May this Friday the 13th be lucky!

Enjoy your NCMS Morning Rounds.

August 13, 2021

Get Paid to Counsel Medicaid Patients on COVID Vaccination

To help encourage vaccination to protect against COVID-19, NC Medicaid will pay for counseling a Medicaid beneficiary about receiving the COVID vaccine.

Remember – and use — Code 99401. This is for preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor reduction intervention(s) provided to an individual, for up to 15 minutes, when you counsel Medicaid beneficiaries regarding the benefits of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine whether the patient chooses to receive the vaccine or not.

Learn more about this in this NC Medicaid Bulletin. For questions, please contact the NCTracks Call Center: 800-688-6696.

Be Prepared – Have Adequate PPE on Hand

As the number of COVID-19 cases are again on the rise, and mask mandates are again being put in place, be sure your supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) is adequate for the coming weeks and months. Suppliers are warning us that with increased lead times due to global capacity constraints and increased demand, we may see shortages in the future. Also, transportation challenges due to container shortages and congestion at US and ports around the world are causing shipment delays of all types.

Last year, thanks to state funding, the NCMS was able to distribute free PPE to practices throughout the state to help replenish depleted supplies and create a stockpile for future use. We also joined with other medical societies through ActionPPE to offer a way to order necessary equipment easily through out website.

Now, we recommend you check out Henry Schein, a medical equipment supplier, to help you be properly prepared. Learn more and order from Henry Schein here.

Resources to Help Comply with New OSHA Standard

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a COVID Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) back in June. The standard, which currently is in effect, aims to protect health care and health care support workers from exposure to COVID-19 in setting where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present. Health care employers must develop and implement a COVID-19 plan to identify and control COVID-19 hazards.

This has generated many questions about how to comply among medical practices. Below are links to some helpful resources.

In the News

See the Data on Breakthrough COVID Hospitalizations and Deaths by State, The New York Times, 8-10-21

Learning Opportunity

Registration for the comprehensive Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training (TTS) Fall Program, Oct. 25-Nov. 2, is now open. Also, three NEW 1-day intensive CME trainings are available.

Learn more and register here.

If you have policies you’d like your NCMS Board of Directors to consider, please complete the Board input form here. Thanks for reading!