The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released two new resources to support the use of telehealth.  The first educates patients on what to expect during a telehealth visit, and the second supports providers in how to conduct a successful telehealth visit and how to keep up to date on Medicare and Medicaid telehealth payments.  Social media graphics are also available.

By Tim Murphy and Tim Marema

Missouri’s reporting anomaly could be part of the cause. But Alabama, Michigan, and California also see increases in rural cases.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped how physicians are being recruited. But whether a first interview is on-site or virtual, it still is critical to master that interview and deliver a first-time “WOW” experience for the right candidate. Jackson Physician Search, in an article on its website, says the first interview is so powerful because first impressions stick and often overwhelm second and third impressions. “It may seem counterintuitive, but follow-up interviews do not necessarily increase the candidate’s feelings of confidence about the job and the likelihood that an offer will be accepted,” the article states.

The COVID-19 pandemic has tested the public health and medical workforces like never before. And yet people in those fields say they see emerging signs that the crisis will inspire the next generation of doctors, nurses, and public health professionals to join the ranks. Public health schools, for example, saw a 23 percent jump in applicants for master’s and doctoral programs from fall 2019 to fall 2020, and are reporting an even bigger increase so far in this application cycle, according to the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it is updating the Medicare payment rates for COVID-19 vaccine administration. Effective for services furnished on or after March 15, 2021, the new rate will be approximately $40 to administer each dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This represents an increase from approximately $28 to $40 for a single-dose vaccine, and $45 to $80 for vaccines requiring two doses. Exact payment rates depend on the type of entity furnishing the service and will be geographically adjusted based on where the service is furnished. To read more, click here. It is important to note that Medicare vaccine administration payment for FQHCs at the current time will still occur retroactively with the cost report. Also, whether this CMS payment change will also result in a payment increase by Medicaid is still being evaluated by the PA Department of Human Services (DHS). As shared previously, DHS is working on an FQHC/RHC-specific COVID-19 vaccine payment bulletin which has not yet been released but has shared some of the payment policy it will implement with PACHC:

• For fee-for-service (FFS) billing, PROMISe has been updated to allow FQHCs/RHCs to bill using the administrative codes identified in bulletin Medical Assistance Bulletin 01-20-59, Addition to the Medical Assistance Program Fee Schedule for Administration of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines. DHS directs that you use your PT/Spec and POS.
• For HealthChoices Medicaid managed care plans, you will need to check with your contracted MCOs on how to bill.
• DHS is in the process of requesting CMS approval to use an alternate payment methodology (APM) for all COVID-19 vaccines administered outside of defined requirements for a T1015 visit/encounter billing. (PACHC Note: In other words, if a vaccination visit meets the definition of eligible FQHC/RHC encounter the visit is billable as a PPS encounter and you do not bill for the vaccine administration separately). The APM would pay vaccinations that are not part of an eligible FQHC encounter at Medicare rates.
• DHS is directly reimbursing the MCOs for the cost of vaccine administration and expects that MCOs will reimburse at least what DHS is reimbursing. However, FQHCs need to check with each of your MCOs on how they will handle vaccine administrative billing.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has issued several Health Alert Network (HAN) updates in the last week.

• Updated Quarantine Recommendations for Persons Exposed to COVID-19: This guidance replaces PA-HAN-538 and PA-HAN-551 and provides clarification on quarantine recommendations for persons exposed to COVID-19. This guidance provides information about the need for quarantine for both individuals who are and are not fully vaccinated.
• Work Restrictions for Healthcare Personnel with Exposure to COVID-19: The existing guidance on how to evaluate and respond to exposure of healthcare personnel (HCP) to COVID-19 in the healthcare setting has not changed, but additional items have been added to this guidance to clarify the post-exposure recommendations.

Click here for all 2021 Health Alerts, Advisories and Updates.

The Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Xavier Becerra as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Becerra, the first Latino to lead HHS, is charged with overseeing the country’s pandemic response while executing the Biden administrator’s health agenda. The vote to confirm Becerra was delayed due to concerns with his lack of healthcare experience, past support for Medicare for All, and abortion. Others were concerned that further delay would hinder the country’s pandemic response. Becerra is currently serving as California’s Attorney General, leaving another appointment up to California Gov. Gavin Newsom. In a tweeted statement following his confirmation, Becerra said he is “honored and humbled by the vote” and “ready to get to work.”

Consistent with President Biden’s national strategy to defeat COVID-19, the Department of Defense, in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will deliver free masks to HRSA-supported health centers and Health Center Program look-alikes. The mask delivery timeframe has been updated to begin by late April. Health centers who want to opt out can do so by contacting Health Center Program Support online or via phone at 877-464-4772, 7:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday-Friday (except federal holidays).