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COVID-19: NMA Physician Resources

IMPORTANT UPDATES

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Public Health (DPH) is hosting a series of informational calls to discuss infection prevention and guidance for COVID-19.

DHHS Informational Calls for Infection Prevention Guidance - Acute Healthcare Facilities

Wednesdays (recurring)
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CT
Dial-In Number: (415) 655-0003

Meeting number (access code): 145 798 2033
Meeting password: CZrsx8m2HM3

WEBEX LINK

This will be a reoccurring call which will take place on Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m. CT. There is no obligation to attend these meetings, but more to provide updated guidance and answer any questions acute healthcare facilities may have.

All previous and future calls and slides can be found through the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) website located here: https://www.nebraskahospitals.org/coronavirus-covid-19-information.html

PPE Request Form
If you need to request PPE you can complete the online form and submit your requests directly to DHHS.

ONLINE FORM

Accommodations for First Responders to Quarantine at Participating Hotels in an Effort to Protect Their Families From Exposure

OFFICIAL STATEMENT (3/20/2020): Nebraska Medical Association is calling upon all healthcare facilities in Nebraska to follow recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance on delaying elective non-essential medical procedures, surgeries, and tests until the COVID-19 public health emergency has been lifted by Governor Ricketts. READ FULL STATEMENT
CMS Adult Elective Surgery and Procedures Recommendations: Limit all non-essential planned surgeries and procedures, including dental, until further notice.

American Medical Association, American Pharmacists Association, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists joint statement on Inappropriate Ordering, Prescribing or Dispensing of Medications to Treat COVID-19.

Laboratory Testing Capacity Survey - The NMA is partnering with Dr. Williams at DHHS to collect detailed information on the laboratory testing available in clinics and physician offices. We encourage you to please complete this survey to provide us with the most accurate information about the available testing capacity. If you have any questions on this please contact Amy Reynoldson at 402-440-8196.

PAYERS/TELEHEALTH

Summary: Telehealth Expansion in Response to COVID-19 from Cline Williams In an unprecedented move to respond to the public health emergency caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded access to Medicare telehealth services and agreed to pay for professional telehealth services in all areas of the country and settings of care.

Quick Guides and Toolkits

American Medical Association (AMA) has designed a quick guide to support physicians and practices in expediting the implementation of telemedicine, so care can continue to be provided to those who need it most:

AMA Quick Guide

Access the CMS General Provider Telehealth and Telemedicine Toolkit:

CMS Telehealth Toolkit

CPT Reporting for COVID-19

CPT reporting for COVID-19 testing:a quick-reference flowchart.

CMS

CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Payment Attestation Portal

CMS issues new guidance to state and local governments, as well as nursing home, to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes.

Medicare Advance Payments for COVID-19 Emergency - In order to help physicians and other providers, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded its Accelerated and Advance Payment Program for the duration of the public health emergency. CMS is authorized to provide accelerated or advance payments during the period of the public health emergency to any Medicare physician, provider or supplier who submits a request to the appropriate Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) and meets the required qualifications. This is also included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

CMS Announces Relief for Clinicians, Providers, Hospitals and Facilities Participating in Quality Reporting Programs in Response to COVID-19

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a number of new policies to help physicians and hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic:
CMS Fact Sheet: Physicians and Other Clinicians: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19
CMS Press Release 3-30-2020: Trump Administration Makes Sweeping Regulatory Changes to Help U.S. Healthcare System Address COVID-19 Patient Surge
CMS payment policies and regulatory flexibilities related to COVID-19.

Medicare Telemedicine Healthcare Provider Fact Sheet
Medicaid COVID-19 Provider Bulletin
Medicaid Coverage of Testing
Medicaid & Long-Term Care Coronavirus – COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (with telehealth info)

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Updates BCBS Telehealth Policy BCBS NE has updated their telehealth policy to include new telehealth codes. We will allow synchronous and asynchronous telehealth with reimbursement for time-based codes. For the pandemic situation and until further notice BCBS will allow MD, NP and PA to provide telehealth services from the office or home to patients at home. No video component will be required during this pandemic urgency period. Please use a 95 modifier and POS 02 for all telehealth charges during this pandemic timeframe.
Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications During the COVID-19 Nationwide Public Health Emergency: OCR will exercise its enforcement discretion and will not impose penalties for noncompliance with the regulatory requirements under the HIPAA Rules against covered health care providers in connection with the good faith provision of telehealth during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency. This notification is effective immediately.

BCBS COVID-19 Latest information (with teleheath)

MEDICA

MEDICA Telehealth Information
MEDICA Code List
Emergency Telemedicine Policy

United Healthcare

UHC COVID-19 telehealth services
Telehealth and Telemedicine Policy Update

AMA Special Coding Advice: Coding Scenarios

Coding Scenarios: helps health care professionals apply best coding practices for telehealth services for all patients. Includes coding for when a patient: comes to the office for E/M visit and is tested for COVID-19 during the visit; receives a telehealth visit re: COVID-19 and is directed to come to physician office or physician’s group practice site for testing; receives a virtual check-in/online visit re: COVID-19 (not related to E/M visit), and is directed to come to physician office for testing.

Backline Telehealth Partnership with NMA

Backline Telehealth by Dr.First Offers Discounted Rates When Signing Up with NMA Promo Code

Backline makes telehealth and care collaboration easy. A simple text from the provider using Backline goes straight to the patient’s mobile phone to initiate a secure, HIPAA-compliant virtual visit. There’s no patient registration process or app for patients to download. There are no limits on usage or per-session fees. Plus, Backline gives you communication features you won’t find in other telemedicine offerings. Please join us in combatting the spread of the coronavirus. Connect with patients in virtual visits and share information between your staff, family members, caretakers, and outside providers in real-time—all in a convenient, HIPAA-compliant solution.

