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vol.29 no.9 • September 2021

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vol.29 no.9 • September 2021

Ready for Respiratory Season? Experts say distributor reps should “remain nimble” as RSV, COVID could create uncertainty

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Virtualize Thyself. There was a time when maybe you wished you could conduct business meetings in your pajamas but we never really thought it would happen. Our experienced sales and service teams are still here for you and committed to continue as your trusted selling partner. We can help ensure your success by providing the diagnostic products still critical to you and your customers. Until we can work together in the field again, SEKISUI Diagnostics will be here for you in any other way possible. Because we understand, every result matters. ®

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IMMUNOASSAY SYSTEM

RAPID DIAGNOSTICS

SEKISUI DIAGNOSTICS IS YOUR PARTNER IN HEALTHCARE 800-332-1042 / sekisuidiagnostics.com © 2021 Sekisui Diagnostics, LLC. All rights reserved. Acucy® and OSOM® are registered trademarks of Sekisui Diagnostics, LLC. Because every result matters™ is a trademark of Sekisui Diagnostics, LLC. FastPack® is a registered trademark of Qualigen Inc.

SEPTEMBER 2021 • VOLUME 29 • ISSUE 9

PUBLISHER’S LETTER The Importance of Medical Distribution During a Pandemic.......................... 2

PHYSICIAN OFFICE LAB Back to School, Work, Life Getting back to a semblance of normalcy could mean an uptick in physicals, vaccinations, and more for your physician office customers................. 4

DISTRIBUTION Building Healthier Communities Owens & Minor announces launch of non-profit foundation............... 8

IDN OPPORTUNITIES Adapting to Meet Changing Needs The largest health system in Indiana now requires predictive supply health metrics and reporting.........................................10

Ready for Respiratory Season? Experts say distributor reps should “remain nimble” as RSV, COVID could create uncertainty

Stop Ransomware U.S. government launches one-stop ransomware resource website...................34

WINDSHIELD TIME TRENDS

Automotive-related news....... 39

Physician Compensation Amid a Tumultuous Year Physician offices had to pivot, adapt to maintain compensation levels, MGMA reports......................................20

MARKETING MINUTE Effective Strategies for Omni-Channel Marketing in Healthcare..................................... 40

The Impact of Change Industry forecast predicts rapid recovery of volume, shifts in delivery of care........22

A Bridge in Time Federal relief efforts were lifesavers for many physician practices during COVID-19. What lessons have they learned from the experience?.......................................26

Is Type 2 Diabetes Ready for CGM?

HIDA Thought Leaders Recommendations for a Strong Pandemic Infrastructure.................................... 48

Rep Corner

Sales: An Engaging Profession

NEWS Turn-Key COVID-19 Testing

Continuous glucose monitoring has most often been used by people with Type 1 diabetes. That may change.......................32

Quidel selected by Delaware for COVID-19 testing program at schools......50

By getting involved every day, Emily Hoste builds a better version of herself

Industry news....................................51

Subscribe/renew @ www.repertoiremag.com : click subscribe repertoire magazine (ISSN 1520-7587) is published monthly by Share Moving Media, 1735 N. Brown Rd. Ste. 140, Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8153. Copyright 2021 by Share Moving Media. All rights reserved. Subscriptions: $49.00 per year for individuals; issues are sent free of charge to dealer representatives. If you would like to subscribe or notify us of address changes, please contact us at the above numbers or address. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Repertoire, 1735 N. Brown Rd. Ste. 140, Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8153. Please note: The acceptance of advertising or products mentioned by contributing authors does not constitute endorsement by the publisher. Publisher cannot accept responsibility for the correctness of an opinion expressed by contributing authors. Periodicals Postage Paid at Lawrenceville, GA and at additional mailing offices.

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September 2021

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

The Importance of Medical Distribution During a Pandemic As we stare the Delta variant in the face

and COVID cases start rising again it is comforting to know we have an amazing supply chain with medical distributors at the helm. I remember last year getting gas near my office and regularly seeing McKesson vans filling their tanks. Each time, I would walk over and thank them for being heroes and servicing the Scott Adams healthcare providers in our nation. Those were scary times in April/May of 2020 so I was always nervous I would freak them out if I got within 6 feet of them, but looking back on it today I’m glad I was able to tell those drivers how amazing they are. As we faced COVID last year, seeing leaders like Brad Connett of Henry Schein, Brian Tyler of McKesson, Ed Pesicka of Owens and Minor, and others represent our industry at the White House, gave us all hope that we could beat this thing. While none of us knew back then that we would still be facing it today – much less the Delta variant – that same hope I had in those leaders then I still have in the distribution reps around the nation. The job they’ve done over the last 18 months proves once again they are the linchpin of success for our industry. As the publisher of Repertoire Magazine, I am blessed to speak with amazing distribution reps and manufacturer

reps all over the country. Hearing not only their stories but also their commitment to our country’s caregivers should make us all proud. We work in a wonderful industry surrounded by amazing individuals and organizations. The words in this column can never state my profound respect for those working on the frontlines, in the warehouses, and in the field calling on accounts. Thank you for what you do every day. So, as we go back to fight the good fight of keeping caregivers protected against the Delta variant, rest assured that medical distribution – both national and regional – has our backs. They will continue to show up, fill orders, and solve their customers’ biggest problems (shout out to my boy, Gary Corless) so that America stays safe and healthy. My hope above all hopes is that when we crush this virus from existence, we all remember how distribution stood in the gap and that we will continue to reward them with our support. Thank you to everyone in the supply chain both upstream and downstream for all you do. Dedicated to the industry, R. Scott Adams

Repertoire is published monthly by Share Moving Media 1735 N. Brown Rd., Suite 140, Lawrenceville, GA 30043 Phone: (800) 536-5312, FAX: (770) 709-5432; e-mail: info@sharemovingmedia.com; www.sharemovingmedia.com

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2021 editorial board

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Richard Bigham: Atlantic Medical Solutions

editor-in-chief, Dail-eNews

Scott Adams

Eddie Dienes: McKesson Medical-Surgical

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Keith Boivin: IMCO Home Care

