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.

Access AMA Quick Guide     

Also, the CMS General Provider Telehealth and Telemedicine Toolkit:  

 CMS Telehealth Toolkit    

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

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)

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)

UHC COVID-19 telehealth services

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 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. 

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

AMA COVID-19 (2019 novel coronavirus) resource center for physicians
A Physicians Guide to COVID-19
What doctors need to do if exposed

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

WHO Official Site