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
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
From the Attorney General
Insurance Provider information
Licensure/ Interstate Practice during the COVID-19 State of Emergency
MA Department of Mental Health
MA Department of Public Health
Massachusetts Medical Society
MassHealth
MPS Disaster Committee Resources
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Restarting In Person Visits
Risk Management Resources
SAMHSA
State of Emergency
Telehealth
Vaccinations

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

COVID-19 resources developed by the APA over the past several months
Guidance Document: Electroconvulsive Therapy as an Essential Procedure
Guidance Document: Use of Long-acting Injectables as a Clinically Necessary Treatment
Guidance Document: Considerations for Healthcare Workers and Staff Exposed to COVID-19 Death and Dying
Guidance Document: Considerations for Family and Other Personal Losses Due to COVID-19-Related Death
Guidance Document: Psychiatrists Returning to Clinical Service
Guidance Document: COVID-19 and Impact on Incarcerated Persons Living with Mental Illness
Guidance Document: Moral Injury During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Support for Permanent Expansion of Telehealth Regulations After COVID-19

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

Order Extending the Registrations of Certain Licensed Health Care Professionals

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
New CDC guidance for vaccinated individuals
COVID-19 for organizations working with patients who use drugs or have substance use disorders
CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Information

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
CMS Vaccine Information

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

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Hand sanitizers and COVID-19
Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2
Medical gloves
Surgical mask and gown shortage
Ventilators
Food safety and COVID-19
Face masks and surgical masks
Pulse oximeters
FDA Vaccine Information

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

Updated Massachusetts health plans coverage policies
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. For an updated summary of MA health plan coverage policies, please click here.

Licensure/Interstate Practice during the COVID-19 State of Emergency

The Federation of State Medical Boards has issued updates on individual states’ requirements for telehealth. Click here to see the most recent version. Unfortunately each state has adopted different requirements for out-of-state licensed physicians to treat patients in their state. In the upcoming MPS Sept. newsletter, our MPS Counsel, Jim Hilliard will be discussing not only the issues involved with practicing tele-psychiatry in other states within the new rules of each state but also several collateral issues that must be considered, such as malpractice coverage, being aware of other states’ standards of care (duty to warn, child abuse reporting to name a few), and also the necessity at times, to have a “back-up” psychiatrist or therapist in the event of an emergency. Questions such as these can be referred to Jim Hilliard as part of your member benefit of two hours of consultation with Mr. Hilliard which can be initiated at this number (617) 610-5557.

Modified Licensing requirements for Covid-19 in the US States and Territories
Order Extending the Registrations of Certain Licensed Health Care Professionals
Feds OK Interstate Licensing, Paving Way for Telehealth Expansion
Summary of Gov order from APA regional

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
MA DPH COVID-19 Vaccine Information

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.
Telemedicine Vendor Options

Updated Massachusetts health plans coverage policies
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. For an updated summary of MA health plan coverage policies, please click here.

Physician Office re-opening resources
The Betsy Lehman Center, Board of Registration in Medicine and Massachusetts Medical Society have updated their previous guidance on considerations for in-person medical visits at this link.