- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
- Public Inspection: CMS: Request for Information: Health Technology Ecosystem
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
- VA: Solicitation of Nominations for the Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
- GAO Seeks New Members for Tribal and Indigenous Advisory Council
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- Telehealth Study Recruiting Veterans Now
- USDA Delivers Immediate Relief to Farmers, Ranchers and Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters
- Submit Nominations for Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM) Committees
- Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program (Executive Order 14192) - Request for Information
- Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
- CMS Refocuses on its Core Mission and Preserving the State-Federal Medicaid Partnership
- Social Factors Help Explain Worse Cardiovascular Health among Adults in Rural Vs. Urban Communities
Medicare Modifies Telehealth Payment Policy
Currently, during the public health emergency (PHE), FQHCs and other distant site telehealth providers may bill Medicare for certain telehealth services using audio-only telephone and CMS expanded the telehealth codes for the duration of the PHE to include telephonic E/M services (CPT 99441-99443). CMS sought comment on whether/how CMS should continue coverage of audio-only telephonic E/M services after the PHE and NACHC recommended that CMS continue to recognize these services as telehealth services. Instead, CMS finalized its proposal to eliminate those codes as telehealth codes and instead add a new G-code to the “virtual communication services” bundles payment to include an 11-21 minute medical discussion via audio-only phone (G2252), not limited to the PHE “Category 3 telehealth services.” Category 3 services are those that were added to the Medicare telehealth code list during the PHE for which there is likely to be clinical benefit when furnished via telehealth, but for which there isn’t yet evidence available to make them a permanent addition. CMS will now recognize these services on the telehealth list until the end of the calendar year in which the PHE ends. Examples include certain psychological and neuropsychological testing and physical and occupational therapy services.
HHS Seeks Public Recommendations to Improve Regulations
On Nov. 27, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from the public to improve existing regulations, and eliminate unnecessary or duplicative regulations, through future exercise of rule-making authority. The RFI seeks input on regulations issued by any HHS office or agency.
Pennie Issues New Special Enrollment Period
Pennsylvania customers unable to make an appointment with a Pennie-certified Assister by December 15 may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). This SEP provides customers who attest to having tried unsuccessfully to make an appointment with an assister or navigator in the seven days leading up to and including Dec. 15, 2020, with up to five (5) additional business days (Dec. 22, 2020) to enroll in coverage with a Jan. 1, 2021 effective date. To qualify for this SEP, an individual would need to attest to the above by contacting a Pennie customer service representative or by having their assister make the same attestation on the customer’s behalf. Navigators and assisters play a critical role in connecting Pennsylvanians to coverage through Pennie, specifically underserved and uninsured populations. One of Pennie’s established goals for this year is to reach those populations who may have found individual market coverage to be unattainable in the past or navigating the federally facilitated marketplace to be difficult. To contact the Pennie Call Center, dial 1-844-844-8040.
Pennsylvania Enrollment Trends 2020
New this year, Pennie has auto-renewed consumers at the beginning of the enrollment period instead of at the end as in previous enrollment periods under the federal marketplace, Healthcare.gov. Also, enrollment assisters have observed more consumers qualifying for Medicaid coverage (Medical Assistance) due to COVID-19, after previously qualifying for marketplace coverage. Medicaid enrollment has risen steadily since the beginning of the pandemic declaration partially due to the moratorium on cancellation of coverage due to loss of eligibility or changes in income and new consumers qualifying due to income and coverage loss. Medical Assistance enrollment topped the 3 million mark in July. This further solidifies the need for enrollment assisters at our community health centers to help consumers navigate the complex health insurance waters.
Biden HHS Pick a Long-Time Health Equity Champion
President-elect Biden announced Xavier Becerra as his choice to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Becerra, California’s attorney general, has a reputation as a long-time champion of health equity and competition, two areas he can impact as Secretary HHS.
COVID-19 Vaccination Update
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is managing the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines that will be received from the federal government. Providers can access the COVID-19 Vaccine Providers page on the DOH website for the most up-to-date information available. The state is expected to receive the Pfizer vaccines the week of Dec. 15 and the Moderna vaccine the week of Dec. 22. On a call last week, Tom McCleaf, Director, Division of Immunizations, DOH Bureau of Communicable Diseases, noted that the distribution phase 1A will cover all health care providers, or about one percent of the population. Phase 1A does not equate to week one. Pfizer vaccine comes in packages of 975 doses and requires extreme cold for storage. It is recommended that providers review their application:
· If you have not already done so, submit a COVID-19 Vaccine Administration application to DOH to be eligible to administer the vaccine if you are interested in doing so
· Visit the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) website, an excellent resource for providers
· Review the document Interim Recommendations for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 Vaccine
· Develop your plan for testing staff based on the guidance
Updated Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Facemasks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Facemasks to include added considerations for returning to conventional capacity. It discusses conventional capacity strategies, contingency capacity strategies and crisis capacity strategies.
DOH Announces Next Rapid Antigen Test Card Distributions
The Wolf Administration last week began distribution of the seventh allotment of COVID-19 antigen test kits provided by the federal government to CLIA-certified institutions in Bucks, Juniata, Mercer and Somerset counties. This week the administration began distribution of the eighth allotment of COVID-19 antigen test kits to CLIA-certified institutions in Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Fulton and Jefferson counties. On Oct. 15, the Secretary of Health issued an Order to healthcare providers and facilities reinforcing that all antigen test results, both positive and negative, are required to be reported to the Department of Health (DOH). A patient with a positive antigen test result is considered a case and receives a complete case investigation and contact tracing. All entities conducting testing to identify SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are required by law to report positive, inconclusive/indeterminate, and negative results to the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (PA-NEDSS) within 24 hours. All laboratory reporters must request a PA-NEDSS account if they do not already have one. For more information about the CLIA certificate and antigen test card reporting, reference the PADOH Health Advisory Network (HAN) Advisory: Guidance on Reporting Point of Care SARS-CoV-2 Test Results. For more information about the antigen tests, reference the PA HAN Advisory: Point of Care Antigen Test Use and Interpretation.
Governors Association Weighs in on Future of Telehealth Policy
The National Governors Association has released The Future of State Telehealth Policy. The document provides an overview of state and federal telehealth flexibilities implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and discusses long-term considerations for governors regarding the impact of these flexibilities on healthcare delivery and payment and the appropriateness of these policies in the future.
UPMC Health Plan Launches Pathways to Work Program
This new initiative aims to increase access to employment through training, education and dedicated support from UPMC staff. Recognizing the growing unemployment impact Pennsylvanians are experiencing due to COVID-19, Pathways to Work makes a concerted effort to engage individuals in the community who are unemployed or underemployed and those with an intellectual, physical or behavioral disability who are looking for employment and no-cost job training programs. Interested individuals can email pathwaystowork@upmc.edu and they will receive a response within 1-2 business days from one of UPMC’s Pathways recruiters. Health centers are urged to share and promote this within the communities you serve to help mitigate some of the impacts of the pandemic.