COVID-19
April 1, 2020
ASHEVILLE AND CULLOWHEE, NC – The Western Carolina Medical Society (WCMS) is working in collaboration with Western Carolina University (WCU) to identify available resources for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Western North Carolina and beyond. If you possess non-essential and unused Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that you’re willing to donate, please contact WCMS Program Director, Nadia Z. Mazza, at nadia@mywcms.org. WCMS and WCU are organizing a comprehensive list of what’s available in an effort to connect those in need of PPE with those who have the capacity to donate. If you are a medical practice or community-based non-profit in need of PPE, please contact Nadia. If you are working on a similar initiative, please reach out to Nadia to collaborate and avoid duplicate efforts.
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March 31, 2020
Overview of CDC’s new guidelines following PPE shortages due to COVID-19
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March 31, 2020
At President Trump’s direction, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today is issuing an unprecedented array of temporary regulatory waivers and new rules to equip the American healthcare system with maximum flexibility to respond to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. CMS sets and enforces essential quality and safety standards for the nation’s healthcare system, and is the nation’s largest health insurer serving more than 140 million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Federal Exchanges.
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March 31, 2020
Provisions that will benefit physicians and physician practices.
• Small business loans. Small businesses, including physician practices, with no more than 500 employees are eligible to apply for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) section 7(a) Payroll Protection Program. This allows a small business to apply to an SBA-approved lender for a loan of up to 250 percent of the business’ average monthly payroll costs to cover eight weeks of payroll as well as help with other expenses like rent, mortgage payments, and utilities. The maximum loan amount is $10 million. Sole-proprietors, independent contractors, and other selfemployed individuals are eligible. A loan can be forgiven based on maintaining employee and salary levels. For any portion of the loan that is not forgiven, the terms include a maximum term of 10 years, a maximum interest rate of four percent. Small businesses and organizations will be able to apply if they were harmed by COVID-19 between February 15, 2020 and June 30, 2020. This program is retroactive to February 15, 2020 and are available through June 30, 2020. (Division A)
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March 30, 2020
The outbreak of the Covid-19 virus is having a financial impact on private practices nationwide. Experts say that many practices are seeing a decline in patient volume as people try to avoid doctors’ offices unless they have no other choice, and that decline is expected to continue as the crisis broadens.
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March 30, 2020
On Friday the President signed the $2 trillion stimulus and COVID-19 relief package, which Congress approved last week. The AMA provided this brief overview of how the package might impact your medical practice.
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March 17, 2020
The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) recognizes that many primary care and outpatient clinics may be feeling overwhelmed with the vast amount of nearly hourly news about Covid-19 and are looking for easy access to practical information as they are on the frontlines of patient care.
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March 30, 2020
Trump Administration Provides Financial Relief for Medicare Providers
Action comes to aid providers and suppliers facing challenges in responding to COVID-19 pandemic
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March 30, 2020
This memo updates previous guidance shared on March 23rd, 2020. It is intended to provide the latest information to all North Carolina clinicians and laboratory staff regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Please read thoroughly as there are several updates, including:
• Updated criteria for submission of specimens to the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health
• Providers no longer asked to fill out person under investigation forms for patients tested for COVID-19
• Requirement for reporting of COVID-19-associated deaths
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March 30, 2020
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced an expansion of its accelerated and advance payment program for Medicare participating health care providers and suppliers, to ensure they have the resources needed to combat the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). This program expansion includes changes that were part of the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
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March 30, 2020
Latest Coronavirus Updates on Confirmed Cases
Watch the daily briefings from Buncombe County Public Health on the Coronavirus and preparedness efforts in Buncombe County.
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March 30, 2020
Curi has three options to support our insureds with financial hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
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March 30, 2020
COVID-19 cases could peak in Henderson County as far off as mid-May to early June, according to President and CEO of Pardee UNC Health Care Jay Kirby, adding that locally we are just now seeing “the outer bands of a hurricane.”
He shared his opinions based on recent models and data to the Henderson County Board of Commissioners Friday.
“Today I am not here to lead, guide or direct your governance, what I am here today is to tell you what Pardee hospital, its frontline nurses and its medical staff are up against,” Kirby said.
He explained that the data he is receiving from medical experts is alarming.
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March 30, 2020
Our community is engaged in a battle with an invisible enemy; COVID-19. Each day brings new reports of shuttered businesses, layoffs and furloughs, and children unable to attend school. These are the moments that define communities, and ours will be defined by its willingness to help one another. It is this spirit that has driven the creation of the “One Buncombe” Fund. Together we will get through this.
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March 30, 2020
Governor Roy Cooper issued a statewide stay-at-home order this afternoon. Below is the NCMS' statement to the media in response to the order.
