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    Covid-19 Resources


    American Psychiatric Association
    American Psychoanalytic Society
    Board of Registration in Medicine - Licensing
    Center for Disease Control
    CMS – Medicare
    DEA
    Division of Insurance
    From the Governor
    From the Attorney General
    Insurance Provider information
    MassHealth
    MA Department of Mental Health
    MA Department of Public Health
    Massachusetts Medical Society
    Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
    Risk Management Resources
    SAMHSA
    Telehealth
    MPS Disaster Committee Resources

    American Psychiatric Association

    APA Website
    APA Coronavirus Resources
    Telepsychiatry and COVID-19
    APA Advises on Mental Health Care Delivery Resources During This Crisis
    Practice Guidance for COVID-19
    APA - New CMS changes to Billing for Audio Only - Retroactive to March 1, 2020 - Updated 5.11.20

    American Psychoanalytic Society

    APsaA’s COVID resources
    Email your questions for the Covid-19 Task Force: [email protected]
     COVID-19 Broadcast-only list, open to any interested psychotherapist. [email protected] (send a blank email to sign up)

    Board of Registration in Medicine - Licensing

    Important Information Regarding Physician Licensure during the State of Emergency

    Continuing Medical Education (CME). This interim policy waives the continuing medical education (CME) requirement for licenses which are due for renewal on April 2, 2020 through and including Dec. 31, 2020. The full text of the policy may be found here

    Center for Disease Control

    COVID-19 Page/Resources
    CDC Advises on Stress Management
    CDC Speaks on Evidence Based Communication Strategies in Times of a Disaster
    CDC Guidance for Group Living Environments

    CMS – Medicare

    As information about billing is frequently changing, we encourage MPS members to contact the APA link above directly with questions.

    Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Fact Sheet 3.17.2020
    COVID-19 CMS Expands Telehealth Press Release Final 3.17.20
    COVID19 Telehealth Waiver FAQ Final 3.17.20
    COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers including telehealth 4.30.20
    APA - New CMS changes to Billing for Audio Only - Retroactive to March 1, 2020 - Updated 5.11.20
    Telehealth Frequently Asked Questions 4.2.20

    DEA

    COVID-19 Information Page

    Division of Insurance

    March 16, 2020 – Emergency measures to address and stop the spread of COVID-19 (telehealth)
    March 16, 2020 – Addressing COVID-19 Treatment and Testing
    April, 30, 2020 - Relaxing Certain Health Plan Administrative Procedures including Prior Authorizations During the COVID-19 Health Emergency
    June 25, 2020 - Bulletin 2020-21 – Continued Relaxation of Prior Authorization Procedures in Response to the COVID-19 Health Emergency

    From the Governor

    COVID-19 ESSENTIAL SERVICES
    Health and Human Services Reopening Approach May 18, 2020
    Reopening Massachusetts - May 18, 2020
    Executive Order-essential services order extension (May 4-May 18, 2020)
    EXHIBIT A OF THE ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR ASSURING CONTINUED OPERATION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES IN THE COMMONWEALTH, CLOSING CERTAIN WORKPLACES AND PROHIBITING GATHERINGS OF MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE - March 23, 2020-April 7, 2020
    Executive Order 3-31-2020 – essential services order extension April 7-May 4, 2020
    Executive Order 3-17-2020 – extending the registration of certain licensed health care providers allowing telehealth practice
    Executive Order 3-17-2020 – expanding access to physician services expanding physician licensing
    Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund

    From the Attorney General

    FrontlineMA.org – centralized information for front line workers, including personal protective equipment (PPE), prioritized testing, safe housing, meals, self-care and emergency child care.

    Insurance Provider information

    As information about billing is frequently changing, we encourage MPS members to contact plans directly with questions.

    Contact list for all major health plans http://www.massmed.org/Patient-Care/COVID-19/MAHP-Chart-COVID-19-Provider-Communications/  
    MA Association of Health Plans, Q/A about Covid-related billing.  http://www.massmed.org/Patient-Care/COVID-19/MMS-MHA-Questions-for-MAHP/

    Beacon
    Beacon Broadcast – March 16, 2020 - Billing for Covered Services Delivered via Telehealth
    Beacon Provider Update – March 20, 2020 – Update to Providers Increasing Members’ Access to Telehealth
    Beacon Provider Resources


    Blue Cross Blue Shield – Covid-19 Information for Providers
    BlueCross BlueShield
    BCBS Telemedicine Payment Policy Medical

