Presentations and References

Below are links to the websites we reviewed on our May 28 PPLLC Clinical Call.  

Mass.gov links 

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-informationmain page on the Mass.gov website for COVID info

https://www.mass.gov/lists/reopening-health-and-human-services-in-massachusettsmain page for Massachusetts HHS reopening plan. There are many other resources you can link to from this main page

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-mandatory-safety-standards-for-workplaces#cleaning-and-disinfecting-safety standards for workplace cleaning and disinfecting

CDC.gov links

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.htmlCDC main page for information, see links on the left side bar for:

Communities, Schools and workplaces

• Cleaning and Disinfecting
• Businesses & Workplaces

                     § Employer information for office buildings

Healthcare Professionals

Dr. Jeremy Whyman shares resources on  how to effectively communicate with elderly patients about their care. Click here

https://www.capc.org/toolkits/covid-19-response-resources/ and Under: What's in the Toolkit, click on communication scripts and conversation videos (for assistance with conversation, framing). 

Also follow this link https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/post-hospital-syndrome-tips-to-keep-yourself-or-a-loved-one-healthy-after-hospitalization-2019012315830  to find symptom management protocols for assistance with acute symptom management at home.

The Division of Insurance (DOI) and the Center for Health Information Analysis (CHIA) will host a series of provider information Q&A sessions focused on bulletins and executive orders that have changed the way health plans must do business during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The first session will be on telehealth and is scheduled for Thursday, April 23.  Find call-in details here.    

The following  home hospice agencies are currently treating COVID-19 patients:

• Good Shepherd
• Norwell
• Seasons Hospice
• VNA Hospice
• Cranberry
• The Hospice of Fisher Home
• Hebrew Senior Life

We also encourage you to sign up to access the Experian Public Service Portal, which will offer you real-time payer policy updates during the COVID-19 pandemic. First-time users will need to complete a simple welcome form to access the portal. 

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced an initial $30 billion in immediate relief funds that will be distributed to all Medicare billing facilities and providers starting today. Providers will receive a portion of the $30 billion based on their share of 2019 Medicare-fee-for-service (FFS) revenue (payable to the organization's Tax Identification Number), and must sign an attestation confirming receipt of the funds and agree to the terms and conditions within 30 days of receiving payment. 

 In order to increase cash flow to providers of services and suppliers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the CMS has expanded its current Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to a broader group of Medicare Part A providers and Part B suppliers. The expansion of this program is only for the duration of the public health emergency. Details on the eligibility, and the request process can be reached through the link below. The information reflects the passage of the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136). 

 https://www.cms.gov/files/document/Accelerated-and-Advanced-Payments-Fact-Sheet.pdf 

BILH hospitals have a continued need for swabs to do COVID-19 testing.  There is also a need for other PPE supplies.  If you have any of these supplies that you can donate, please reach out to the donation contacts below for BIDMC and  LGH; other BILH hospital contacts will be posted on www.bilh.org :

BIDMC: Ann Messenger at (617) 632-9766 to arrange a drop-off time at 375 Longwood Ave

LGH: Caitlyn Mundry at caitlin.mundry@lawrencegeneral.org

Swab Prioritization List:

Preferred: 

• E-Swab by Copan (Catalogue # 481C and 482C) with regular or flex minitip applicator
• Opti-Swab by Puritan (Catalogue # LA-117), swab included in kit (Catalog#3317-H).

2nd Line:

• Puritan: 25-3317-H, 25-3316-U, 25-3316-H, 25-3317-U, 25-3318-U, 25-3318-H, 25-3319-H, 25-3320-U, 25-3320-U EMB 100MM, 25-3320-U EMB 80MM, 25-3320-H and 25-3320-H EMB 80MM
• Copan: 501CS01, 503CS01, 516CS01, 518CS01 and 534CS01

Alternative if None Above Available:

• Hologic Aptima Unisex Swab Specimen Collection Kit for Endocervical and Male Urethral Swab Specimens 
• DO NOT PURCHASE APTIMA MULTITEST SWAB KIT 

Other Donations 

• N95 respirators
• Surgical/procedural masks
• Face shield masks
• Disposable gowns
• Goggles/eye protection
• Bleach wipes
• Non-bleach wipes
• Nitrile gloves
• Hand sanitizer

Mass Medical Society recently posted an article on their website from the Texas Medical Association, outlining the key functionality of the various telemedicine products as reported by the vendors on their own websites. TMA has not vetted these companies but wanted to provide information for physicians seeking to implement telemedicine into their practice. This list is not exhaustive and is separated by companies offering stand-alone products and those that have electronic health record (EHR) integrations. Be sure to execute a business associate agreement with the telemedicine vendor. 

 http://www.massmed.org/Patient-Care/COVID-19/Telehealth-Vendor-Options/ 

 There is currently an urgent need for blood. Red Cross is employing measures to comply with social distancing recommendations and is willing and able to collect donors. Staff at the American Red Cross are trained to collect blood from donors in a safe manner. It is very easy to schedule an appointment to donate via the American Red Cross website. Prospective donors can find the nearest center by entering their zip codes and they will be given a list of the closest donation locations as well as the products the site is collecting that day. These facilities are trained to collect donors in a way to minimize contact between people.  

 The AMA has opened up their newsletter to all physicians on our Morning Rounds Daily list to deliver up-to-date guides and articles on the Coronavirus.  One specific resource is  a quick guide to support physicians and practices in expediting the implementation of telemedicine Click on the link below to access. 

https://mailview.bulletinhealthcare.com/mailview.aspx 

On 3/23/2020 CMS released Frequently Asked Questions on Medicare Provider Enrollment Relief related to COVID-19 including the toll-free hotlines available to provide expedited enrollment and answer questions related to COVID-19 enrollment requirements.

This relief includes a postponement on revalidation actions.

A copy of the FAQs can be found here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/provider-enrollment-relief-faqs-covid-19.pdf