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March 27, 2020
Effective Monday, March 30, 2020, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is temporarily modifying enhanced behavioral health policies and telemedicine and telepsychiatry policies to better enable the delivery of remote care to Medicaid and state-funded beneficiaries during the COVID-19 outbreak. This will include dates of service on or after March 10, 2020 and will remain in effect until the State of Emergency is declared over or when this policy is rescinded.
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March 27, 2020
Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19)
We are writing about the outbreak on a regular basis, and plan to keep our clients updated about key issues as they happen. Bookmark this page to stay up to date.
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March 27, 2020
The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy has filed an emergency rule, effective April 1, 2020. Read the rule and notice for temporary rulemaking.
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March 26, 2020
Late Wednesday night the Senate approved a massive $2 trillion stimulus and COVID-19 relief package.
Provisions of particular interest to physicians and their practices include the following:
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March 26, 2020
Here are the instructions for how providers can request PPE:
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March 25, 2020
Telehealth in the setting of COVID-19 offers an essential solution for separating the sick and well. In this critical time, telehealth enables us to declutter waiting rooms, to provide ongoing monitoring for patients, and to reduce the exposure from ill persons with staff, other patients, and facilities. Telehealth is able not only to expand the reach of services to communities that have limited access, but also to minimize the exposure for both the health workers and patients who are at high risk for infection. Many clinics and medical offices already use these methods to triage and manage patients as part of usual practices. MAHEC is offering a free, region-wide ECHO (Extension in Community Healthcare Outcomes) to explore local ways to maximize the benefits of telehealth during the COVID-19 outbreak.
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March 25, 2020
In light of developing reports of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in North Carolina, the NC AHEC Program is committed to helping health care professionals, providers, and communities across our state access the most up-to-date information on COVID-19. This page will continue to be modified as new and updated resources are developed. https://www.ncahec.net/news/resources-and-courses-on-covid-19/
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March 25, 2020
New guidance from the AMA provides special coding advice during the COVID-19 public health emergency. One resource outlines coding scenarios designed to help health care professionals apply best coding practices. The scenarios include telehealth services for all patients.
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March 25, 2020
Dear friends and partners,
I am pleased to announce that earlier today, in partnership with the Golden LEAF Foundation, Thread Capital, and other nonprofit lenders throughout the state, the NC Rural Center launched a new emergency small business lending program in response to the ongoing economic impact of COVID-19 on North Carolina’s entrepreneurs and small-business owners.
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March 25, 2020
A1: There are numerous options when it comes to reporting visits that are not the traditional face-to-face office visit. This varies somewhat by payer, of course.
As you mention, on 3-17-20 Medicare has temporarily relaxed some of the geographic and security/privacy restrictions on Telehealth visits – including the office visit codes. This will allow patients to call your office, and as long as there is some type of combined audio/video communication between the provider and the patient – these ‘visits’ can be billed with the 99201-99215 series codes, adding the 95 modifier.
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March 24, 2020
The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is asking for medical volunteers to “bolster our health care system to ensure we can care for those impacted by the Covid-19 virus. A crucial part of that effort is recruiting volunteers to supplement our health care workforce. We are asking for your help to meet these needs,” wrote NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH in a letter to health care organizations.
Read the full letter. (PDF)
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March 24, 2020
STARTING A TELEHEALTH PROGRAM
What is the Different Between Telemedicine, Telehealth and Remote Monitoring?
Telemedicine typically refers to the practice of medicine using technology to deliver care at a distance. A physician/clinician in one location uses a telecommunications infrastructure to deliver care to a patient at a distant site. Telemedicine is a subset of telehealth.
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March 24, 2020
Raleigh
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has sought authority from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to temporarily waive certain Medicaid and NC Health Choice policies as part of North Carolina’s response to the COVID-19. The waivers will provide flexibility to NC Medicaid and providers to address the urgent health care needs of beneficiaries during this public health emergency.
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March 24, 2020
Dear Colleagues:
Apologies for so many communications, but in this rapidly evolving world we feel it is better to over communicate rather than leave you in the dark. The state released new guidance today which is attached and posted on our MissionandMe/COVID-19 website.
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March 24, 2020
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WCMS will continue to update this webpage with COVID-19 news and articles relevant to our WNC community
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March 24, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced approval of an additional 11 Section 1135 waiver requests, including North Carolina's, intended to give states and providers regulatory relief under Medicaid to respond to COVID-19. North Carolina submitted its waiver request on March 17. The waiver will help physicians and PAs address requirements for prior authorization for services, provider enrollment, fair hearings and appeals, nursing home pre-admission reviews, reimbursement to providers for care in alternative settings due to facility evacuations (telehealth), and public notice and deadlines for state plan amendments related to COVID-1. CMS Administrator Seema Verma emphasized that the agency “has been able to swiftly remove barriers and cut red tape for our state partners.”