Laura Gantert

Ty Ford: Henry Schein Doug Harper: NDC Homecare

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September 2021

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PHYSICIAN OFFICE LAB

Back to School, Work, Life Getting back to a semblance of normalcy could mean an uptick in physicals, vaccinations, and more for your physician office customers. As we attempt to move past the COVID-19

By Jim Poggi

September 2021

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pandemic, there is no question everyone wants to find a “new normal” that feels more comfortable than sitting at home, avoiding social contact with friends and family, and giving up meals and entertainment out of the home. A lot of sacrifices were made, not the least of which has been our health. Hanging around home does not mean gym visits, long runs outdoors or training with friends. It has more likely included binge watching the COVID-19 news, a series of Zoom meetings and maybe even a little more consumption of adult beverages than usual. While there is no general consensus of what the new normal will look like, there is no doubt that taking better care of our health is www.repertoiremag.com

a priority. Most physician practices shut down or dramatically reduced patient visits during the pandemic, and most of us put off going to the doctor for any reason but the most serious health concerns. For these reasons, getting back to “normal” means getting back to health.

School physicals Whether your school district is resuming physical return to school fully, has adopted vaccine and mask guidelines, or is allowing parents to make virtual vs. physical school attendance decisions, annual school physical season is upon us again. Most children will need to return to school with a record of vaccination provided

by their health care provider. So, part of our return to normal is a trip to the primary care office. The typical school physical will include a review of health concerns, vital signs measurements and a review of needed vaccinations. With childhood obesity on the rise, concerns about pre-diabetes should trigger both lipid and hemoglobin A1C testing for children showing signs of an unhealthy weight, along with counseling of both the children and parents to engage in healthy physical exercise and avoid indulgence in junk foods. Your chance to be a valued consultant comes with a reminder that providing appropriate lipid, diabetes and general health tests along with personal counseling is the surest way to help patients create and achieve their goals for healthy living. These habits should start at an early age and continue throughout adulthood.

Work physicals COVID-19 has changed the face of the American work force forever. Many service-level jobs have gone away, and many Americans have decided to leave a job they did not love and seek a more rewarding career. Depending on how you look at it, the pandemic has provided us with a long overdue opportunity to re-assess who we are, who we want to be and what is important to us. No matter the choices, going back to work in one way or another is the likely outcome for most of us. For many, this will include a back to work physical also. Vital signs and a quick review of health history and concerns are always on the agenda. Since adults are more likely to be on a treatment program, testing is likely to be driven by underlying health conditions, especially those that could have gotten out of hand due to months of less active living. A CMP, CBC, lipid, urinalysis and diabetes testing are the core requirements for the patient centric physician practice to initiate or modify the patient treatment programs of patients they may not have seen for quite a while. For many folks returning to work, a drug test will be a mandatory requirement. Every return-to-normal strategy should include a visit to the physician, whether a return to work is part of the rationale or just because it has been a while since the patient and caregiver have reviewed the patient treatment program. Be sure to check in with your physician practices and specialty occupational therapy clinics to remind them of the importance of testing with patient visits on the rise again.

Medicare wellness exams … and a few surprises We have discussed Medicare annual wellness exams for several years and we know they are important as basic

health assessments. But, how many of us know (and remind our customers) that Medicare covers a wide range of preventive measures at no cost to the patient including lipid testing, diabetes testing, cardiovascular (lipid and glucose) testing and screening for colorectal cancer, HIV and HCV? We have all these tests available, most waived, and a timely reminder is a sound part of your back to normal plan. The complete list of Medicare approved preventive measures is very comprehensive and can be found here www.medicare.gov/coverage/preventive-screening-services

Skinned knees and runny noses No return to normal would be complete without the skinned knees and runny noses that come along with resuming outdoor activity. Most years, I would consider them unfortunate but unavoidable elements of daily living. This year I consider them part of the path to resuming a semblance of life before COVID. So, to be prepared, check in with your urgent care and free-standing ER facilities and have a planning conversation. Are they seeing visits resuming? What sort of conditions are they seeing? Need med-surg supplies? Are they ready for the classic tests needed in their setting: CBC, basic chemistry and respiratory? If not, your return to normal will be to help them prepare!

Flu on the horizon? Finally, the wild card in respiratory testing: influenza. We all know we essentially did not have a flu season last year, and very little flu testing as a result, but, boy, did we ever have a COVID testing event. There is little doubt that COVID testing will continue this fall and beyond. Vaccinations are lagging behind projections for herd immunity and outbreaks are being seen in many areas where the vaccine coverage is lowest. Many of us wonder what this year’s respiratory season will bring. Will influenza return with its usual random mix of timing of occurrence, locations and severity? While the answer is still on the horizon, there is little doubt that just as increased social interaction and relaxation of mask guidelines are showing an increase in COVID cases, the same causes are equally likely to signal a recurrence of seasonal respiratory illnesses we have come to know and expect. Flu, strep and RSV are more likely than not to occur more frequently this year than last. Be ready and make sure your customers are as well. A “return to normal” includes a return to planning and consulting with your customers. Get to it! www.repertoiremag.com

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September 2021

DISTRIBUTION

Building Healthier Communities Owens & Minor announces launch of non-profit foundation Owens & Minor, Inc. announced it is launching a non-profit foundation to build healthier communities through

engagement and financial support of trusted charitable and civic organizations. The Owens & Minor Foundation will be focused on healthcare, environment and diversity and inclusion. After an initial endowment of $10 million, The Foundation will continue to pursue these efforts through grants, charitable contributions, volunteer activities and donations.

Owens & Minor is a global healthcare solutions company that incorporates product manufacturing, distribution support, and technology services to deliver value from acute care to telemedicine. They provide a wide variety of solutions that cover everything from challenges in the current clinical system to improving and optimizing the healthcare supply chain. The Foundation would exist as yet another arm in their approach to improving healthcare processes for the industry.

