|
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many physicians, nurses, emergency departments and other emergency medical personnel are utilizing telemedicine to deliver in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and conserve resources. Evidence is emerging that the use of telehealth has cut down on unnecessary doctor visits, which has therefore decreased potential COVID-19 exposure while still allowing patients to receive the care they need. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has created a $200 million COVID-19 Telehealth Program in response to COVID-19. The program gives eligible and approved healthcare providers the resources needed to maintain care for their patients during the pandemic. Awardees will be provided to fully fund the purchase of telecommunications, information systems and connected devices necessary to provide telehealth services to patients. Healthcare providers interested in applying for COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding need to get an eligibility determination from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) for each healthcare provider site that they wish to include in their application.
 |
This time last year, media headlines were flooded with stories detailing the spike of e-cigarette vaping product use-associated lung injuries (EVALI) seen by hospitals across the country. Symptoms of EVALI include: shortness of breath, fever, chills, cough, vomiting, and dizziness. As COVID-19 is now the main focus of health care workers, some health officials warn that EVALI may be missed as the symptoms present similarly to COVID-19 infections.
Dr. Jamie Garfield, a pulmonologist in Philadelphia and spokeswoman for the American Lung Association, reminds healthcare workers that the onset of the pandemic does not stop teens from vaping. However, doctors may no longer be looking for signs of EVALI and instead interpret the signs of these injuries as COVID-19 since the prevalence of the pandemic is so high. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopped tracking EVALI mid-February as cases appeared to be waning after the September 2019 peak. As of February 18, more than 2,800 people nationwide had been hospitalized with life-threatening lung damage tied to e-cigarette use and 68 died from their injuries. Based on a March study from the CDC, researchers say it is not clear if EVALI cases were missed due to COVID-19. Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, stated that individuals with EVALI may also have COVID-19, but it's not clear whether vaping increases susceptibility to the new coronavirus. However, the doctor says that EVALI increases the risk for COVID-19 complications. More research will tell what effect COVID-19 has had on missed EVALI identification.
Several congressional representatives have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicaid and Medicare seeking to expand reimbursements for firefighters, emergency medical services and other medical first responders. First responders have seen an increase in calls during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been hard at work maintaining safe and healthy communities. With the current system of reimbursement, first responders only receive reimbursement for supplies and services that they provide if they take a patient to the hospital. If services are provided on scene, no reimbursement is received. Additionally, despite most ambulances possessing the technology necessary for emergency telehealth sessions, this service is underutilized as a result of unclear and inconsistent reimbursement. The letter proposed to expand reimbursements to include care provided on scene and telehealth sessions used by ambulances.
Beginning July 1st, 2020, the Indiana Health Coverage Programs (IHCP) will start to reimburse Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers for administering naloxone. This means that EMS providers may bill for naloxone itself as well as the administration of the drug. EMS providers will be trained on how to document the naloxone’s National Drug code (NDC), found on the side of the drug label, along with other necessary components required for drug claim submission. EMS billing agencies will also receive training on how to properly submit a claim. Trainings are scheduled to start in July 2020 and webinars will be posted to the IHCP website. For a complete list of the billing details and stipulations, please view the complete program document here. If providers have any questions, please feel free to email dhscertifications@dhs.in.gov or OMPPProviderRelations@fssa.in.gov.
|
