Arizona universities plan for expanded COVID-19 testing and surveillance

Governor Doug Ducey announced yesterday in a news conference the State of Arizona is investing $14 million to Arizona’s three universities for COVID-19 mitigation. A press release states $8 million will be allocated for additional testing, surveillance and other response efforts including expanding wastewater testing. An additional $6 million will be allocated “for the development of Arizona State University’s groundbreaking point-of-need testing, which will allow people such as first responders, health care workers and those in congregate care settings to get COVID-19 test results within minutes.” 

This week's Connection Newsletter features stories about the EUA for Abbott point-of-care test, digital resources related to COVID-19 vaccines and updates on the FY 2021 IPPS final rule webinar. Be sure to check out our upcoming events section.

COVID-19 vaccination update.

In this week's Connection Newsletter we talk about CMS's MFAR withdrawal, COVID-19 vaccine onboarding and other timely healthcare-related news.  

In response to recent actions taken by a number of drug companies to limit the distribution of certain 340B drugs to hospitals and health systems, members of Congress are circulating and asking House of Representatives members to sign a Dear Colleague letter addressed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging the agency to use its authority to address these troubling actions and require the companies to comply with the law.

This week's issue of the Connection Newsletter highlights AzHHA's efforts to urge U.S. Senator Martha McSally, U.S. Representative Debbie Lesko and U.S. Representative Andy Biggs to intervene with the White House to stop MFAR from being finalized.