Advancing access In a media release, Owens & Minor said that the Owens & Minor Foundation is dedicated to impacting and empowering local communities through a series of different initiatives. The Foundation will look to advance healthcare access in all communities and supporting opportunities for people to lead healthier lives, while improving established operational sustainability initiatives that help improve the health of the environment around us. They also propose to build a diverse and inclusive culture where the team can openly share ideas and learn from each other. Additionally, they aim to increase support of supplier diversity initiatives, something that the healthcare industry could truly benefit from. 8

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As for the push to improve sustainability for the local environment, Owens & Minor recently launched the Environmental, Social and Governance Report that details many of the sustainability initiatives its locations currently undertake. A representative for Owens & Minor said “Environmental, social, and governance initiatives are integral to the fabric of Owens & Minor for years, and the inaugural ESG Report reinforces the great work already underway while taking our efforts to the next level. We are actively recruiting for Environmental Stewards to spearhead our own initiatives and initiate programs with leading recycling operations in the U.S. focused on supporting

healthcare and converting waste product into durable goods that are returned to the healthcare field for further use.” Healthcare accessibility is a hot button issue these days, and many communities desperately need better options for healthcare. The COVID19 pandemic only made that more apparent, laying bare issues in the infrastructure of the U.S. healthcare system. The Foundation isn’t a direct response to the pandemic – Owens & Minor’s commitment to environmental, social, and governance initiatives predates COVID-19 – it could prove to be a solution for the healthcare sector, whether it’s optimizing supply chain processes, pushing for sustainable practices in medicine, or working to improve patient care outcomes. “The Foundation will allow Owens & Minor to reinforce and prioritize its support of important initiatives in the communities in which it operates,” said Shana Neal, president of the Foundation and executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Owens & Minor, in a statement. “The creation and funding of the Foundation will build on the strong legacy of service which Owens & Minor has established itself and will provide a solid grounding for continued support long into the future.”

Heroes put PATIENTS

FIRST.

Thank you for making us a small part of your story. #healthcareheroes www.cepheid.com

IDN OPPORTUNITIES

Adapting to Meet Changing Needs The largest health system in Indiana now requires predictive supply health metrics and reporting By Daniel Beaird

Dennis Mullins

Indiana University (IU) Health is the largest network of physicians and hospitals in the state of Indiana.

The system includes a unique partnership with the IU School of Medicine, giving patients access to one of the nation’s leading medical schools, to leading-edge medicine and treatment options. While COVID-19 response continues to consume significant healthcare resources and require heightened precautions, IU Health saw increases in surgical cases and outpatient care in the first quarter of 2021.

“Over the past year IU Health has adapted to meet changing healthcare needs amid unprecedented challenges posed by the global pandemic,” said Jenni Alvey, senior vice president and chief financial officer for IU Health. “We expect the rest of 2021 will require continued resilience to manage operations and finances while making new investments to serve patients who depend on us, especially in these critical times.” 10

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“Due to COVID-19, IU Health now reviews manufacturer and distributor throughput to include their sourcing strategy outside the U.S.,” said Dennis Mullins, senior vice president of supply chain for IU Health. “This allows us to properly forecast our supply ordering and have confidence in the reliability of our suppliers to manage their end-to-end supply chain process from raw material to the product delivery to our hospitals.”

In addition, IU Health increased its knowledge base regarding how overseas manufacturing plays a vital role in how the U.S. supply chain operates to include the logistical complexities of ships, shipping ports and customs operations. “Prior to the pandemic, we maintained a 60-day safety stock of PPE for all acute locations at our Integrated Service Center, which consolidates and handles inventory for

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IDN OPPORTUNITIES our 16-hospital system,” Mullins said. “Now, we are positioned to maintain 120 days of PPE safety stock.” IU Health’s supply planning approach before the pandemic was based on historical usage. “But pandemic planning required more of a future forecast where we were required to look at the COVID-19 positive population at a global level, and it could impact the U.S. and IU Health,” Mullins said. IU Health entered into several supply assurance programs with

IU Health Integrated Service Center

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distributors and manufacturers. These programs were designed to stabilize and sustain stocking levels required to support its increased demand. “We created a strategic communication structure with multiple suppliers where discussions about supply levels occurred weekly, daily, and sometimes, hourly depending on the need,” Mullins explained. This resulted in better reporting being distributed to IU Health from vendors, including data related specifically to the pandemic like allocation

amounts, and how and why certain products were used. Since the pandemic, IU Health has engaged with its distributors to: ʯ Require predictive supply health metrics and reporting ʯ Preapprove substitute products to avoid disruption due to backorder where possible ʯ Contract to guarantee supply commitments on critical PPE categories ʯ Partner to identify and approve credible alternate supply sources and avoid scams in the market ʯ Create more frequent communication tailored to the critical item needs of IU Health and how to best resolve those issues in the fastest way possible without impacting patient care “Post-pandemic we expect closer assignments of pandemic-exposed capabilities of suppliers and distributors, their countries of origin and long-term risks,” Mullins said. “We expect even closer relationships with our distributors and vendors to capitalize on what they have learned during the pandemic about our processes and how we function as a healthcare system. This will improve communication on critical questions.” Supply assurance contracts enabled IU Health to supply clinicians with needed PPE they were familiar with, rather than lower quality alternatives. And IU Health never had a zero balance of critical PPE. “Our command center was set up to maintain constant contact with one another to resolve any issue that arose as efficiently as possible, sometimes within minutes of hearing about an issue,” Mullins said.

Simply Extraordinary

Thank you distribution community for your hard work and the sacrifices you’ve made during a time of unprecedented challenges. Your dedication to healthcare has helped restore operations, strengthen trust, and provide hope in desperate times. Moving into a promising new season, we’re excited to reconnect and work closely again with you in support of our customers. Contact your local B. Braun representative today. ©2021 B. Braun Medical Inc., Bethlehem PA. All rights reserved. 7/21

Ready for Respiratory Season? Experts say distributor reps should “remain nimble” as RSV, COVID could create uncertainty Anticipating the upcoming respiratory season is like expecting a baby: An ultrasound may give you some idea of what the little one will look like, but you never really know what you’re getting until delivery. “There is always significant uncertainty with the respiratory season, and now that COVID-19 is part of the mix, it only increases that uncertainty,” says David Morris, principal product manager, SEKISUI Diagnostics. The incidence of non-COVID respiratory diseases, particularly influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), was greatly affected in the 2020-21 season due to infection control measures like social distancing, stay-athome orders and mask usage, he says. “While these incidence rates were at historic lows in 2020-21, we are already seeing an increase in RSV incidence as infection control measures are being dropped. This is a good indicator that we should start to see similar increases in infections and testing of other non-COVID respiratory diseases. “Our preparations for the 2021-22 respiratory season are more similar to what we traditionally did before the emergence of COVID-19,” he says. “The drop in childhood vaccinations [administered during the pandemic] appears to be correlated with reduction in doctor visits due to concerns related to the pandemic. Now that visits are trending back to normal, we expect respiratory-related testing and routine vaccinations to also trend back toward historic norms in the upcoming year.” 14

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September 2021

Ready for Respiratory Season?

