Time for your Thursday NCMS Morning Rounds.

  April 9, 2020

NCMS’ Easy Reference Guide to Telehealth Policies During COVID-19

NCMS Director for Health System Innovation Kristen Spaduzzi has developed a guide to the various insurers’ telehealth policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can access this easy reference grid, here and on the NCMS’ COVID-19 webpage under the telehealth heading.

This comprehensive guide covers commercial payers and Medicare Advantage plans, listing answers to the commonly asked questions about reimbursement parity, coding, virtual visit check-ins and others in an easy to use grid format.

Get similar information about Medicaid telehealth policies during the pandemic here.

Reminder: the NCMS has resources and information to help you in many ways during this pandemic. Visit our COVID-19 page to get information on telehealth, the latest clinical guidance from the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and general resources to help during the pandemic. Our Economic Relief Resources page includes how to get paid for your work today as well as financial relief programs to help offset the impact of COVID-19. Our Emotional Supports page offers just that – resources to protect your mental health and help support you emotionally.

Wake County Seeking Volunteers for Auxiliary Hospital

Wake County is currently working to set up an auxiliary hospital for the potential surge of need in the coming weeks and is looking for volunteers to staff the hospital. The anticipated go-live date is the week of April 20th. The hospital will be in operation for approximately 6-8 weeks.

If you are interested, please call the Donations & Volunteer task team at 919-856-6946, Monday to Sunday between 8 am to 8 pm or through email at [email protected]

NC MedAssist Supports Vulnerable Populations

NC MedAssist, founded by NCMS leaders in Mecklenburg County back in 1997, is continuing its mission to provide access to both over the counter and prescription medication for vulnerable and uninsured patients during this pandemic. Learn more about NC MedAssist and how it is helping now.

Watch this video to see several volunteers in action.

In the News

Viewpoint: Coronavirus Shows Us the Time to Decide on End of Life Care is When You’re Not Sick, NBC News, 4-8-20

Learning Opportunity

This evening, Thursday, April 9, from 5 to 6 p.m. the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold ‘Office Hours’ to answer your questions about CMS’s response to COVID-19. Areas to be covered include:

• Increase Hospital Capacity – CMS Hospitals Without Walls;
  • Rapidly Expand the Healthcare Workforce;
  • Put Patients Over Paperwork; and
  • Further Promote Telehealth in Medicare

You may submit questions in advance to [email protected], including “Office Hours” in the subject line. There will also be live Q&A.

Conference lines are limited, so they highly encourage you to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser.
Toll-Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820
Event Plus Passcode: 1881716
Audio Webcast link