Read more about North Carolina's waiver approval.
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March 24, 2020
As I mentioned in yesterday’s email, attached is the updated clinician guidance from NC DHHS with changes related to testing for COVID-19.
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March 23, 2020
Dear Colleagues:
We continue to hear concerns/need for clarification about PPE Guidance for patients suspected of having COVID-19. I have attached a slide set that delineates the current recommendations. Please review as soon as you can. It is imperative that we use our PPE judiciously as we move forward with unknown needs facing us.
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March 23, 2020
As you have likely heard this weekend, residents of several WNC counties, including Buncombe, were found to have lab-confirmed COVID-19. Our case count in Buncombe has continued to increase throughout the day today and we expect that to be the case for the coming days as well. Based on contact investigations that are underway, it is likely that we have local community spread.
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March 23, 2020
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced unprecedented relief for the clinicians, providers, and facilities participating in Medicare quality reporting programs including the 1.2 million clinicians in the Quality Payment Program and on the front lines of America’s fight against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
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March 23, 2020
Starting Monday, March 23, 2020 all “non-essential surgery” as defined by CMS guidance will be canceled.
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March 23, 2020
William R Hathaway M.D., CMO NC Division, HCA Healthcare
Anthony M. Spensieri, MD CMO Mission Hospital
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March 18, 2020
Limit all non-essential planned surgeries and procedures, including dental, until further notice
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March 20, 2020
As you may have heard yesterday afternoon, there is now documented community transmission of COVID-19 in North Carolina with a case identified in Wilson County. Data from NC and elsewhere in the US indicate that we are moving into the acceleration phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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March 20, 2020
Raleigh
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has sought authority from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to temporarily waive certain Medicaid and NC Health Choice policies as part of North Carolina’s response to the COVID-19. The waivers will provide flexibility to NC Medicaid and providers to address the urgent health care needs of beneficiaries during this public health emergency.
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March 19, 2020
Initiative launches as the world grapples with surging demand for medical care in the midst of COVID-19
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March 17, 2020
In light of the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is exercising its enforcement discretion and, effective immediately, will not impose penalties on physicians using telehealth in the event of noncompliance with the regulatory requirements under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
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March 10, 2020
Summary
A respiratory disease named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”) caused by a novel coronavirus named “SARS-CoV-2” was first detected in China in late 2019 and has subsequently spread to many other countries, including the United States. The World Health Organization announced a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30 and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency on January 31, 2020.
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March 11, 2020
The NC DHHS, Division of Public Health (DPH) and NC AHEC are partnering to enhance communication about and preparedness for COVID-19 by holding weekly forums for health care providers. The forums will be held on Fridays from 12:30 to 1:30 pm, beginning this Friday, March 13 and will continue until they are no longer needed.
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March 12, 2020
To facilitate greater access to testing for the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, NC DHHS encourages providers to submit specimens to LabCorp when the following conditions are met:
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March 16, 2020
This [COVID-19] remains a rapidly evolving situation of course, but as of noon today, there have been 23 cases (presumptive + and confirmed +) in NC.
Still no cases identified in Buncombe County or WNC at this time, although numerous tests are pending.
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March 16, 2020
Medical Staff COVID-19 Update: We are writing to communicate an update on COVID-19 testing guidelines and test availability. We recognize the challenges and appreciate the concerns with the historical limitations in testing access.
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March 16, 2020
Medical Practices, Community Partners, and Healthcare Providers:
We appreciate your efforts to assist with this evolving situation. In an effort to ensure that our community has access to supportive and lifesaving measures, effective and efficient multiagency coordination is a necessary strategy. This is occurring at a very high level through Buncombe County Emergency Operations Centers (EOC).
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March 16, 2020
Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) wants our community to know that their health and safety is our number one priority. Today, Macon County Public Health announced a presumptive positive case of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in a person who visited Buncombe County last week. This is the first known presumptive positive case of COVID-19 associated with Buncombe County.
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March 17, 2020
Updated Provider Guidance and Info on Buncombe County Community Testing Sites
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April 1, 2020
April 1, 2020
Asheville, North Carolina
A consortium of therapists and healers have formed “Care for Corona”, a grassroots support system comprised of therapists and healing practitioners who offer no-cost online sessions to Buncombe County medical personnel and psychotherapists who are reeling from the demands to care for our community.
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April 1, 2020
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) late yesterday 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.
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April 1, 2020
The North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) held an emergency meeting last Friday during which they took several actions to support the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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