    Harvard Pilgrim
    Optum
    Tufts
    UnitedHealthcare

    MassHealth

    Provider Resource: Telephone and Internet Connectivity for Telehealth - April 2, 2020
    MassHealth Telehealth Network Provider Bulletin 1 - April 2020
    Provider Participation Requirements, Covered Encounters and Other Information
    MassHealth FAQs for Behavioral Health
    MassHealth Bulletin 289 – March 2020
    Massachusetts Network of Care
    MassHealth Bulletin 291 - MassHealth Coverage and Reimbursement Policy for Services Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - March 2020
    MassHealth Bulletin 293 - Flexibilities for Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services During COVID-19 State of Emergency
    MassHealth Bulletin 294 - MassHealth Coverage Flexibilities for Services Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 - May 2020
    Food assistance handout (in English and Spanish) which provides information about available resources. English version / Spanish version
    You can find accessible versions for this handout here (English) and here (Spanish).
    Provider-facing guide (in English and Spanish) to help you better understand how to identify patients who need food assistance and the resources available to help them. English version / Spanish version
    You can find accessible versions for this guide here (English) and here (Spanish)

     

    MA Department of Mental Health

    DMH #20-03 Admission and Treatment of Patients with COVID-19 5/1/20
    DMH #20-04 COVID-19 PANDEMIC GUIDANCE Admission and EPIA to support movement of pts needing inpt admission out of EDs 5/20/20
    DMH #20-05 directives regarding infection control mgmt. of covid 19 in licensed facilities 5/21/20
            DMH bulletin #20-05 - COVID-19 Infection Control and Other Requirements in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
            DMH bulletin #20-05 - COVID-19 Tier 1
            DMH bulletin #20-05- COVID-19 Tier 2
            DMH bulletin #20-05 - COVID-19 Infection Control and Other Requirements in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Attestation

    MA Department of Public Health

    https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information
    Crisis Standards of Care Planning Guidance for the COVID-19 Pandemic April 7, 2020
    Guidance for Group Living Environments was issued by MA DPH - 4.12.20

    Massachusetts Medical Society

    Tips for Expanding Practice During COVID-19 - May 2020
    COVID-19 website and resources including telehealth
    COVID-19 Insurance Billing Guidelines for Telehealth Service
    MAResponds.org Health Care Professional Volunteers at https://www.mass.gov/health-services-covid-19-volunteer-form
    The MMS has just launched a new resource page dedicated to  Mindfulness & Compassion in the Time of COVID-19: Tools to Stay Steady and Calm.  http://www.massmed.org/mindfulness/. Physicians can self-claim AMA PRA Category 2 Credit(tm) if they wish.
    Payer update: Massachusetts health plans coverage policies (updated). The Massachusetts Medical Society is working closely with health plan leadership, state officials, and partners within the health care system to address local needs resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak. 

    Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

    Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

    Risk Management Resources

    American Professional Agency, Inc. (APA, Inc)
    Telehealth & COVID-19 Resources

    Professional Risk Management Services (PRMS)
    COVID 19 bulletins

    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

    https://www.samhsa.gov

    Telehealth

    Patient Telehealth Consent Form
    Medicare Telehealth Code List for CY 2019 and 2020
    HIPAA and telehealth
    Telepsychiatry and COVID-19
    Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Fact Sheet 03.17.2020
    COVID-19 CMS Expands Telehealth Press Release Final 3.17.20
    COVID19 Telehealth Waiver FAQ Final 3.17.20
    COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers including telehealth 4.30.20
    March 16, 2020 – Emergency measures to address and stop the spread of COVID-19 (telehealth)
    Executive Order 3-17-2020 – extending the registration of certain licensed health care providers allowing telehealth practice
    Provider Resource: Telephone and Internet Connectivity for Telehealth - April 2, 2020
    MassHealth Telehealth Network Provider Bulletin 1 - April 2020
    COVID-19 website and resources including telehealth
    COVID-19 Insurance Billing Guidelines for Telehealth Service
    American Professional Agency, Inc. (APA, Inc) Telehealth & COVID-19 Resources
    Telehealth Frequently Asked Questions 4.2.20
    APA - New CMS changes to Billing for Audio Only - Retroactive to March 1, 2020 - Updated 5.11.20

    MPS Disaster Committee Resources

    Stoddard - Holzman - MPS Covid_19 Town Meeting
    Stoddard - Covid-19
    Handout - Managing Stress Associated with the COVID-19 Virus Outbreak
    Handout - Managing Healthcare Workers’ Stress Associated with the COVID-19 Virus Outbreak
    Handout - For Providers and Community Leaders - Helping People Manage Stress Associated with the COVID-19 Virus Outbreak
    Handout - First Responders-Mental Health Consequences of Natural and Human-Made Disasters for Public Health and Public Safety Workers
    Mental Health of Communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic

    These resources intended to assist psychiatrists and the public in responding to COVID-19.
    MPS will continue to update this page with resources developed by both MPS and other organizations.
    Links to resources shared by other organizations are not intended to imply an endorsement of the organization.