Vaccine locations and appointment scheduling information is provided by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Physicians should visit the NYC COVID-19 vaccination website regularly as it will be updated with new information. The Department is working on expanding location sites and capacity at current sites to ensure physicians and their staff are vaccinated as quickly as possible.
--For Physicians Who Want to Volunteer to Administer the Vaccine:
Register with ServNY, to add yourself to the web-based registry of volunteers and to verify your credentials. When potential volunteers are needed, you will be contacted by phone or email to determine if you are eligible for an assignment. Physicians, residents, students and retired physicians are eligible to sign up as volunteers.
If you need assistance, please cal the NYS Department of Health at 1-866-529-1890 (option 1) or ServNY at 1-518-408-5163.
Updates and Materials Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Roll Out
New York State Department of Health - Weeks 1-5 Vaccine Plan Guidance for Phase 1A Population,NYSDOHGuidance for Facilities, Providers, and Local Health Departments Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine Weeks 1-5 New York State Vaccination Program Phase 1A Only (also attached). This information is continuously updated as new information is released, so it is advised to save the link for future reference. It contains detailed guidance on week-to-week vaccination prioritization and location.
As part of the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CMShas announced relief measures for providers who are bound to participate in its quality reporting programs, including the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Changes include the following:
Deadline extension: CMS is extending the deadline for submission of 2019 MIPS data from March 31, 2020 to April 30, 2020.
Automatic Qualification: If no MIPS data is submitted by MIPS-eligible clinicians by the April 30 deadline, those clinicians will automatically qualify for the existing “extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policy” and will be guaranteed a neutral (0%) Medicare Part B payment adjustment for the 2021 MIPS payment year.
Note: CME is currently evaluating options for providing relief for MIPS reporting in 2020, with data submission due in March 2021, which affect Medicare payments in 2022.
The US Small Business Administration has released guidance and loan resources for small businesses, including private practices.
DO Advocacy Around COVID-19
Physicians and healthcare workers on the front lines are in desperate need of personal protective equipment. We’re encouraging physicians to tell congressional leaders to act now, and share how COVID-19 is impacting their ability to care for their patients.
As more of the U.S. population is asked to shelter in place, telehealth has become more important than ever. Links below for telehealth guidance and more information about expanded coverage of telehealth by CMS and private payers.
Additionally, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is allowing access to a variety of telehealth platforms, and relaxing HIPAA enforcement of communication tools for virtual visits. Physicians may use popular applications that allow for video chats, including Apple FaceTime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangouts video, or Skype. Physicians should not use Facebook Live, Twitch, TikTok or other public facing communication services.
States can cover telehealth using various methods of communication such as telephonic, video technology commonly available on smart phones and other devices. No federal approval is needed for state Medicaid programs to reimburse providers for telehealth services in the same manner or at the same rate that states pay for face-to-face services. For more information on this announcement, read the HHS Fact Sheet.
NYS Department of Financial Services (3/17/2020): New regulatory actions state New Yorkers do not have to pay co-payments, coinsurance, or annual deductibles for in-network telehealth services
NYS Medicaid: Guidance for use of telehealth (including Telephonic) services during the COVID-19 state of emergency
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) created a new ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (U07.1) for the virus. Providers should use this new diagnosis code, where appropriate, for discharges on or after April 1, 2020.
In addition, CMS has updated the ICD-10 MS-DRG GROUPER software package to accommodate the new ICD-10-CM diagnosis code currently available on the CMS webpage. This updated GROUPER software package (V37.1 R1) replaces the GROUPER software package V37.1. For detailed information regarding the assignment of new diagnosis code U07.1, COVID-19, under the ICD-10 MS-DRGs, visit the MS-DRG Classifications and Software webpage.
New Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for coronavirus testing and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Codes have been established for COVID-19 testing. To determine whether to use the CPT or HCPCS code, contact the third-party payer directly.
CMS established the following HCPCS codes: U0001 is used specifically for CDC testing laboratories, whereas HCPCS code U0002 is intended for non-CDC laboratory tests. To keep up to date with CMS guidance and announcements, visit the Current Emergencies website.
Physician Wellness
HEADSPACE-meditation app, currently offering Free access (usually $70/year) for healthcare workers.
Decompress - a podcast by Anthony Back, for healthcare workers.
Simple Habit - a 5-min meditation app designed to help busy people stress less, achieve more, and live better.
