Four Major Health Care Organizations release Updated Guidance on Maintaining Essential Surgery during the Ongoing Pandemic

American Hospital Association says, As COVID-19 Cases surge again, four Major Health Care Organizations release Updated Guidance on Maintaining Essential Surgery during the Ongoing Pandemic | site |



(Information contained in American Hospital Association press release: November 24, 2020)


As COVID-19 cases surge again, four major health care organizations release updated guidance on maintaining essential surgery during the ongoing pandemic


Joint roadmap addresses the dual need to meet health care demands for patients hospitalized with COVID-19, along with patients who need essential surgical services; calls for centralized coordinated governmental action to deploy necessary supplies


CHICAGO (November 24, 2020): Hospitals in many regions across the United States are now reporting near or at bed and ICU capacity due to the resurgence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is presenting new...

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Issues Statement on European Central Counterparties Seeking to Register or Request Exemptions From the SEC | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] press release: November 23, 2020) Washington D.C., Nov. 23, 2020 - - The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a Policy Statement and Guidance focused on central counterparties (CCPs) authorized under the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) that may seek to access and operate in the U.S. securities markets. The Statement provides transparency into the Commission’s processes and highlights efficient ways that CCPs based in the European Union (EU) can register as a clearing agency or request exemptions from certain requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The SEC has a longstanding and collaborative relationship with its European counterparts with respect to supervision and enforcement of regulate...

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: November 24, 2020 | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] press release: November 24, 2020)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the following actions taken in its ongoing response effort to the COVID-19 pandemic:

• The FDA today published Face Masks, Including Surgical Masks, and Respirators for COVID-19, a comprehensive new page on FDA.gov with answers to frequently asked questions about face masks, surgical masks, and respirators. The topics covered in this new page include:
  • The basics on face masks, surgical masks, and respirators
  • Using face masks, surgical masks, and respirators
  • Shortages of face masks, surgical masks, and respirators during COVID-19
  • The Emergency Use Authorizations for face masks, surgical masks, and respirators
  • Manufacturing and importing face masks, surgical masks, and respirators during

...

U.S. Reinforces Commitment to Secure, Stable, Democratic, and Self-Reliant Afghanistan at 2020 Conference | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesperson press release fact sheet: November 24, 2020)


The United States participated in the 2020 Afghanistan Conference on November 23-24, the sixth quadrennial gathering to coordinate international development support for Afghanistan. The conference was hosted virtually by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Government of Finland, and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. At the conference, the United States emphasized its commitment to a secure, stable, democratic, and self-reliant Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbors, and underscored the following:

• The United States has announced the availability of up to approximately $600 million in civilian assistance for Afghanistan for calendar year

...

U.S. Internal Revenue Service says Get Ready for Taxes: Steps to take Now to make Tax Filing easier in 2021 | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Internal Revenue Service [IRS] press release: November 24, 2020)

Washington – The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers to take necessary actions this fall to help file federal tax returns timely and accurately in 2021.

This is the second in a series of reminders to help taxpayers get ready for the upcoming tax filing season. A special page, updated and available on IRS.gov, outlines steps taxpayers can take now to make tax filing easier in 2021. 2020 has been a busy year, with a lot of changes. To make sure taxpayers don't miss out on tax benefits or make mistakes, they can take a few simple steps now to make filing their taxes easier in 2021. An important first step to getting taxes ready is to gather all tax records. Having records organized makes preparing a tax return easier. It...

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development launches Recovery Housing Program to aid Americans recovering from Substance Abuse | site |


The pilot program would provide housing and stability to those who are currently in recovery from substance abuse disorder


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development press release: November 24, 2020)

Washington - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced the publication of the Notice for HUD’s pilot Recovery Housing Program (RHP). The program was authorized by the SUPPORT Act to provide stable, temporary housing to individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder. RHP is funding 25 grantees, 24 states and the District of Columbia, whose age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths was above the national overdose mortality rate. “As a Nation, we need to remove the stigma associated with substance-use disorder, m...

Statement from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Chief of Staff Brian Harrison on Efforts to Increase Transparency at HHS | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services press release: November 24, 2020)

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through a Notice published in the Federal Register announced a policy to enhance transparency at HHS by requiring that all assumptions, working papers, models, and other information used as part of any impact analysis associated with a rule or demonstration project are shared at the time the results of that analysis are publicly disclosed. HHS Chief of Staff Brian Harrison issued the following statement:

“We are providing needed transparency by requiring the Department to show its math so the American people can know and challenge the methods government uses to calculate effects of regulations it imposes on them.”

