Crossposted from the National School-Based Health Alliance
WASHINGTON, DC (March 24, 2020) – The School-Based Health Alliance [SBHA] is closely monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school-based health centers (SBHCs) across the nation. As this situation is rapidly evolving, [SBHA] advise[s] SBHCs to seek up to date operational and communications guidance from their sponsoring agency, school district and local public health authorities.
At the national level, the Alliance is monitoring guidance from our federal partners and ensuring the critical role of SBHCs are considered as federal legislation and regulatory guidance in response to this pandemic moves forward. [SBHA is] also working closely with other national partner organizations to coordinate efforts to support access to school-based health care, both in the short and long term.
While the long term response to this pandemic will be complex and multi-pronged, one immediate policy priority on which [SBHA is] focused is removing barriers (both payment and operational) to high quality telemedicine services for the tens of millions of students impacted by school closures across the country. As federal and state governments take the initial steps to loosen restrictions, [SBHA is] focused on providing our field and other health and education partners with appropriate guidance and best practices.
Resources:
For regularly updated information on changes to telemedicine coverage policies due to COVID-19, please visit the Center for Connected Health Policy
For current guidance on COVID-19 for schools, workplaces and community locations, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
KING COUNTY SCHOOL HEALTH 