Pediatricians are concerned about the potential impact of missed childhood visits and vaccinations during the pandemic. “We are concerned that children are not up to date on a number of vaccines and may be at risk for transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases,” Bonnie Maldonado, MD, FAAP, chairperson of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Infectious Diseases, and Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Health Research and Policy at Stanford University School of Medicine, told Repertoire this spring. As of June, the U.S. was behind on childhood vaccinations by over 11 million doses since the first surge of the pandemic in March 2020.

Your growing respiratory toolbox During public health emergencies (such as the SARSCoV-2 pandemic), the Food and Drug Administration can issue emergency use authorizations (EUAs), which authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products for diagnosing, treating or preventing serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions. Companies whose diagnostic products received EUAs for respiratory-related tests include:

ʯ BD: Received EUA in February and March 2021 for

the BD® SARS-CoV-2/Flu assay, which is run on the BD MAX™ System; and the BD Veritor™ System for Rapid Detection of SARS CoV-2 & Flu A+B test.

ʯ Cepheid: In September 2020, received EUA for

Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV for qualitative detection of the viruses causing COVID-19, Flu A, Flu B, and RSV infections from a single patient sample.

ʯ Quidel: In October 2020: received EUA to market

the Sofia® 2 Flu + SARS Antigen FIA, to be used with the Sofia® 2 Fluorescent Immunoassay Analyzer.

ʯ Abbott: In March 2021, received EUA for the Alinity™ m Resp-4-Plex molecular assay to detect and differentiate SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, influenza B and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in one test.

ʯ Sekisui: In March 2020, Mesa Biotech received

an EUA for the AcculaTM SARS-CoV-2 test, which is distributed by SEKISUI Diagnostics.

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Children who are behind schedule or overdue for their vaccinations will be at risk for developing respiratoryrelated illness, says Joseph Mann, BD’s global medical science liaison. “Furthermore, the more individuals who are unvaccinated and without immunity, the more transmissible the infection will be in the community. Therefore, vaccination not only protects the individual from infection, but also protects the community as a whole, since vaccinated individuals are unable to develop and transmit the infection to other people. This concept is commonly referred to as ‘herd immunity.’” Not everyone will get vaccinated, but Mann believes the level of herd immunity will be sufficient to cancel the ill effects of the past year’s reduction in childhood vaccination rates. “With the exception of influenza, I don’t believe one year of lower vaccination rates in children will result in a significant increase in respiratoryrelated tests due to the concept of herd immunity. Again, the vast majority of the general public likely remains immune, which makes it difficult for these infections to spread. [But] if a trend of reduced childhood vaccination rates continues, we will undoubtedly see outbreaks happen, as we saw at Disneyland and other places recently with measles.”

RSV Health officials are concerned about a potential spike in RSV this coming respiratory season. In June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory about increased interseasonal RSV activity across parts of the Southern United States. (Typically, in the United States, RSV infections occur primarily during the fall and winter cold and flu season – not the spring and summer months.) RSV can be associated with severe disease in young children and older adults, and is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under one year of age in the United States. Due to the reduced circulation of RSV during the winter months of 2020–2021, older infants and toddlers might now be at increased risk of severe RSV-associated illness, because they have likely not had typical levels of exposure to RSV during the height of the pandemic, according to the agency. In infants younger than six months, RSV infection may result in symptoms of irritability, poor feeding, lethargy and/or apnea with or without fever. In older infants and young children,

MADE IN THE USA

Ready for Respiratory Season?

rhinorrhea and decreased appetite may appear one to three days before cough, often followed by sneezing, fever and sometimes wheezing. Symptoms in adults are typically consistent with upper respiratory tract infections, including rhinorrhea, pharyngitis, cough, headache, fatigue, and fever. There is no specific treatment for RSV infection, nor is there a vaccine for it. Due to the increased RSV activity, CDC is encouraging broader testing for RSV among patients presenting with acute respiratory illness who test negative for SARS-CoV-2.

Looking ahead to the 2021-2022 respiratory season, Sekisui’s David Morris advised Repertoire readers to remain nimble. “While we currently expect a trend toward normalcy, new breakthrough variants of COVID could rapidly change the current trend overnight.” Meanwhile, BD’s Jeffrey Andrews offered advice applicable not only to Repertoire readers, but providers, patients and consumers: “Get vaccinated against COVID19! Get vaccinated against flu in the fall! Don’t expose others when you are feeling ill!”

Coming up: mRNA Much-heralded messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines for SARS CoV-2 from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are probably just the first of a new family of vaccines for influenza, RSV, even cancer. Instead of putting a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies, like traditional vaccines, mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein – or even just a piece of a protein – that triggers an immune response inside our bodies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. mRNA vaccines have been studied before for flu, Zika, rabies, and cytomegalovirus (CMV). But as soon as information about SARS-CoV-2 became available, scientists began designing the mRNA instructions for cells to build the unique spike protein into an mRNA vaccine. Here’s some of what’s happening today. In June 2021, Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines global business unit of Sanofi, and Translate Bio, a clinicalstage mRNA therapeutics company, initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating an mRNA-based investigational vaccine against seasonal influenza. The trial will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a monovalent flu vaccine candidate coding for the hemagglutinin protein of the A/H3N2 strain of the influenza virus. That same month, Sanofi announced it would invest €400 million annually

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in an mRNA Center of Excellence. Approximately 400 employees will work on the project in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Marcy l’Etoile, Lyon (France). In February 2021, GlaxoSmithKline plc and Vir Biotechnology Inc. signed an agreement giving GSK exclusive rights to collaborate with Vir on the development of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the prevention or treatment of influenza. (Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful antigens such as viruses.) These include VIR-2482, an intramuscularly administered investigational mAb designed as a universal

prophylactic for influenza A, which has completed a Phase 1 trial, as well as next generation antibodies for the prevention or treatment of influenza during a three-year research period. In July 2021, Moderna Inc. announced the first participants were dosed in the Phase 1/2 study of mRNA-1010, the company’s quadrivalent seasonal influenza mRNA vaccine candidate. This study will evaluate the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of mRNA-1010 in healthy adults 18 years and older in the U.S. The company said it also plans to explore potential combination vaccines against flu, SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus (hMPV).