More about Backline for Telehealth
Backline Telehealth Quick User Guide
Sign Up Link (be sure to use association code NMA to receive the NMA rate!) If you are a clinic with more than 10 physicians and would like to sign up, contact Curt Hess directly to receive an additional discount. You can reach him at chess@drfirst.com or 717-309-4771.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Premium Deferment and Other Support from COPIC – NMA-Endorsed Medical Liability Insurance Carrier COPIC is committed to supporting NMA and its members during this time. One of the ways COPIC is doing this is by lessening the financial impact of COVID-19 for its policyholders.

COPIC policyholders have the option of deferring their premium payments until September 1, 2020.
The deferment option is available for both new and existing policyholders, including those who choose to switch their coverage to COPIC midterm.
No late payment or finance charges.

In addition, COPIC policyholders have direct access to expert support to help navigate COVID-19 challenges through its Legal and HR Helplines, as well as a 24/7 Risk Management Hotline, which connects you with an experienced physician. COPIC has also set up a COVID-19 Physician Program policy that will provide temporary liability coverage that can be accessed by existing policyholders who have a need. Contact your current agent or contact Kristin Stepien at 800-421-1834 x 6186 + kstepien@copic.com.

Telehealth Program Funding Opportunity from FCC The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Wireline Competition Bureau is now accepting applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. The COVID-19 Telehealth Program will provide immediate support to eligible health care providers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by fully funding their telecommunications services, information services, and devices necessary to provide critical connected care services until the program's funds have been expended or the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. The FCC also released a webinar for this program. This video walks through the application process for the FCC's COVID-19 Telehealth Program online application portal and provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the process. For more information, go to https://www.fcc.gov/covid-19-telehealth-program.

4-9-2020 Treasury and Federal Reserve Board Announce New and Expanded Lending Programs to Provide up to $2.3 Trillion in Financing READ FULL PRESS RELEASE. For more information and Treasury Department updates on program implementation under the CARES Act, visit www.Treasury.gov/CARES.

Federal COVID-19 Financial Assistance – The NMA has compiled information specific to the COVID-19 financial assistance that is currently available including the eligibility, loan details, and direct links to apply.

Navigating Resources to Temporarily Reduce Clinic Staff Webinar (4-6-2020): The NMA partnered with Cline Williams law firm to provide a webinar for physicians on how to navigate the potential temporary reduction in clinic staff or closures. Many of you had inquired about how to handle FMLA, paid leave, insurance, etc. during this very uncertain time. Presenters included Michael Pallesen, Jill Jensen, and Henry Wiedrich.

Recorded Presentation
PowerPoint Slides

traNslated COVID-19 RESOURCES

Two videos have been translated into six different languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Karen, Somali, Nepalese and French.

These cover the topics of: 10 ways to stay healthy and keep one’s family healthy during the pandemic, and Tips on what to do if you or a family member becomes ill or is exposed to the virus. The videos are available on both the YouTube channels of Nebraska Impact and Governor Ricketts:

· https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO7HhZBL6CeI5WVcUNpyy3w/videos

· https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcDw3_CGhTVcVtxoGKRkjlQ/videos

Additionally, each of the videos has accompanying flyers that can be downloaded and printed. Please consider printing the flyers and displaying in your facility. https://neimpact.org/covid-resources. Feel free to use these resources for social media and in communications with your patients and staff.

COVID-19 TESTING

Laboratory Testing Capacity Survey - The NMA is partnering with Dr. Williams at DHHS to collect detailed information on the laboratory testing available in clinics and physician offices. We encourage you to please complete this survey to provide us with the most accurate information about the available testing capacity. If you have any questions on this please contact Amy Reynoldson at 402-440-8196.

Updated guidelines for laboratory testing for COVID-19
DHHS Provider Bulletin on Covid-19 Testing

STATE AND NATIONAL RESOURCES

Click below to be connected to state and national resources.

American Medical Association

H.R. 748, the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (CARES Act)
Health Care Highlights
AMA COVID-19 (2019 novel coronavirus) resource center for physicians
A Physicians Guide to COVID-19
What doctors need to do if exposed

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

CDC Offical COVID-19 site
CDC Information Line 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY 888-232-6348 Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. CT (English and Spanish) Extended hours for coronavirus disease 2019 questions only: Saturday – Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. CT (English) You can also submit a question to CDC Info via email - https://wwwn.cdc.gov/dcs/ContactUs/Form
Steps Facilities can Take to Prepare for Coronavirus Disease 2019
Interim Guidance for Healthcare Facilities
Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators

DHHS

DHHS COVID-19 site
DHHS COVID 19 Updated Recommendations (3-19-2020) Included:

Who should have a COVID-19 lab test—testing capacity is still limited
Use of clinical diagnosis instead of laboratory confirmation
STRICT self-isolation for anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 infection (broader case definition)
Send COVID tests to commercial labs; for high-priority cases, use NE Public Health Lab
Advice for travelers: need to self-isolate and practice social distancing
How long to stay in self-isolation

Health Care Providers, Clinics, and Facilities Testing InformatioN from DHHS (updated 3/16/2020)

Nebraska Rheumatology Society-Letter to Governor Ricketts re:Hydroxychloroquine

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued guidance to DEA-registered physicians providing new flexibility for physicians managing patients with opioid use disorder. The new guidance permits physicians and other health professionals with a waiver allowing them to prescribe buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder to issue these prescriptions to new and existing patients based on an evaluation via telephone. The new policy is effective from March 31 for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency.