal issues, blood clots and rashes. The virus can attack the kidneys, heart, lungs and blood vessels, creating “Covid toes,” a rash on the feet caused by the attack on the blood vessels. The CDC has released a video on how COVID-19 can spread in a community.

May 12, 2020

CSG Associates in Action: Alkermes Relief Fund to Support People During COVID-19

Following natural disasters and in times of national crisis, America’s private sector steps up to aid the states. We are proud of the herculean efforts of CSG Leadership Circle and Associates, our private sector members, as we combat COVID-19 together. Associates in Action articles highlight CSG Associates’ philanthropic efforts and public-private partnerships throughout the states.

May 9, 2020May 9, 2020

State Actions Advancing Telehealth During Pandemic

By Sean Slone, CSG senior policy analyst

As we reported recently, actions taken by the federal government since the outbreak of the coronavirus have helped to expand access to telehealth services around the country at a critical time. But states too have have done their part to make virtual care available during the pandemic, especially in the wake of the move by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to allow clinicians to provide telehealth services for Medicare beneficiares and to encourage states to relax licensing laws on out-of-state providers.

May 9, 2020May 9, 2020

State Response to COVID-19: Latest COVID Reponses from Michigan

Summary

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a series of programs to help essential workers and other Michigan citizens affected by COVID-19

May 9, 2020May 13, 2020

Food Security: Meat Processing and Supply Chain Innovations During the Pandemic

By Vanessa Grossl, CSG policy analyst

Thousands of meat industry workers at hundreds of facilities across more than 23 states have now tested positive for COVID-19, raising serious concerns for both food security and worker safety nationally, in a work environment where sick leave is rare.

May 7, 2020May 7, 2020

Fiscal Response to COVID-19: The Restaurant Industry

Summary

COVID-19 is impacting the restaurant industry on all fronts, from disrupting the food supply chain to causing many restaurant employees to be out of a job – all of which can effect states’ economic future.
The industry has suffered the “most significant sales & job losses since the COVID-19 outbreak began.”
States remain innovative in helping restaurants survive, especially as some consider reopening their economies soon
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by the federal government is still processing loans and working to get financial aid intot the hands of small businesses, ie restaurants

May 7, 2020July 1, 2020

POLICY BRIEF: COVID-19: FEDERAL DISABILITY-SPECIFIC AND OTHER RELATED GUIDANCE

JUNE 18, 2020

This guidance is developed by the State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED). SEED is an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), assists states in developing effective and inclusive workforce policies that promote disability employment. Recognizing that every state is unique, SEED offers policy options and resources states can tailor to meet their needs and goals. To this end, SEED partners with leading intermediary organizations that serve as trusted sources of information to state and local policymakers.

May 7, 2020May 7, 2020

Federal Actions Advancing Telehealth During Pandemic

By Sean Slone, CSG senior policy analyst

This is the first in a series of reports on how telehealth is being impacted by policy changes and investments during the coronavirus pandemic. Future articles will address state policy activities, continuing challenges for telehealth access, how telehealth is impacting care during the crisis and whether the changes of the last few weeks will survive the pandemic to reshape telehealth’s future.

While the concept of telemedicine has been around for more than a quarter century, its adoption by patients and doctors alike has been relatively slow to evolve and a patchwork of state and federal regulations governing it—not to mention an underdeveloped technology infrastructure—has made it difficult to overcome that hesitation. But it appears the extraordinary circumstances presented by the pandemic could be changing that. Actions taken by Congress and a number of federal government agencies over the last two months are helping to advance the accessibility of telehealth during a time when in-person doctor visits are fraught with public health concerns.

May 7, 2020

Racial Health Disparities and COVID-19: Four State Strategies

By Brandy Whisman, Policy Analyst

The COVID-19 public health crisis has continued to highlight health disparities for people of color. Recent studies have shown that COVID-19 disproportionately affects people of color. While African Americans make up less than 14% of the U.S. population, over 28% have been identified as having COVID-19. Another study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), showed that non-Hispanic African Americans were overrepresented in hospital populations. Nearly two-thirds of COVID-19 cases are missing ethnicity demographics. Addressing these issues require multiple strategies and policies that address the root causes of racial health disparities.

May 5, 2020May 5, 2020

CSG Associates in Action: Nurses at the Forefront of the Fight Against COVID-19

By Maggie Mick, CSG chief advancement officer

Associates in Action articles highlight CSG Associates’ philanthropic efforts and public-private partnerships throughout the states.

Nurses have always answered the call to serve their country and communities during times of crisis, and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is no different. The outbreak has shifted and intensified the advocacy efforts by the American Nurses Association (ANA), a CSG Associate, which represents the interests of the 4 million registered nurses in the U.S.