Is it COVID-19 or the Flu? Quickly detect and differentiate between Influenza and COVID-19* with a single test this flu season, with clear, trusted, digital results in 15 minutes.

See what’s new at BDVeritor.com/COVID-Flu *Emergency Use Authorization Information for the SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-2 & Flu A+B assays: • These products have not been FDA cleared or approved; but have been authorized by FDA under EUA for use by authorized laboratories • The BD Veritor™ System for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens; the BD Veritor™ System for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 & Flu A+B has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and influenza B, not for any other viruses or pathogens; and, • These products are only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.

BD Life Sciences, 7 Loveton Circle, Sparks, MD 21152-0999 USA 800-638-8663 BD, the BD Logo and Veritor are trademarks of Becton, Dickinson and Company or its affiliates. © 2021 BD. All rights reserved.

TRENDS

Physician Compensation Amid a Tumultuous Year Physician offices had to pivot, adapt to maintain compensation levels, MGMA reports. Last year, healthcare was one of the industries hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to flatten the

curve, physician offices shifted to a telehealth approach to treat patients. While the pandemic was the source of unforeseen economic challenges, practice closures, and even lower patient volumes, studies show that physician income was largely stable for 2020. New research from the Medical Group Management Association reveals that compensation for most physician specialties has remained steady or increased slightly, despite the wide-ranging financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on physician practices in 2020. 20

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patient volumes decreased by 0.89%, while nonsurgical specialists decreased by 1.29%. In a media release, Dr. Halee Fischer-Wright, the President and CEO of MGMA, discussed the findings of the report by saying “MGMA’s modest compensation findings belie the turmoil of 2020. Our numbers tell a story of a year of unprecedented challenges that could have potentially led to a serious decline in compensation across every category we track.”

Adapting to new processes The ability to pivot in the middle of a crisis is what saved medical practices in 2020. Dr. Fischer-Wright explained that these practices saved themselves by adapting to the times. She said, “Practices acted quickly to leverage government programs to cover staff costs and expenses during the early part of 2020. They adapted to new delivery models such as telemedicine and were able to quickly ramp up when patient volumes returned later in the year. It is a testament to the resiliency of physician groups that weathering the challenges of a year that increase tested us all in so many ways.” One of the most signifiin total cant ways that medical practices compensation adapted is telehealth. Telehealth for primary allowed for practices to continue care to treat patients virtually, espephysicians cially in areas with high COVIDbetween 2019 19 infection rates. Depending on and 2020 what part of the country they were in, some practices reported an incredible surge in patient volume only a few months into the pandemic. With a monthly survey, MGMA found that many practices quickly restored productivity as early as July 2020. Whether it’s a matter of differing restrictions throughout the country or the kind of practice you are operating, these numbers are notable for such a difficult year. While supply costs for healthcare skyrocketed, medical practices were able to save money in other areas due to budget cuts. MGMA’s Andrew Swanson, MPA, CMPE, VP of Industry Insights, said “It might be a bit counterintuitive, thinking about groups trying their best to stay afloat – that operating expenses would decrease and, in some instances, decrease significantly. The decision to cut spending elsewhere in the practice likely mitigated the overall impact of increased PPE price hikes.”

2.6

Compensation trends for 2020 From a study conducted throughout 2020, MGMA produced a report that analyzes the impact of the pandemic on a vital sector of the healthcare industry. Primary care physician compensation either remained steady or saw modest growth in 2020. According to a media release, “total compensation for primary care physicians increased by 2.6% between 2019 and 2020 compared to the three- and five-year cumulative increases of 5.27% and 10.15% respectively.” Even with significant patient access challenges, compensation trends for “other physician specialties also sustained”. Any compensation changes for most of the physician specialties were very modest or just flattened out. If there were decreases in compensation, it was not as large as expected. Surgical physicians with limited

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September 2021

TRENDS

The Impact of Change Industry forecast predicts rapid recovery of volume, shifts in delivery of care. As the days of COVID-19 begin to wane, we are starting to see a return to quasi-normal for industries throughout

the country. The healthcare industry was one of the industries that the pandemic hit the hardest, requiring a massive shift towards telemedicine for patient care. As the positive case numbers continue to drop, we will likely see an influx of inperson doctor’s visits across all types of medicine. But how long will that last? Vizient, Inc., and its subsidiary Sg2 recently released a forecast that projects a rapid recovery of volume for most healthcare services, followed by a significant shift in the delivery of healthcare services.

September 2021

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TRENDS The 2021 Impact of Change Forecast proposes that inpatient volumes will recover to their preCOVID levels by 2022 and then level out. The forecast reports that physician clinics will see a pronounced decline for in-person visits as patients shift to virtual visits, and non-visit services, like laboratory testing and imaging, are projected to grow 18% by 2029. Instead, we will begin to see a shift towards a “hospital-at-home” scenario where patients will be monitored from home using remote and virtual care systems connected to the hospital team, with in-person visits by a nurse or doctor.

2. Growth opportunities mandate many organizations to invest in chronic disease management services. 3. Care redesign and policy drivers will challenge hospitals to rethink their ambulatory footprint and strategy.

