Coronavirus and MDPCP Practices
As MDPCP practices, you play an important role in the health and safety of Marylanders. In light of the continued increase in positive cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Maryland, the Program Management Office will be providing guidance and updates here specific to primary care practices. The Coronavirus outbreak continues to be a rapidly developing situation in regard to cases, transmission and testing. Thank you for your partnership, and please keep checking here for frequent updates.
Quick Links
External Quick Links
● Governor’s latest orders on Covid-19 can be found here.
● The latest emergency use authorization information from the FDA can be found here.
● Immunet website links for enrollment and reporting.
Providers should onboard to ImmuNet now as a necessary prerequisite for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. These links will lead you to the site. There will be a last additional registration step, which is currently not open for ambulatory providers.
MDPCP Quick Links
● Weekly Update from the PMO (PDF updated 01/13/2021)
This update provides an overview of events from the PMO, including any COVID-19 updates from the MDPCP practices.
● MDPCP Roadmap to Recovery Part II – COVID Testing
This Roadmap provides guidance on COVID-19 testing for MDPCP participants, including who should be tested, office-based testing protocols, reimbursements, and results reporting.
● Viewing COVID-19 Alerts in CRISP
This overview provides information about how to view COVID-19 alerts in CRISP, and how to create custom views to do so more efficiently.
● MDPCP Roadmap to Recovery
This roadmap provides an overview of how to set up your office and processes to minimize exposure risks for both staff and patients when Maryland is in stages 1 or 2 of COVID-19 response
● Five Things to Do Now to Prevent a Surge
This document provides guidance for both steps providers can take and information providers should communicate to patients to prevent COVID-19 surges.
● Managing Health Care Workers Exposed to COVID-19
This overview provides primary care practices guidance for what procedures to follow when one of their healthcare workers has been exposed to COVID-19.
● Office/email informational flyer (English/Spanish)
This flyer provides basic information about COVID-19 for patients and can be hung in primary care practices to inform patients.
Other Frequently Asked Questions from Providers COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for Primary Care Providers (updated 11/10/20)
MDPCP COVID-19 Webinars
The MDPCP PMO hosts regular webinars for all Primary Care Providers to review current guidance, provide additional information on important activities primary care offices should be taking for the health and safety of Marylanders and answer additional questions. Registration links and materials are posted below.
Upcoming - Register Now!
Monday COVID Flash Briefings and Q&A
Wednesday COVID Updates
Previous Sessions
Each presentation provides general COVID-19 updates, includes links to webpages, and provides a list of online resources. Some additional special focus topics covered in each session are highlighted in the description below. For webinar recordings and slides prior to 12/30/20, please visit our Archive page.
- 12/30/20 COVID Updates (recording); Slides
- Maryland Morbidity and Mortality Data, Updates on Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies, Guest Presentation by: Maryland Department of Health Testing Adoption Project, Implementing PCR Testing at your Primary Care Practice
- 1/4/21 COVID Surge: Flash Briefing and Q&A (recording); Slides
- Key COVID Status Updates, Updates on Vaccines, Monoclonal Antibodies, Emerging Virus Variant
- 1/6/21 COVID Updates (recording); Slides
- Maryland Morbidity and Mortality Data, Announcements by Governor Hogan, Updates on Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies, Guest Presentation by: Alexander Chan, PhD, LMFT, Skills for Integrating Mental Health Into Discussions of Patient Care
- 1/11/21 COVID Surge: Flash Briefing and Q&A (recording); Slides
- Key COVID Status Updates, Updates on Vaccines, Monoclonal Antibodies, Emerging Virus Variant
- 1/13/21 COVID Updates (recording); Slides
- Maryland Morbidity and Mortality Data, Updates on Vaccines, Monoclonal Antibodies, Guest Presentation by: Sandra Crouse Quinn, PhD, Preparing Primary Care Providers for COVID-19 Vaccination Programs, Provider Panel Special Guests: Amar Duggirala, DO, MPH, FAAFP - Poolesville Family Practice, Eric C Marshall, MD, FAAFP - Gerald Family Care, PC
General Guidance & Resources
Latest Policies and guidance on social distancing protocols
● Latest WHO updates on COVID-19
● Latest CDC research on COVID-19
● CDC guidance on social distancing
● The Maryland governor’s office has the latest information on COVID-19 reopening updates
● Further information can be found at the Maryland Coronavirus Page
● The Maryland government has created a website to address common misperception about COVID-19 and current policies governing it
● MDPCP provides guidance in Five Things to Do Now to Prevent a Surge
Testing
● CDC guidance on testing
● Maryland guidance on testing:
● General guidance on testing (updated 10/1)
● Guidance on point of care tests
● Guidance on laboratory testing for healthcare providers
● Maryland Department of Health’s frequently asked questions about testing
● MDPCP’s Roadmap to Recovery Part II – COVID Testing
Treatment
● WHO guidance on clinical management of COVID-19
● NIH guidance on treatments
● The University of Maryland Medical System provides responses to common misperceptions about COVID-19 treatments
Immunizations
● The FDA posts updates on the progress of COVID-19 vaccines here
● Maryland primary care providers can receive updates on COVID-19 vaccines after registering for Immunet
● More information about registering for Immunet can be found on the MDPCP Immunet enrollment and reporting sites.
