Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
MPA Responses to COVID-19 Issues
Joint letter from MPA-APA to Insurers
Joint letter from MPA -APA to Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Anita G. Fox Director, Michigan
Department of Insurance and Financial Services
Telepsychology
4/4/2020: Licensure Related Matters and COVID-19
What the COVID-19 telehealth waiver means for psychology practitioners
Temporary changes to federal Medicare telehealth policies
How to make the most of telepsychology and steer clear of pitfalls
APA guidelines for the practice of telepsychology
Resources for MPA members, Students & the Public
General Resources
News reports about the coronavirus, together with speculation that it could become more widespread, are making some people anxious. Here are some tips to help you manage your anxiety and put news reports in perspective.
Baruch Fischhoff, PhD, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and an expert on public perception of risk and human judgment and decision-making, joins APA’s flagship podcast, Speaking of Psychology, to explain why we worry about new risks more than familiar ones, how to calm our anxiety and what are the psychological effects of being quarantined.
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress Coronavirus and Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreak
Psychology Training And Education Joint Statement - COVID-19
Insurance
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Medical Policy
https://mhealthintelligence.com/news/cms-finalizes-telehealth-expansion-for-medicare-advantage-plans
https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98158-521549--,00.html
UnitedHealthcare Addresses COVID-19
UnitedHealth Group Press Release – What We’re Doing
Optum: Check out the latest telehealth policy updates for behavioral health services, reimbursement and coding guidelines and member resources at our new COVID-19 Provider Hub on Provider Express.
To support this, consistent with an applicable Notice of Enforcement Discretion from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the Department of Health and Human Services (Notice ), on a temporary basis, health care providers, qualified and licensed in accordance with applicable regulations, may use audio or video communications technology immediately to deliver telephonic and telehealth care to Optum Behavioral Health plan members in addition to any HIPAA-approved telehealth technology as long as this method will effectively support the behavioral health needs of the individual member. Please note this policy applies temporarily to all benefit plans to cover telehealth services and there are other potentially applicable federal and state privacy laws that could impact this temporary accommodation.
CDC
Care providers can connect to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for health professionals, as well as travel advisories from the U.S. State Department.
CDC Resources for Health Care Facilities
Prepare to Care for COVID-19: Get Your Practice Ready
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE
Steps Healthcare Facilities Can Take
Interim Guidance for Healthcare Facilities
Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
On Tuesday, March 10, Michigan’s Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency as the state’s first positive cases of COVID-19 were identified. The emergency declaration enables the state to quickly deploy resources (equipment, supplies and/or personnel) to local jurisdictions to support their response efforts in combating the spread of COVID-19. The declaration places Michigan at a heightened state of preparedness for response. All Michiganders are encouraged to follow the recommendations from MDHHS and the CDC to protect themselves and slow the spread of COVID-19.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that her administration will expand access to telemedicine for Michiganders by immediately allowing Medicaid beneficiaries to receive services in their home while the state combats the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). In addition, insurance plans like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network of Michigan, Priority Health, Meridian, CVS Health, McLaren, and Health Alliance Plan also announced that they will cover and encourage the use of virtual care and telemedicine, as well as waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing.
Governor Whitmer and Michigan Department of Insurance & Financial Services (DIFS) Director Anita Fox also called on the Trump administration to allow for a special enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act (www.healthcare.gov) to allow more Americans, including Michiganders, to sign up for coverage and help mitigate the spread of COVID-19."
(https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90640-521549--,00.html)
News Releases from the Executive Office of the Governor
Due to Executive Order 2020-30, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is allowing individuals with a temporary limited license or a limited license that expires and whose exams were canceled due to COVID-19 to remain valid for an additional 6-month term in order for applicants to sit for their exams and complete remaining requirements for limited or full licensure. https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90705-523481--,00.html
Michigan Department of HHS
4/3/2020: APPLYING HHS’S GUIDANCE FOR STATES AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ON AVOIDING DISABILITY-BASED DISCRIMINATION IN TREATMENT RATIONING
What Michigan is Doing
Michigan EMS Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Response
COVID-19 Guidance for Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors
Michigan 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Person Under Investigation (PUI) and Case
Hospital to Post-Acute Care Transfer Form for COVID-19
Guidance for Health Care Facilities for Admission of COVID
Guidance for Health Care Facilities for Discharge of COVID
Guidance for Health Care Facilities for EM of COVID
Dental Practice Guidance for COVID-19
Guidance for Substance Use Disorder Treatment Providers During COVID-19
Medicaid Telemedicine Expansion: MSA Bulletin 20-09; associated with 03/12/20 Press Release
Medicaid Programs Relax Face-to-Face Requirement: MSA 20-12
MSA Bulletin 20-13; temporarily allows telephonic services associated with expanded telemedicine services in the above linked policy
Medicaid Provider COVID-19 Guidance: Numbered Letter L 20-16
CMS
CMS just announced a very important telehealth expansion in Medicare.
Click HERE for the good news for psychologists in APA’s new Practice Information Hub.
Best Regards,
Jared L. Skillings, PhD, ABPP
Chief of Professional Practice, American Psychological Association
Announcement:
Fact Sheet:
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet
Frequently Asked Questions:
https://edit.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-telehealth-frequently-asked-questions-faqs-31720.pdf
Code List Download
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-General-Information/Telehealth/Telehealth-Codes
