UPDATES

COVID-19 Testing Criteria and Specimen Collection Process   Please review CDC guidelines and State of Hawaii Department of Health requirements for COVID-19 testing attached. Clinical Labs of Hawaii specimen collection guidelines are also included if testing is appropriate. Contact CLH Account Services Representative Jacqueline Kopie at 808-987-7439 if you need testing supplies.

State of Hawaii DOH Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates   State and county agencies are intensifying their preparations and emphasize the following preventative actions:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

  • Stay home when you are sick

  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

*NEW* Medical updates from DOH can be accessed here or from Center for Disease Control and Prevention here.

*NEW* CDC COVID-19 Updates   Attached are some flyers that you can hang up on your walls and factsheets regarding COVID-19 (here, here, here, here, here, here, here). The IPA can print these in bulk for your office. Please email Jo at jvitales@ehiipa.com if you would like us to print for you. For more information on COVID-19, please refer to the CDC website here.

*NEW* Merrie Monarch Festival 2020 Cancelled   Please see attached announcement.

*NEW* Latest Updates from Clinical Labs of Hawaii Regarding COVID-19 Screening Kits   The COVID-19 kits are ready to order. Please read the following forms regarding COVID-19 testing instructions (attached), and the bulletin (attached). If testing at Department of Health is requested, call O‘ahu Disease Reporting line at 808-586-4586 or Kona at 808-322-4877. Required requisition forms can be found here. 

*NEW* Diagnostic Laboratory Services Compendium Updated for COVID-19   Please see attached bulletin regarding testing availability for COVID-19.

*NEW* SCR211 (One Shared 2030 Health Vision Plan for Hawaii Island) Resolution   The following Resolution was released by the senate (attached). The bill is requesting the office of primary care and rural health to facility discussions with key community health and social service organizations within Hawaii County to address the health and wellness needs of the most vulnerable by aligning the goals and objectives of key organizations into one shared 2020 health vision plan. Attached is a letter sent to the committee members asking for collective action.

*NEW* SB 2542 Passed to House   The Physician Shortage Crisis Task Force has been following the legislature regarding the GET healthcare exemption bills. SB 2542 has passed over to the House and we are awaiting a date for hearing. The IPA is preparing to submit testimony in support as soon as the hearing date is confirmed. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE TESTIMONY, PLEASE EMAIL JO AT JVITALES@EHIIPA.COM. We will update as we get more information. The Task Force urges providers to contact the House Finance Committee (see list of members here) to request to hear SB 2542.

Petition on Change.org: Eliminate GE Tax on Healthcare in Hawaii   Hawaii Physician Shortage Task Force started the petition (attached); please sign and distribute widely to your patients via email lists, etc., along with this link regarding the bills. All major media outlets in Hawai‘i are being notified with the information on the Task Force GET Bill SB 2542. Here are 10 reasons to pass the GET exemption on healthcare for reference (attached).

*NEW* Hilo Heart Walk Fundraising – Garage Sale & T-Shirt    THANK YOU to all the providers and staff who’ve donated items to the garage sale! The IPA is a proud sponsor of this year’s Hilo Heart Walk on March 28, 2020 to raise funds, promote awareness of heart disease, and support programs benefiting patients. The IPA raised over $800 this past weekend and a total of $1,550.10 including provider/clinic money donations.

Other ways to support this effort:

  • Show team spirit by donating money or joining our team here!

  • BONUS: Help provide SBIRT screens at the Hilo Heart Walk event for a free shirt and an honorarium

  • If you are interested in donating, walking, and/or helping in any way, please contact Sara at skobayashi@ehiipa.com.

Mahalo to the following providers/clinics who have participated so far:

Dr. Brenda Camacho

Dr. Pradeepta Chowdhury

Dr. Alan DeSilva

The Family Medicine Center

Hawaii Island Healthcare, Inc.

Lynda Hirakami DNP

Dr. Craig Kadooka (retired)

Dr. Roy Koga

Dr. Craig Shikuma

HMSA PAYMENT TRANSFORMATION

*NEW* Newborn Payment – Jan 2019 – Sept 2019   Newborn payments for the look-back period of Jan-Sep 2019 were mailed on Friday, March 6, 2020. All payments were made via paper check. Included with the checks were the Provider Level Summary and Member Detail file:

  • Provider Summary: Report aggregates payment per provider by LOB. Reports are separate at the Pay-To Level

  • Member Detail: Report details payment per provider by member. The report was separated at printing at the Pay-To Level.

*NEW* Attribution Process Updates for Medicare and Quest   HMSA sent out a letter containing the most recent information which links Medicare and Quest members to a PCP that they were previously attributed to, or to a PCP last seen. Please see attached letter for more details.

*NEW* Payment Transformation Monthly Attribution Reconciliation   Attached is a video on the importance of reconciling the monthly attribution lists you receive from HMSA through EHI IPA.

HMSA HEDIS 2020 Reporting   HMSA is submitting Coreo’s Supplemental Data feed as a data source for HEDIS 2020. Providers affected have already received a fax from HMSA listing the names of patients requiring medical record documentation submission by 3/10/20. Tiffany Pa will be following up with those affected. If you have any questions, please contact her at 808-630-5020.

eClinicalWorks and COREO Interface   EHI has been exploring the possibility of interfacing eClinicalWorks EHR information with HMSA COREO for seamless reporting. The goal is to significantly reduce the administrative burden of checking COREO, avoid reporting delays and “chasing” of claims information and reduce supplemental data entry. We would like to see if there is interest enough to “pitch” a proposal to HMSA to allocate resources to do this. We will have a short presentation followed by a demo by eClinicalWorks Healow Insights staff. eClinicalWorks has implemented this with other Blue Cross/Blue Shield affiliates in other parts of the country as well as with UnitedHealthcare and Humana in selected markets. Please send one provider and one Coreo “Superuser” from your office to attend this meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 12:00-1:00 PM at the EHI IPA office. eCW Clinics will be sent a separate EVITE via email.