Equipment
● CDC guidance on proper equipment for healthcare providers
● Maryland requirements for mask use
● PPE equipment procurement links:
● PPE is available from sources in the Maryland Manufacturing Network Supplier Portal and from other PPE Vendors.
Telehealth
● Telephonic and telemedicine – restrictions removed
o Medicare
● Medicare Telemedicine Fact Sheet
● Medicare Telehealth FAQs - As of 3/17/20
● Medicare Coverage & Payment of Virtual Services Video
● List of Acceptable Medicare Telehealth Codes
● CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19
o Medicaid - Now paying for traditional video/audio + audio only
o CareFirst Medical Policy 02.01.072A
o Cigna Interim Billing Guidance
● HHS Coronavirus Waivers - Payment and HIPAA Exemptions
● Telemedicine Spotlight
● MedChi Telehealth Billing & Coding Under COVID-19
● MHCC Telehealth Guide
● MDPCP Billing Guide
● MDPCP Billing Webinar 4/9/20 - Webinar Recording and Slides
● AAFP Telehealth Coding Algorithm
● BMJ Telemedicine Workflow Graphic
● Guide for Telemedicine
● Telehealth Vendor Portfolio from MHCC's Telehealth Virtual Resource Center
● Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)
o RPM Workbook
o RPM Medicare Billing Guide
● MHCC Telehealth Readiness Assessment (TRA) Tool
o The interactive online TRA Tool offers a self-assessment questionnaire, supporting guidance, and informational resources to help ambulatory practices determine their readiness for implementing or expanding telehealth services. The TRA Tool takes about 20 minutes to complete and offers guidance in five key areas: 1) Core Readiness; 2) Financial Considerations; 3) Operations; 4) Staff Engagement; and 5) Patient Readiness. For more information about the TRA Tool, contact Alana Sutherland at alana.sutherland@maryland.gov.
● Memo on Additional Telehealth Grant Opportunities - April 22, 2020
o CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) and the Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi) launched a grant program to provide independent physician practices with five or fewer members, a year of complimentary access to DrFirst’s Backline Telehealth platform for physicians who enroll between March 1st and December 31st of 2020. DrFirst is a Maryland-based company that offers secure telehealth services. This collaboration will equip additional Maryland physicians with the technology they need to provide needed virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Fill out the application and return it to MedChi via email to Andrea Mullin or mail to 1211 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 attn. Andrea Mullin.
Grants and Assistance for Providers
● US government’s declaration of the Public Health Emergency: https://www.phe.gov/emergency/news/healthactions/phe/Pages/covid19-23June2020.aspx
● IRS Tax Credits for Paid Sick and Paid Family Leave: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/covid-19-related-tax-credits-for-paid-sick-and-paid-family-leave-overview
Resources for Providers to Share with Patients
● Maryland Health Connection has a Coronavirus Emergency Special Enrollment Period until December 15 for uninsured Marylanders.
● Several resources are available specifically for seniors:
o Please contact your Local Health Department or Area Agency on Aging.
o Many grocery stores also now offer special shopping hours for seniors. Here is a list by county of special grocery services being offered.
o The Maryland Department of Aging also offers a free, telephonic check-in for seniors age 65 and over.
Immunization
As COVID-19 vaccines are in development, MDPCP providers can prepare by: onboarding with ImmuNet to prepare for vaccine administration, keeping up to date on vaccine information to communicate to patients, and ensuring patients receive flu shots.
ImmuNet Enrollment and Reporting
MDPCP practices can ensure they are currently enrolled in ImmuNet and reporting vaccines administered. Additional information on registering with ImmuNet to become a COVID-19 vaccine provider will be provided when available.
● ImmuNet website: enrollment and reporting
● ImmuNet Resource Guide for MDPCP Practices & FAQ last updated 10/28
● Onboarding in ImmuNet Flowchart
Preliminary COVID-19 Vaccine Information
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
● Preliminary Maryland COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
● CDC Materials
○ General Information related to the COVID-19 vaccine
○ Benefits of COVID-19 vaccination based on what we currently know
○ Busting Myths and Misconceptions about COVID-19 Vaccination
○ FAQs about the COVID-19 vaccination
● FDA posts on updated vaccine progress here
● CMS COVID-19 billing and coding toolkit
● Prioritizing Your Patients for COVID-19 Vaccination
Communication
● CDC #HowIRecommend Vaccination Video Series - vaccine communication with patients
● NIH Journey of a Vaccine - graphic of steps a vaccine goes through before being released to the public (also available in Spanish)
● NEJM Trustworthiness Before Trust - COVID-19 vaccine trials and the Black community
Flu Vaccine
● MDH Fight the Flu Toolkit (see page 3 to download and customize)
● CDC Guidance on flu vaccination during COVID-19 and CDC FAQ
Archived Resources:
● Checklist for Practices (updated 4/15/20)
● Care Management Workflows (updated 3/27/20)
● Front Desk Triage Workflows (updated 3/26/20)
● Primary Care Practice Process Map (updated 4/1/20)
● Provider Script - Stay-at-Home Order Communication (updated 3/30/20)
● Contact Tracing Information for Providers (updated 06/26/20)