The future is telehealth Telehealth is only going to become a greater standard in the healthcare industry. As many physician’s offices were closed to the public in early 2020, telehealth became the most convenient way for patients to seek medical assistance, while

Telehealth can expand delivery of service to more rural areas and help stretch provider networks in new ways. Top takeaways from the forecast Madeleine McDowell, MD, FAAP, principal and medical director of Quality and Strategy at Sg2, said we’re going to see a strong recovery over the next six months in terms of health care utilization, with overall outpatient demand surpassing 2019 volumes. “However, not everything will return to pre-pandemic levels.” When reached for comment, McDowell further broke down the forecast with three major takeaways: 1. While recovery is expected, healthcare organizations should consider researching the potential for volumes to shift to lower-cost sites of care and plan accordingly. 24

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flattening the curve of the virus. McDowell said, “The shift to telehealth was accelerated by the pandemic. Earlier this year, approximately 20% of low-acuity physician visits were occurring virtually. We anticipate this trend will continue over the course of the decade as roughly 29% of visits shift to virtual by 2029.” Not only does telehealth offer convenience for the patient, but it also improves access to healthcare for those who cannot or will not come into a physician’s office. Telehealth can expand delivery of service to more rural areas and help stretch provider networks in new ways. Of course, it isn’t a one-size-fitsall system, but it equips doctors to

provide better patient care to those who might not receive it on a regular basis. “Service lines such as behavioral health, medicine and neurosciences are best suited for this shift,” McDowell said.

What does this mean for the U.S. healthcare supply chain? This projected scenario will have the greatest effect on how the healthcare supply chain is managed. Supply chains across the world are still recovering, but the healthcare supply chain might have suffered the most. In order to avoid any significant disruptions in the future, healthcare providers will need to evaluate the best way to move forward. “Healthcare providers are going to have to look at their supply chain through a new lens,” said David Gillan, SVP, Supply Chain at Vizient, Inc. “Not only are they having to identify ways to create greater resiliency and redundancy as a result of the pandemic, but they are also having to look more specifically at the types of products they are buying and the sites of care they will be used.” Creativity and diversification might be the best path forward, but it won’t be an easy road for supply chain managers. The added pressure of supplying new sites will create an interesting wrinkle for supply chain managers down the road. Gillan says, “Along with shifts in site of care, the forecasted expansion of telehealth and remote monitoring will require the supply chain to be able to service patients in homecare settings. Currently, it isn’t set up to support this volume of inhome needs. It will be interesting to see how hospitals and non-acute providers work to address this gap through traditional and non-traditional distribution models.”

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TRENDS

A Bridge in Time Federal relief efforts were lifesavers for many physician practices during COVID-19. What lessons have they learned from the experience? By Mark Thill Statistics provide the bones of the story. But words provide the flesh.

Medicare spending for physician services dropped as much as 57% below expected pre-pandemic levels in April 2020, according to the American Medical Association. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule spending at the end of June 2020 was still 12% less than expected. During the first half of 2020, the cumulative estimated reduction in Medicare physician spending associated with the pandemic was $9.4 billion (19%). Expenses spiked while revenues dropped. Impacts on total spending for the first six months of 2020 ranged from a 6% reduction for nephrology to a 29% reduction for ophthalmology and a 34% reduction for physical therapists. At the state level, impacts ranged in aggregate from a 13% reduction in Oklahoma to a 27% reduction in New York.

that doesn’t seem to value me, my loved ones, or what we do. Currently working ~120 hrs/wk providing unfunded care at my own personal expense to gravely ill persons. I have maxed out my own resources and reserves.” – Colorado

Now, the words of clinicians, describing the “new normal,” from a survey sponsored by the Primary Care Collaborative in July 2020: ʯ More telehealth, lots of stress about patient numbers, angry/exhausted coworkers.” – New York ʯ “Lower salary for more work, risk of serious illness every day, doing my staff ’s jobs because they are afraid to touch and be in the room with patients, spending my own money ($30k) on PPE for the entire clinic despite working for a huge hospital system, and having the federal govt specifically exclude me in COVID-19 workplace benefits (FFCRA). Pretty much a nightmare.” – Texas ʯ “Insecurity, exhaustion, moral outrage, despair, grief, rage, despondency. Seriously questioning whether to continue to stay and serve a society 26

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On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act. For healthcare providers, the Act expanded the Medicare accelerated payment program, in essence, giving physicians an advance on future Medicare payments. Through the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Health Care Enhancement Act, the federal government allocated $178 billion in payments to be distributed through the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) to healthcare providers. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, passed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, allowed eligible businesses – including eligible providers – to receive a second PPP loan, referred to as a “second draw.”

‘Nerve-racking’ The federal help served as a bridge of support for many practices, but it was not without hiccups. “It all happened very quickly,” says Julianne Andrews, senior director and senior wealth advisor, Mercer Advisors. “Banks were overwhelmed with applications. Online processes crashed. People were trying to submit applications at 3 in the morning. It was nerve-racking for all.” Hardly surprising. After all, over just a one- or twoweek period, medical practices faced something they had

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TRENDS seldom if ever faced before, she says. “Healthcare is not a seasonal thing, so practices seldom deal with cash flow issues. Some of my clients have been practicing for 20, 30, even 40 years, yet they were concerned they might go out of business – which was unthinkable just a few weeks earlier.” Compounding the problem was (and remains) the fact that aside from those that are owned by health systems or corporations, most physician practices are run by physicians themselves, not financial people, she says. They lacked a handle on how many months of cash reserve they held and how long they could stay open before making dramatic changes. Many applied for PPP loans, but as they waited to hear whether their applications had been approved, some made significant cuts to salaries and overhead.

Where the money went The federal government’s COVID-19 relief efforts and programs were welcomed by physician practices, according to the American Medical Association. Physicians have tapped into a number of available sources of support, including: ʯ CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. ʯ Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) Program. ʯ SBA Paycheck Protection Program. ʯ Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Emergency Advance. ʯ Main Street Lending Program. For physicians who paid expenses with payments received through the general and targeted distribution payments, expenses were limited to those that another source had not reimbursed and were not obligated to reimburse. Categories of expenses that can be reported include general and administrative expenses and other health care-related expenses such as: ʯ Mortgage /rent. ʯ Insurance. ʯ Personnel. ʯ Fringe benefits. ʯ Lease payments. ʯ Utilities/operations. ʯ Other general and administrative expenses not captured above. ʯ Supplies and equipment. ʯ Information technology. ʯ Facilities. ʯ Net unreimbursed expenses attributable to coronavirus. ʯ Lost revenues attributable to coronavirus.

