Provider Telehealth or Telephonic Health Services FAQs. The March 17, 2020 Behavioral Health Provider letter addressed multiple medical and behavioral health issues relating to telehealth. In addition, future executive orders and administrative regulations to expand telehealth services are expected. As additional guidance, DMS is offering this FAQ document for providers and recipients. READ MORE
BPHC expects to award $100 million in supplemental funds in March. HRSA is expediting the award process and anticipates awarding COVID funding in March. Pre-award costs will be supported by this funding and may date back to January 20, 2020, (per Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-20-11 (PDF - 1.3 MB)) for costs incurred related to preventing, preparing for, and/or responding to COVID-19. HRSA will provide official guidance on the terms of the award. READ MORE
NACHC is pleased to share the “Sample Drive-Thru Clinic Procedures (NACHC Resource Packet)”. This packet contains procedures developed by or contributed to by health centers that are currently implementing drive-thru COVID-19 screening clinic sites. READ MORE
Medication Adherence Tip of the Week-Coordinate with your patients and their pharmacist to see if they can schedule the timing of when they obtain medications on an ongoing basis. Many pharmacies now can help their patients align refill dates so that medications can be picked up at the same time each month. This ensures a lack of interruptions in therapies and a better overall experience for your patients. Also, encourage your patients to participate in any medication therapy management initiatives that the health plans offer. The comprehensive medication review (CMR) summaries allow for more one-on-one conversations with patients that will help to uncover adherence issues. The education provided with these conversations can improve a patient’s health and well-being. Pharmacy Update- KY DMS has mandated changes to the pharmacy for the MCOs. Some changes include early refills, 92-day supply for all medications except OPIOIDS and copay waiver for certain medications. For products in all of the following classes, a zero-copay indicator will be added to waive copays:
Antibiotics and antivirals for acute/short-term treatment (NOT HIV, Hepatitis B/C)
Also removal of all quantity limits for products in the “Beta-Agonist: short-acting” drug class
All of the MCOs are working on coding to implement these changes. Please contact Paula Straub, RPh at 502-807-1440 or pstraub@phdelivery.com with questions regarding these changes.
McConnell Introduces the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Senate on Thursday formally rolled out a $1 trillion economic stimulus plan intended to deliver critical aid to US businesses and the American public. READ MORE
ADA develops guidance on dental emergency, nonemergency care. The ADA provided its members and their patient's detailed guidance on March 18 on what to consider dental emergencies and nonemergency dental care as part of an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19, and alleviate the burden on hospital and emergency departments. READ MORE
Notification of Enforcement Discretion for telehealth remote communications during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for enforcing certain regulations issued under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, to protect the privacy and security of protected health information, namely the HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules (the HIPAA Rules). READ MORE
Gov. Beshear has issued an executive order to waive copays, deductibles, cost-sharing and diagnostic testing fees for private insurance and state employees and asked providers to expand their networks to patients that may go outside their normal providers. READ THE DECLARATION
Wage replacement for first responders and medical personnel. Gov. Beshear announced effective immediately that Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance (KEMI) will provide wage replacement benefits for first responders and medical personnel who have been quarantined for COVID-19 as a result of their increased risk of exposure in the course of their work. According to KRS 342.0011(1), workers’ compensation insurance benefits already included coverage for employees who contract a communicable disease due to the increased-risk nature of their employment, however, KEMI’s action expands coverage benefits to include the quarantine period for first responders and medical personnel. “While our first responders work hard to protect and care for our communities, KEMI will work hard to protect and care for first responders,” said Jon Stewart, KEMI president & CEO. “KEMI was created to meet the workers’ compensation insurance needs for Kentucky employers, and we are prepared to meet those needs. READ MORE
COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Response and 42 CFR Part 2 Guidance. In response to the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, SAMHSA is providing COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Response and 42 CFR Part 2 guidance to ensure that substance use disorder treatment services are uninterrupted during this public health emergency. READ MORE
KPCA Team is here to help. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us. Drilon Gojani
