Here is your Thursday NCMS Morning Rounds!

  March 26, 2020

Recovery Fund for Small Businesses Created

We know that many small practices are struggling on many fronts during this pandemic, so it was great to receive word that the Golden LEAF Foundation, in partnership with Thread Capital, other nonprofit lenders throughout the state and the NC Rural Center have launched a new emergency small business lending program. The $15 million in funding is intended to help small businesses respond to the ongoing economic impact of COVID-19.

The NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Lending Program, funded through the generous support of the Golden LEAF Foundation, will be managed by the Rural Center, with direct lending facilitated by Thread Capital, Business Expansion Funding Corporation (BEFCOR), Carolina Small Business Development Fund, Self-Help Credit Union, Mountain BizWorks, and Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIF).

You can read the Golden LEAF Foundation press release here. To learn more and start an application for a rapid recovery loan visit this website.

Guidance on Coding During COVID-19

The AMA has produced a valuable resource for your office staff designed to help them apply the best coding practices for every type of scenario during the response to COVID-19.

The information is organized in an easily accessible grid with outlines for various types of patient visits – both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 and for telehealth. Access this tool.

Another resource is this one-page guide to CPT reporting for COVID-19 testing.

Finally, the AMA has compiled an outline of CMS payment policies and regulatory flexibility granted thus far in response to COVID-19. Access that summary.

NCMS Leaders in the Media

NCMS President Elect Philip Brown, Jr., MD, in his role as Chief Physician Executive at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, was featured on WECT-TV speaking about sheltering in place as the right thing to do to stem the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Brown is one of several NCMS leaders and many NCMS members who are providing factual information to the public via the news media to help inform and allay fears and anxiety during this stressful time. Watch Dr. Brown’s interview.

NCMS CEO Robert W. Seligson, MBA, MA made international news when he was quoted praising a hotel chain for donating rooms to US health care professionals in need of a good night’s sleep after working on the frontlines of this pandemic. Read the press release that was picked up as far away as India!

In the News

People Are Helping Each Other Fight Coronavirus, One Google Spreadsheet at a Time, VOX, 3-24-20

Learning Opportunity

Reminder: Tomorrow, Friday, March 27, the NC Division of Public Health and NC AHEC will hold its regular Friday Forum to answer your questions with regard to COVID-19. The virtual Forum will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Use this link to access the event through your computer. To call in for audio only access, dial 646-558-8656 and enter conference ID 705979628#.