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“As with any program that is newly established in a time of crisis, there were initial challenges around accessing the portal, gathering the information necessary to input, and tracking the electronic deposit of the funds,” says an AMA spokesperson. “Asking questions of the Medicare Administrative Contractors and the distributing agency proved difficult in the beginning, as both were also navigating other aspects of the pandemic.” Early on, CMS approved almost 24,000 applications totaling $40.4 billion in advanced Medicare payments to physicians, health professionals and other Medicare Part B suppliers. But the payments, while successful and supportive, came with their own set of challenges, the spokesperson adds. “Originally, repayment of the loans was due 210 days after the advance payment was issued in the form of an automatic 100% reduction in new Medicare payments. Additionally, outstanding balances were going to be subject to a 10.25% interest rate. These terms proved to be a challenge for physician practices, as the slow reopening of practices allowed for only a partial recoup of the losses.” The terms of the program were modified by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021.

Primary care’s complaints “Neither the CARES Act nor any other COVID relief bill provided dedicated funding for primary care, with moderate estimates that primary care practices lost $15 billion in 2020,” says Ann Greiner, president and CEO, Primary Care Collaborative. “While Congress did provide dedicated, well-justified support to [Federally Qualified Health Centers], rural hospitals and clinics as well as public health, primary care should have been treated similarly given its key roles in educating, triaging, and managing COVID patients. “Primary care made the most of temporary telehealth flexibilities to connect with patients, reach hard-toreach communities, ensure behavioral health needs were met, and protect their staff against the virus. But it’s not enough to make up for a $15 billion disinvestment.” Meanwhile, in a March 25, 2021, letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, Donald Crane, president and CEO of America’s Physician Groups, which represents over 340 physician groups, wrote, “Physicians that practice outside of hospital systems have spent thousands of dollars making investments in infrastructure such as licensing costs for telehealth services and telework setup, waiving co-pays as well as providing COVID-19 testing and vaccination leading to increases in clinical overhead. Despite these investments, funding allotments from the [Provider Relief Fund] have excluded these providers in favor of other care settings.

“Congress should prioritize future expansions and additional funding for the PRF toward extending relief for these overlooked physician practices and their associated entities, the monies they have already invested in combating the pandemic and serving patients nationwide, and the widespread negative effect that the pandemic has had on their practices.”

A bridge in time Today, many practices look at the Provider Relief Fund as a bridge across a period of time when they had no revenue, says Andrews. Some have used the entire COVID-19 experience as a learning opportunity. “Those that are looking more closely at cash flow, P&L, overhead and overall cash management are coming out of this experience healthier than before,” she says. “Maybe they cut head count a bit, or they’re thinking more carefully before borrowing from the bank, which has always been open to lending to physicians. Some practices with multiple offices are taking a hard look and closing one or two of them, because they have learned that multiple locations create a ton of overhead. “When demand for your services is predictable, revenue is only going up. So it’s easy to take your eye off the ball. The lesson is, even if we don’t have another pandemic in the near future, keep several months of cash on hand.” For Ann Greiner, the pandemic demonstrated the shortcomings of the current fee-for-service payment system. “It was an epic failure in the pandemic,” she says. “The pandemic underscores the need for a broad shift to prospective payment models that engender more investment in primary care and better support a comprehensive team providing a comprehensive set of primary care services, which will improve population health and enhance equity.” “We continue to learn more as the nation continues to vaccinate individuals and opens back up to prepandemic activities,” says the AMA spokesperson. “One of the biggest lessons involves telemedicine, which has proved to be a critical part of the future of the effective, efficient and equitable delivery of healthcare. “Many more lessons from the COVID-19 have been raised for the future, including the need for a national health strategy to acquire and manage critical personal protective equipment resources during public health emergencies; interagency coordination between federal departments and agencies for public health emergency responses; and how to ensure continuity of care for patients and continued viability of non-hospital practices.”

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TRENDS

Is Type 2 Diabetes Ready for CGM? Continuous glucose monitoring has most often been used by people with Type 1 diabetes. That may change. You’ve seen him sing, act, dance. This February you got a chance to hear him complain about fingersticks. In case

you missed it, Nick Jonas appeared in a Super Bowl commercial to plug the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor. Jonas was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 13.

People with Type 1 diabetes (a condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin) are already familiar with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). But as they watched Jonas on TV, how many millions of those with Type 2 diabetes were left wondering if they too could benefit from CGM? The Super Bowl ad was just one boost for CGM in 2021: ʯ In April, a study funded by Abbott (which makes the FreeStyle Libre) and published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society showed that acquisition of its flash CGM system was associated with reductions in acute diabetes-related events and all-cause inpatient hospitalizations. (Flash CGM systems allow users to scan the sensor and view current glucose value and trends.) ʯ On July 15, Dexcom announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared for marketing the Dexcom Partner Web application programming interfaces (APIs), allowing the company to enable third-party developers (e.g., Garmin, Livongo) to integrate CGM data into their digital health apps and devices. ʯ Three days later, on July 18, Medicare eliminated the requirement of the four-time-daily fingerstick in order to qualify for coverage of a continuous glucose monitor. The American Diabetes Association called the decision a “big win,” adding that the requirement “was an unnecessary barrier for Medicare beneficiaries.”

The sensor monitors the person’s glucose levels throughout the day and night. The readings are transmitted to a handheld electronic receiver (a “reader”) or smart device, where real-time data is provided to users about their glucose levels. The person can also review how their glucose changes over a few hours or days. Ideally, viewing glucose levels in real time can help people make more informed decisions throughout the day about how to balance food, physical activity and medicines.

Studies have shown the effectiveness of CGMs for people with Type 1 diabetes. In 2020, for example, the American Diabetes Association said that practical and quality-of-liferelated benefits of CGM were “well documented.”

How about Type 2? Instead of requiring users to prick their fingertips multiple times per day, CGMs use a tiny sensor wire inserted below the surface of the skin (usually on the abdomen or back of the arm) and secured with an adhesive patch. 32

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Statistics support growing interest in CGM for people with Type 2 diabetes. Of the 34 million Americans who have diabetes, only 5% to 10% have Type 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rest have Type 2.

