A Message from the American College of Rheumatology on COVID-19...
The American College of Rheumatology, in coordination with state societies, is acting swiftly to address the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. We are focusing our efforts on areas that are most critical to you, your practice, and your patients. The ACR has developed several new practice resources and compiled pertinent information to help you navigate new and unexpected challenges as they arise. The information below highlights some of the information that is likely most important to you. Please continue to monitor the announcements and breaking news on the ACR website during this rapidly evolving situation as they provide additional information when it becomes available.
ACR Telehealth Guidance and Resources for Your Practice
CMS announced several new policies for coding and billing telehealth, including Medicare coverage for telephone-only services and significant additions to the list of covered services such as physical and occupational therapy e-visits. The ACR has updated the Telemedicine Provider Fact Sheet to reflect these updates and has created several new coding resources to assist with telehealth technology, as well as a quick reference guide on payer requirements for coding and billing. Since telehealth coding and billing policies are evolving rapidly, the ACR will continue to make updates as new information becomes available.
Advice for Talking to Patients About Shortages of Hydroxychloroquine
Patients who take hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are facing a medication shortage, and providers who care for rheumatology patients are facing disparate policy recommendations for prescribing and allocation of antimalarials. The following are suggested points that rheumatology professionals may wish to consider when discussing this difficult issue with patients.
https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/Talking-to-Patients-About-HCQ-Shortage.pdf
ACR Develops Infusion Guidance Best Practices
Patient access to office-based infusion services is a top priority for rheumatology practices and with the COVID-19 crisis, the ACR has created infusion guidance to keep rheumatology practices up to date with relevant information to navigate this complex landscape.
https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/ACR-Infusion-Guidance-COVID-19.pdf
Health and Human Services Emergency Fund Disbursements to Practices
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is disbursing the first $30 billion of the $100 billion Congress allocated to hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare providers in the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. These distributions are reflective of the advocacy requests made by the ACR, the AMA, and other physician societies in response to challenges being faced during the COVID-19 emergency. HHS has confirmed these relief funds are emergency payments, not loans, to healthcare providers and they will not need to be repaid.
https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/CARES-Act-Provider-Aid-Disbursement.pdf
ACR State Letter for Recommendations for Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine Usage
The ACR led and coordinated an effort with 52 other partner organizations to send a letter outlining guidelines for the appropriate use of HCQ during the COVID-19 pandemic to every governor, lieutenant governor, insurance commissioner, and board of pharmacy in the United States. State societies were key partners in this effort to protect access to HCQ for rheumatology patients. Individual physicians use the letter as a guidepost and can modify the letter for their own advocacy purposes.
https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/State-level-HCQ-sign-on.pdf
Relevant Emergency Orders and Information for Pennsylvania
Add to the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Registry
https://csro.info/news/2020-04-08-covid-19-global-rheumatology-alliance.aspx
Gov. Wolf’s Response to COVID-19
https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/
Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 Resource Center
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
Pennsylvania Department of Health Guidance for Healthcare Providers
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Health-Care-Professionals.aspx
Pennsylvania Medical Society Coronavirus Resource Center
https://www.pamedsoc.org/education-cme/public-health/corona-virus
Pennsylvania Professional Licensing Board Suggestions for Chloroquine Prescriptions
https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/Documents/Prescribing-Suggestions-for-Hydroxychloroquine.pdf
Additionally, If you are experiencing COVID-19 related drug shortages, practice issues, or any other problems, the ACR has created an inbox solely devoted to those concerns. Share your comments and questions with them at COVID@rheumatology.org.
ACR Links
Announcements - https://www.rheumatology.org/announcements
COVID-19 Breaking News - https://www.rheumatology.org/Announcements/Breaking-News
COVID-19 Practice and Advocacy Resources - https://www.rheumatology.org/Announcements/COVID-19-Practice-and-Advocacy
ACR Telehealth Guidance and Resources for Your Practice
CMS announced several new policies for coding and billing telehealth, including Medicare coverage for telephone-only services and significant additions to the list of covered services such as physical and occupational therapy e-visits. The ACR has updated the Telemedicine Provider Fact Sheet to reflect these updates and has created several new coding resources to assist with telehealth technology, as well as a quick reference guide on payer requirements for coding and billing. Since telehealth coding and billing policies are evolving rapidly, the ACR will continue to make updates as new information becomes available.
Advice for Talking to Patients About Shortages of Hydroxychloroquine
Patients who take hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are facing a medication shortage, and providers who care for rheumatology patients are facing disparate policy recommendations for prescribing and allocation of antimalarials. The following are suggested points that rheumatology professionals may wish to consider when discussing this difficult issue with patients.
https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/Talking-to-Patients-About-HCQ-Shortage.pdf
ACR Develops Infusion Guidance Best Practices
Patient access to office-based infusion services is a top priority for rheumatology practices and with the COVID-19 crisis, the ACR has created infusion guidance to keep rheumatology practices up to date with relevant information to navigate this complex landscape.
https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/ACR-Infusion-Guidance-COVID-19.pdf
Health and Human Services Emergency Fund Disbursements to Practices
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is disbursing the first $30 billion of the $100 billion Congress allocated to hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare providers in the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. These distributions are reflective of the advocacy requests made by the ACR, the AMA, and other physician societies in response to challenges being faced during the COVID-19 emergency. HHS has confirmed these relief funds are emergency payments, not loans, to healthcare providers and they will not need to be repaid.
https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/CARES-Act-Provider-Aid-Disbursement.pdf
ACR State Letter for Recommendations for Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine Usage
The ACR led and coordinated an effort with 52 other partner organizations to send a letter outlining guidelines for the appropriate use of HCQ during the COVID-19 pandemic to every governor, lieutenant governor, insurance commissioner, and board of pharmacy in the United States. State societies were key partners in this effort to protect access to HCQ for rheumatology patients. Individual physicians use the letter as a guidepost and can modify the letter for their own advocacy purposes.
https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/State-level-HCQ-sign-on.pdf
Relevant Emergency Orders and Information for Pennsylvania
Add to the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Registry
https://csro.info/news/2020-04-08-covid-19-global-rheumatology-alliance.aspx
Gov. Wolf’s Response to COVID-19
https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/
Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID-19 Resource Center
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
Pennsylvania Department of Health Guidance for Healthcare Providers
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Health-Care-Professionals.aspx
Pennsylvania Medical Society Coronavirus Resource Center
https://www.pamedsoc.org/education-cme/public-health/corona-virus
Pennsylvania Professional Licensing Board Suggestions for Chloroquine Prescriptions
https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/Documents/Prescribing-Suggestions-for-Hydroxychloroquine.pdf
Additionally, If you are experiencing COVID-19 related drug shortages, practice issues, or any other problems, the ACR has created an inbox solely devoted to those concerns. Share your comments and questions with them at COVID@rheumatology.org.
ACR Links
Announcements - https://www.rheumatology.org/announcements
COVID-19 Breaking News - https://www.rheumatology.org/Announcements/Breaking-News
COVID-19 Practice and Advocacy Resources - https://www.rheumatology.org/Announcements/COVID-19-Practice-and-Advocacy