HMSA QUALITY PERFORMANCE

Support to Clinics   Please contact Jo Vitales at jvitales@ehiipa.com if you are interested in receiving help from the IPA to meet your engagement and quality performance requirements.

EVENTS

*NEW* Care and Choices at the End of Life: A Discussion on Hawai‘i’s ‘Our Care, Our Choice’ Act (Update)   Attached are the slides to today’s meeting, along with the handouts that were available (here, here, and here).

Annual General Membership Meeting – Wednesday, April 29, 5:30 PM   Invitations to the Annual Meeting were sent by mail. Please respond if you plan to attend or if you cannot attend and would like an absentee ballot to cast your vote. Those who haven’t will be sent an EVITE – please look in your email and respond there.

*NEW* SAVE THE DATE! 24th Annual Symposium on August 21-23, 2020 at Fairmont Orchid in Waikoloa. Please email Jo Vitales at jvitales@ehiipa.com for more information. See flyer attached.

*NEW* Benefit Fashion Show for Hilo Medical Center Foundation   HMC is proud to announce a special fundraiser inspired by 5-year-old Haumea Friel to support their work at the Hilo Medical Center Foundation: Hauma Hawai‘i “Power to the Purse.” The event is on Monday, April 13. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in Willie K’s Crown Room. Flyer attached.

Walk with a Doc – Lili‘uokalani Gardens Park – Dr. Craig Kadooka – Every Sunday, WWAD meets at the park across the street from Hilo Bay Café. Walkers gather at 8:00 AM to hear a short healthcare talk, followed by stretching and then walking at your own pace. Anyone is welcome to participate.

PROVIDER RESOURCES

  • Hilo Medical Center CME Conference SAVE THE DATE – Saturday, October 17, 2020 at the Grand Naniloa Hotel. For more information, contact HMC’s CME program coordinator, Janice Fagafa at jfagafa@hhsc.org or call 808-932-3176. Flyer attached.

  • BRIGHT GREEN POLST FORMS – If your office would like “bright” green POLST forms for your office, please email jbontuyan@ehiipa.com.

  • HIPAA Online Training – EHI IPA offers online training as a membership benefit for $20 per person. The certification received after successful completion is effective for 2 years. If you are interested, please complete the attached form and fax to 808-935-4472 or email to Jo at jvitales@ehiipa.com and send a check to East Hawaii IPA, 670 Ponahawai St., Ste. 117, Hilo, HI 96720.

  • Healthcare Source HR Screening Tool Available for Members – EHI offers member offices use of a complimentary employee screening tool. The tool helps assess whether potential new hires are the right fit for your office! The tool rates candidates numerically by job performance, retention and service excellence. It also customizes key questions for face-to-face interviews. This program has been used successfully by hundreds of healthcare organizations. Candidates are sent a link to the assessment with results forwarded to a designated office email address. Please email Jo at jvitales@ehiipa.com if you are interested in learning more about this tool.

  • American Heart Association FREE CME Webinars – View list of activities here. Type in “CME” in the Keyword search box and register for free.

PATIENT RESOURCES

  • Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi: Ola Hou i Ka Hula Hypertension Class – Wednesdays starting February 5 to April 29, 5:00-6:30 p.m. at Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi office, 1438 Ave., Hilo. Flyer attached.

  • Refer Patients to Complete Their Advanced Health Care Directive at ADRC – 2020 dates attached.

  • KTA Diabetes Self-Management Education – KTA will begin another round of Diabetes Self-Management Education classes at the East Hawaii IPA office. Please use the attached REFERRAL FORM. Please see flyer attached and refer your patients to this valuable resource!

  • *NEW* Hilo Medical Center Diabetes Support Group CANCELLED – Hilo Medical Center’s leadership & Emergency Management team are closely monitoring developments as they become available. Committing to the safety and best interest of our community, the diabetes support group meetings will be placed on hold until further noticed. You will be informed when it is considered safe to resume meetings. Please email Colleen Talich at HMC with any questions at ctalich@hhsc.org.

  • Halau Mauli‘Ola Medical Nutrition Program – Stacy Haumea is relocating to 83 Maika‘i St., Hilo, for appointments Mon/Tue/Weds. She will continue to see patients with Hui Mālama on Thurs/Fri weekly. Flyer attached. NEW referral form attached.

  • Individual Nutrition Counseling Referral for Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (HMONO) – Refer your patients to nutrition counseling with Stacy Haumea at HMONO using their referral form (here). Under the “Referred to” section, select HMONO Family Medicine Clinic.

  • Mountain-Pacific Quality Health – CARDIAC HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS. Flyer attached. Let us know if you’d like the IPA to print out copies for your office by calling 808-797-3113.

  • Mountain-Pacific Quality Health: New Patient Tool for Heart Health – Check the MPQH website for their heart health calendar. These are free for patients and can start anytime of the year and includes weight logs and health tips. These offer a fun and easy way for patients to monitor their weight. A calendar example (scroll to the bottom for the example) and order form can be found here.

  • Beacon Health – PCP Referral for Behavioral Health Support – Beacon Health offers behavioral health services for HMSA patients. Attached is the referral form (here), the overview of services (here), and the WHO-5 Well-Being index tool (here).