Several national health care associations urge HHS to renew the Covid-19 public health emergency, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from the District of Columbia and Kentucky.

• District of Columbia: HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on Monday received a letter from several organizations, urging HHS to renew the Covid-19 public health emergency, which is currently set to expire on April 15. The letter was signed by several national health care associations, including America's Essential Hospitals, the American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Catholic Health Association of the United States, the Children's Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, the National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Premier Healthcare Alliance, and Vizient. "Our members continue to face challenges related to workforce shortages and staff burnout, continuing disruptions in the supply chain leading to shortages of supplies and a need for further clinical guidance regarding the symptoms of and best course of treatment for long Covid-19 patients," the letter said. "In addition, our hospitals and health systems are increasingly caring for patients with a variety of health needs for which care had to be delayed due to the pandemic." (Gooch, Becker's Hospital Review, 3/28)

   

• District of Columbia: The Biden administration will now require Covid-19 vaccines for some undocumented migrants at the Southwest border—a policy change that came just days before the administration's planned review of the public health order that has restricted immigration throughout the pandemic. Under the new policy, officials will vaccinate any undocumented migrants who fail to provide proof of vaccination after they are apprehended by border officials. According to instructions given to senior Department of Homeland Security officials on Sunday, single adults who refuse the vaccine will be detained and placed into deportation proceedings. If single adults request asylum and are not able to remain in detention, border officials will release them with a monitoring device under "stringent conditions." For migrant families who refuse the vaccine, officials will follow the same protocol and issue monitoring devices with the same conditions. In the coming days, CDC will issue a decision on whether the policy is necessary at this stage of the pandemic. (Sullivan, New York Times, 3/28)

   

• Kentucky: Russell County Hospital on Sunday announced that Scott Thompson was appointed CEO, effective May 1. Thompson, who previously served as Russell County Hospital's CEO in 2018 and 2019, will take over for Patrick Branco, who announced his retirement earlier this month. (Gooch, Becker's Hospital Review, 3/28)