Frequently...

Statement from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Chief of Staff Brian Harrison on Efforts to Increase Transparency at HHS | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services press release: November 24, 2020)

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through a Notice published in the Federal Register announced a policy to enhance transparency at HHS by requiring that all assumptions, working papers, models, and other information used as part of any impact analysis associated with a rule or demonstration project are shared at the time the results of that analysis are publicly disclosed. HHS Chief of Staff Brian Harrison issued the following statement:

“We are providing needed transparency by requiring the Department to show its math so the American people can know and challenge the methods government uses to calculate effects of regulations it imposes on them.”

Frequently...

National Institutes of Health says Commonly used Antibiotic shows Promise for Combating Zika Infections | site |


NIH preclinical study suggests FDA-approved tetracycline-based antibiotics may slow infection and reduce neurological problems.


(Information contained in National Institutes of Health [NIH] press release: November 24, 2020)

In 2015, hundreds of children were born with brain deformities resulting from a global outbreak of Zika virus infections. Recently, National Institutes of Health researchers used a variety of advanced drug screening techniques to test out more than 10,000 compounds in search of a cure. To their surprise, they found that the widely used antibiotic methacycline was effective at preventing brain infections and reducing neurological problems associated with the virus in mice. In addition, they found that drugs originally designed to combat Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation may also help fight infections. �...

National Institutes of Health says Commonly used Antibiotic shows Promise for Combating Zika Infections | site |


NIH preclinical study suggests FDA-approved tetracycline-based antibiotics may slow infection and reduce neurological problems.


(Information contained in National Institutes of Health [NIH] press release: November 24, 2020)

In 2015, hundreds of children were born with brain deformities resulting from a global outbreak of Zika virus infections. Recently, National Institutes of Health researchers used a variety of advanced drug screening techniques to test out more than 10,000 compounds in search of a cure. To their surprise, they found that the widely used antibiotic methacycline was effective at preventing brain infections and reducing neurological problems associated with the virus in mice. In addition, they found that drugs originally designed to combat Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation may also help fight infections. �...

The Treasury Department and IRS issue Final Regulations regarding Like-kind Exchanges of Real Property | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Internal Revenue Service [IRS] press release: November 23, 2020)

WASHINGTON – Today the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations relating to section 1031 like-kind exchanges. These final regulations address the definition of real property under section 1031 and also provide a rule addressing the receipt of personal property that is incidental to real property received in a like-kind exchange. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) limited like-kind exchange treatment to exchanges of real property. As of January 1, 2018, exchanges of personal or intangible property such as vehicles, artwork, collectibles, patents, and other intellectual property generally do not qualify for nonrecognition of gain as like-kind exchanges. Also, like-kind exchange treatment applies only to exchange...

U.S. Veterans Affairs Program helping more Veterans connect with Bank, Credit Union Account choices | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs press release: November 20, 2020)

Washington - - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today at least 25,000 more Veterans are now receiving monetary benefits through federally-insured banks and credit unions — mitigating their risk of fraud occurrence.

Prior to the inception of the Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP), established in December 2019, Veterans who did not have bank accounts were only able to receive monetary benefits through pre-paid debit cards or paper checks. “At any given time, there are approximately 250,000 Veterans who do not have bank accounts, and as a result of the Veterans Benefits Administration working diligently to contact Veterans directly by mail and telephone calls to explain the benefits of switchin...

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves First Drug to Treat Rare Metabolic Disorder | site |


Approval is for primary hyperoxaluria type 1, which causes recurrent kidney stones and loss of kidney function


(Information contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] press release: November 23, 2020) Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Oxlumo (lumasiran) as the first treatment for primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1), a rare genetic disorder. This approval is a cumulation of the work of experts and community members coordinated by the Oxalosis & Hyperoxaluria Foundation and the Kidney Health Initiative. “The approval of Oxlumo represents a great triumph of community involvement to address a rare disease. It is a result of input from patients, treating physicians, experts and sponsors at a patient-focused drug development meeting and through other collaborative efforts,” said Norman Stockbridge, M.D., Ph.D., director of the ...

