It’s Tuesday and time for your

NCMS Morning Rounds.

  May 12, 2020

LAST CHANCE TO WIN: Please answer these few questions about the NCMS’ LEAD Health Care Conference in October. Beyond helping to ensure the conference is helpful to you, you’ll have a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card. Answer these crucial questions now by clicking HERE.

Medicaid 5 percent ‘Bump’ Will Be Automatic

NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) officials have confirmed that the 5 percent Medicaid fee-for-service increase for all providers authorized in the General Assembly’s COVID-19 relief legislation and signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper, will be retroactive to March 1 and will accrue automatically. Practices do not need to refile those Medicaid claims. For a summary of all the provisions in the COVID-19 relief package see the NCMS Legislative blog.

In other news from NCDHHS:

As the state moves into phase one of easing some COVID-19 restrictions, NCDHHS has launched a public awareness campaign around ‘knowing your Ws’ — Wear a face covering; Wait six feet apart and Wash your hands. The Department is providing materials to post and share on social media in English and Spanish. Download them here. For any questions about face coverings, NCDHHS offers these answers in English and Spanish based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.

A new portal has been created to file claims for COVID-19 testing and treatment of uninsured patients retroactive to Feb. 4, 2020. The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal was launched by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support health care providers in delivering COVID-19 diagnostic testing and treatment at no cost to patients. Access the portal.

New videos detailing the behavioral health impact of COVID-19 are now available including one in which Kody Kinsley, NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health & Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, discusses the second curve for COVID-19 – the behavioral health impacts. Watch this 5-minute video here. Other brief, 1-minute videos on a variety of COVID-19 related topics are available online here in English and Spanish.

The NCDHHS COVID-19 website has been updated to be more user-friendly and easier to navigate. Visit the website here.

Survey Confirms Practices Are Financially Struggling

The latest survey results from the joint survey done weekly for the last five weeks by the NCMS, NC Medical Group Management Association and Curi are now available. The survey is designed to track trends in the challenges medical practices are facing as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, the survey took a deeper dive into the financial issues you may be facing and how the federal relief programs are helping – or not.

The striking results show that of those responding to the survey 20 percent of the practices had a revenue drop in excess of 75 percent due to the pandemic. Most of the responding practices (90 percent) had revenue decreases of at least 25 percent.

A more detailed summary of the results is available here.

In addition to the regular questions about demographics and the status of medical practices in the state, this week’s survey takes a closer look at telehealth. Ensuring telehealth parity is a priority for the NCMS advocacy team and we look forward to reviewing the survey results to glean more insights into your experience with telehealth during the pandemic. Please take just a moment to respond to this week’s survey if you haven’t already.

Take the survey.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

As a recent Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) article stated: “the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn have negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders.

“In a recent KFF poll, nearly half (45 percent) of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the virus. As the pandemic wears on, it is likely the mental health burden will increase as measures taken to slow the spread of the virus, such as social distancing, business and school closures, and shelter-in-place orders, lead to greater isolation and potential financial distress.”

This May’s Mental Health Awareness month observance takes on special significance because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal and state agencies and organizations are offering resources to health care professionals and their patients to address mental health and behavioral issues during these stressful times.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services (CMS) is reminding physicians and PAs that Medicare covers:
Telehealth counseling services during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
• Other outpatient mental health services, including depression screening, individual and group psychotherapy, and family counseling – learn more here.
Counseling and therapy services from a Medicare-enrolled opioid treatment program (OTP) by telehealth options or telephone only.

The NC Psychiatric Association offers this reference guide for providers.

And NCDHHS offers a webpage with the latest policies and services to help ensure mental and behavioral health during the pandemic.

The NCMS’s Emotional Support Resources page offers you, our members, a compilation of helpful resources to help support your mental well-being during this unprecedented and challenging time.

In the News

Routine Vaccinations for US Children Have Plummeted During the COVID-19 Pandemic, STAT, 5-8-61

Learning Opportunity

Be sure to tune in for the NCMS Foundation/Kanof Institute for Physician Leadership Power Hour on Friday from 1 to 2 p.m. This week’s hour will focus on the NC Medical Board’s (NCMB) response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NC Medical Board has taken many steps since March to support the state’s response to COVID-19. NCMB’s primary goals are to remove barriers and support physicians, physician assistants and the state’s health care system as a whole during this rapidly-evolving pandemic. How has NCMB responded to requests from Gov. Cooper, NC DHHS, health systems, licensees and member associations such as the NC Medical Society? What steps has NCMB taken to be more flexible and responsive during the current state of emergency?

Join a conversation moderated by Franklin Walker, MBA, NCMS VP of Rural Health Systems Innovation with speakers from the NC Medical Board: Bryant Murphy, MD, Board President, Thom Mansfield, Chief Legal Officer, Evelyn Contre, Chief Communications Officer, and Marcus Jimison, Sr. Staff Attorney. Register here.

The KIPL Power Hour aims to provide a forum for ongoing conversation, collaboration and community. Tune in to Power Hour weekly to hear from different experts, decision makers and influencers on a variety of topics. The format is informal and conversational and sessions are easy to access through Zoom. Power Hours will be recorded and made available to you through your NCMS Morning Rounds and on the KIPL webpage.