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Tags Posts tagged with "COVID-19"

COVID-19

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a revised Medicare Learning Network (MLN) fact sheet on telehealth services. A number of changes have been made due to the end of the public health emergency (PHE), including the following items:

  • Information on the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency as well as CY 2023 and telehealth policies.
  • Status of Ongoing Flexibilities:
    • Through December 31, 2024, all patients can get telehealth wherever they are located. They do not need to be at an originating site, and there are no geographic restrictions.
    • Through December 31, 2024, all providers who are eligible to bill Medicare for professional services can provide distant site telehealth.
    • For behavioral or mental health telehealth, you may use 2-way, interactive, audio-only technology. This is also part of the PA Telehealth Statute under Act 98.
  • Additional Resources Provided:
    • Chapter 12, Section 190 of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual
    • Telehealth Policy Changes After the COVID-19 PHE
    • Tips for Telehealth Success
  • Added information on:
    • New G-codes. Starting January 1, 2023, you may voluntarily report the use of telehealth technology in providing home health (HH) services on HH payment claims. See MLN Matters Article MM12805 for more information.
    • Consent for care management and virtual communication services.

Providers are encouraged to review this document closely and bookmark it for future reference.

As RCPA continues its efforts to expand access via telehealth in Pennsylvania, we will be submitting comments on the new Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). RCPA will be sending out a communication on this in the coming days.

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Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 23-057: Obsoleting Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Communication. This notifies stakeholders that COVID-19 communications generated by the Office of Developmental Programs have been obsoleted, with several exceptions. Please review the announcement for additional information and detail.

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Image by PIRO4D from Pixabay

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 23-056: COVID-19 Outbreak Identification and Reporting Updates. The purpose of this announcement is to:

  1. Draw attention to the updated guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) describing how to identify and report COVID-19 outbreaks originating within the healthcare facility.
  2. Provide updated guidance to providers of the Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) home and community-based services (HCBS) and Private ICF/IDs regarding which facilities may appropriately be considered healthcare settings.

Please review the announcement for additional information.

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Medical insurance and Medicaid and stethoscope.

Join Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN) on May 22, 2023, at 1:00 pm for a community conversation about Medicaid waivers. Amy Lowenstein, Director of Policy, and Pamela Putnam Silver, Supervising Attorney from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, will discuss:

  • The end of COVID-era policies in the CHC and OBRA waivers and what they mean for those applying or receiving waiver services;
  • What to expect from the waiver renewal process;
  • Addressing changes in income and resources that may impact eligibility;
  • Where to go for help; and
  • Any questions and concerns.

Register for the meeting here.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Department of Health has updated “Recommendations Regarding the Monovalent and Bivalent mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines.” A summary of these updates include:

  • The FDA announced on April 18, 2023, that it had rescinded the authorization for the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech and monovalent Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and that the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech and bivalent Moderna vaccines are now authorized for all doses for individuals 6 months and older.
  • The FDA authorization for the Novavax vaccine is unchanged.
  • The definition of up-to-date for COVID-19 vaccination was simplified, and now all individuals 6 years and older who have received a single dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of past history of receiving monovalent COVID-19 vaccine, are considered up-to-date.
  • Children 6 months through 4 years of age who are unvaccinated may receive a 2-dose series of the Moderna bivalent or a 3-dose series of the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine.
  • Children who are 5 years old and are unvaccinated may receive 2 doses of the Moderna bivalent vaccine or 1 dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine.
  • Children 6 months to 5 years of age who received one, two, or three doses of monovalent COVID-19 vaccine may receive bivalent vaccine, but the number of doses that they receive will depend upon the vaccine given and their vaccination history.
  • Individuals 65 and older and those with certain immunocompromising conditions may choose to receive an additional dose of the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech or bivalent Moderna vaccine.
  • If you have any questions, please call PA DOH at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258) or your local health department.

You can view the entire health advisory here.

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Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be hosting an informational National Office Hours call on April 25, 2023, at 3:30 pm. The call will focus on the ending of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) that will take place on May 11, 2023, and will help providers, facilities, and people with Medicare prepare. CMS leaders and expert staff will present an overview of the effects of the PHE’s ending on the current waivers and flexibilities and then answer questions.

In preparation for this webinar, CMS encourages participants to review the following resources to determine what questions remain that will support your efforts after the end of the PHE:

Speakers:

  • CMS Leaders from the Office of the Administrator, Center for Medicare, and Center for Clinical Standards and Quality
  • CMS Subject Matter Experts on Medicare policy and PHE-related waivers and flexibilities

RSVP — Register Here

After registering, a confirmation email will be sent containing information about joining the call. When you select the link to join the call on April 25, you will see a message stating that the host will allow you to join the event momentarily. Please continue to wait at that screen until the CMS team opens the call and admits everyone.

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