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: November 23, 2020 | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] press release: November 23, 2020)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continued to take action in the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

• On Nov. 20, the FDA approved an abbreviated new drug application for succinylcholine chloride injection USP 200 mg/10 mL, which is indicated, in addition to general anesthesia, to facilitate tracheal intubation and to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation. Side effects of succinylcholine chloride injection include anaphylaxis, hyperkalemia, and malignant hyperthermia. The FDA recognizes the increased demand for certain products during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and we remain deeply committed to facilitating access to safe and effective medical products to help address critical needs of the American

...

Federal Railroad Administration Publishes Railroads’ Third Quarter 2020 Positive Train Control Implementation Status Updates | site |


PTC systems governing operations on 99.6% of all 57,537 PTC-mandated route miles


(Information contained in Federal Railroad Administration [FRA] press release: November 18, 2020) WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today released a quarterly status update on railroads’ self-reported progress, as of September 30, 2020, toward fully implementing positive train control (PTC) systems by December 31, 2020, as required by Congress. All railroads subject to the statutory mandate are currently operating PTC systems in revenue service or in advanced field testing, known as revenue service demonstration (RSD). As of September 30, PTC technology remains to be activated on approximately 223 required route miles, based on railroads’ Third Quarter 2020 PTC Progres...

Johns Hopkins Medicine Joins Top US Hospitals To Encourage Everyone to #Maskup | site |


Growing numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths are troubling; face masks can slow the trend


(Information contained in a Johns Hopkins Medicine news release: November 19, 2020)

Johns Hopkins Medicine, together with 100 of the nation’s top health care systems, representing thousands of hospitals in communities across the U.S., have come together with an urgent plea for all Americans — mask up, because wearing a face mask is one of the best ways to slow the surging COVID-19 pandemic. With cases of COVID-19 rising across the nation, it’s more vital than ever for us to join this public health campaign to spread the word about the importance of mask-wearing, among other public health measures such as physical distancing and proper hand-washing. More than 11.5 million Americans have tested positive for the virus, leading to nearly 250,000 deaths. The nex...

U.S. Department of State issues Statement addressing Treaty on Open Skies | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of State press release: November 22, 2020)


Statement attributed to Cale Brown, Deputy Spokesperson, U.S. Department of State:

On May 22, 2020, the United States exercised its right pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article XV of the Treaty on Open Skies by providing notice to the Treaty Depositaries and to all States Parties of its decision to withdraw from the Treaty, effective six months from the notification date. Six months having elapsed, the U.S. withdrawal took effect on November 22, 2020, and the United States is no longer a State Party to the Treaty on Open Skies....

National Institute of Standards and Technology Sensor Experts Invent Supercool Mini-Thermometer | site |



(Information contained in National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST] press release: November 17, 2020)

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have invented a miniature thermometer with big potential applications, such as monitoring the temperature of processor chips in superconductor-based quantum computers, which must stay cold to work properly.

NIST’s superconducting thermometer measures temperatures below 1 kelvin (minus 272.15 C or minus 457.87 F), down to 50 ...

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Working Group on Bribery Issues Report Commending United States for Maintaining Leading Role in the Fight Against Transnational Corruption | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Commerce press release: November 18, 2020) The Working Group on Bribery of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD Working Group) issued its Phase 4 Report of the United States, announced the U.S. Departments of Justice, Commerce, State, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Phase 4 Report is part of the OECD Working Group’s peer monitoring process and focuses primarily on the United States’ enforcement of its foreign bribery statute, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and was issued following a year-long review that included a series of interviews with government, private sector, academic, and civil society experts. In releasing the report, the 44-country OECD Wor...

HHS and DOD Award $11.6 Million Contract to Puritan Medical Products to Boost U.S. Production of Swabs for Cue Health COVID-19 Tests | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services press release: November 23, 2020) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) have jointly awarded an $11.6 million contract to Puritan Medical Products Company, LLC, to expand domestic production capacity of Cue Sample Wands, the nasal swabs used exclusively with the COVID-19 cartridge-based molecular testing system developed and manufactured by Cue Health, Inc. The test generates results in about 20 minutes at the point-of-care (POC). Awarded November 19, the new contract will allow Puritan Medical to expedite upgrades at its Maine facility and increase production capability of Cue’s nasal swabs to 3 million per month by March 2021. These efforts support the federal government’s procurement of 6 millio...