Another 88 million have prediabetes, meaning their blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. Even people with prediabetes could potentially benefit from CGM by encouraging them to improve their lifestyles, according to researchers at UAB Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama. Two years after Dexcom introduced its fully mobile G5 CGM in August 2015, the company published a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine demonstrating that CGM by adults who received multiple daily insulin injections for Type 2 diabetes led to improved glycemic control. This past June, the company published a study in JAMA Network showing that in a randomized clinical trial including 175 adults with Type 2 diabetes, there was a significantly greater decrease in HbA1c levels over eight months with continuous glucose monitoring than with blood glucose meter monitoring (-1.1% vs -0.6%). Not everyone is convinced of the efficacy of CGM for those with Type 2 diabetes. “Most people with type 2 diabetes do not require selfmonitoring of blood glucose, and unnecessary monitoring not only wastes money but can negatively impact quality of life,” wrote Allen F. Shaughnessy, PharmD, MMedEd, Tufts University School of Medicine, in the June 2020 issue of American Family Physician. “Until we have research supporting continuous glucose monitoring for patients with Type 2 diabetes, especially those not receiving regular insulin injections, there are no patient-oriented benefits to justify its great expense and additional hassles for patients and physicians.” But recent developments show the market is moving in a different direction. In March 2021, researchers from Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon, reported that randomized controlled trials in intensively insulin-treated T2D demonstrated the efficacy and safety of real-time CGM (rtCGM) in reducing glycated hemoglobin without increasing hypoglycemia. At the American Diabetes Association 81st Scientific Sessions in June 2021, Newton, Massachusetts-based Onduo shared data from its virtual care program for people with Type 2 diabetes demonstrating significant and sustained improvement in HbA1c. The Onduo health management program combines a mobile app with remote lifestyle coaching and telemedicine visits with specialists. Individuals with Type 2 diabetes have access to endocrinologists, monitoring, and prescriptions for Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring devices for intermittent use in high-risk participants.

“Participants who have an A1c >8% when they join Onduo, or are on insulin or a sulfonylurea, or haven’t seen their primary care provider in a year, or have had a recent emergency room visit, are offered CGM for intermittent use,” said Onduo Senior Director of Medical Affairs in an email to Repertoire. “Onduo will continue to follow clinical guidelines and best practices for use of CGM. We also will continue to conduct research on the use of CGM in type 2 diabetes, as we are uniquely positioned to advance knowledge in this field.”

Diabetes by the numbers

ʯ 34.2 million U.S. adults have diabetes, and one in five of them don’t know they have it.

ʯ Approximately 5-10% of those 34 million people

have Type 1 diabetes. The remainder have Type 2.

ʯ Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

ʯ Diabetes is the No. 1 cause of kidney failure,

lower-limb amputations and adult blindness.

ʯ In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The CMS decision Meanwhile, the recent CMS decision to offer coverage for a continuous glucose monitor even without the fourtime-daily-fingerstick requirement could be significant for people with Type 2 diabetes who use multiple daily injections of insulin, said Laura Young, M.D., PhD, associate professor of medicine at UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in an email to Repertoire. “When patients do not achieve adequate glycemic control with non-insulin therapies, basal insulin is generally initiated. In this situation, patients will typically check their blood glucose values 1-2 times per day. If after initiation of basal insulin, glycemic targets are still not met, intensification to multiple daily injections [is warranted]. It is estimated that 24% to 54% of patients with type 2 diabetes fall into this category. In this situation testing blood glucose values at least four times per day is required to help patients and caregivers adequately dose insulin and avoid hypoglycemia.” Meanwhile, the development of newer, non-insulin agents, and a resulting decrease in the number of patients requiring basil bolus therapy, could affect the impact of the CMS change, she said. www.repertoiremag.com

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TRENDS

Stop Ransomware U.S. government launches one-stop ransomware resource website The U.S. government has announced new resources and initiatives to protect American businesses and communities

from ransomware attacks. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), together with federal partners, have launched a new website to combat the threat of ransomware.

The website, StopRansomware.gov establishes a one-stop hub for ransomware resources for individuals, businesses, and other organizations. The new site is a collaborative effort across the federal government and the first joint website created to help private and public organizations mitigate their ransomware risk, DHS says. Ransomware is a long-standing problem and a growing national security threat. Tackling this challenge requires 34

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collaboration across every level of government, the private sector, and communities. Roughly $350 million in ransom was paid to malicious cyber actors in 2020, a more than 300% increase from the previous year, DHS says. There have already been multiple notable ransomware attacks in 2021 and despite making up roughly 75% of all ransomware cases, attacks on small businesses often go unnoticed.

StopRansomware.gov is the first central hub consolidating ransomware resources from all federal government agencies. Prior to the launch, individuals and organizations had to visit a variety of websites to find guidance, latest alerts, updates, and resources, increasing the likelihood of missing important information. “Along with our partners in and outside of government, and through our Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force, the Department is working to bring all our tools to bear against these threats. But we cannot do it alone. It is critical for business leaders across industries to recognize the threat, prioritize efforts to harden their systems, and work with law enforcement by reporting these attacks promptly,” says Attorney General Garland. StopRansomware.gov is the first central hub consolidating ransomware resources from all federal government

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agencies. Prior to the launch, individuals and organizations had to visit a variety of websites to find guidance, latest alerts, updates, and resources, increasing the likelihood of missing important information. StopRansomware.gov reduces the fragmentation of resources, which is especially detrimental for those who have become victims of an attack, by integrating federal ransomware resources into a single platform that includes clear guidance on how to report attacks, and the latest ransomware-related alerts and threats from all participating agencies, according to DHS.

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REP SEP 21

Articles inside

Industry news

Quidel selected by Delaware for COVID-19 testing program at schools

Infrastructure

Automotive-related news

U.S. government launches one-stop ransomware resource website

Industry forecast predicts rapid recovery of volume, shifts in delivery of care

MGMA reports

and reporting

Continuous glucose monitoring has most often been used by people with Type 1 diabetes. That may change

During a Pandemic

launch of non-profit foundation

your physician office customers