Aloha Members,

 Mahalo for all that you are doing to keep the COVID-19 tsunami from overwhelming our hospital and community. EHI is here to support you, but it is important for you to speak up for our help. We have been responding to requests from practices case by case, based on individual needs. If you are interested in any of the following, please contact Jo at jvitales@ehiipa.com or 808-797-3113.

  • PPE – (masks, face shields, other)

  • Telehealth Advice (highly recommend webinar on April 21, 12:30-1:30 PM)

  • Behavioral Health Support for Patients

  • Acute Respiratory Precautions Checklist & Assessment for Your Office

  • COVID-19 Hotline Setup

  • Insurance Advice Hotline for Your Patients Losing Coverage

  • Emergency Room Surveillance

  • Outreach to Complex Patients

All COVID-19 alert information is updated daily and can be found on our COVID-19 Website. Visit the page here and enter the password “2020IPAEHI” –  If you need help keeping this link on your desktop for quick reference contact Jo at jvitales@ehiipa.com. Categories on the website include the following:

UPDATES Visit the page here and enter the password “2020IPAEHI”

  • Hawai‘i Department of Health COVID-19 Updates

  • Hilo Medical Center (HMC) Asking for Provider Volunteers

TESTING Visit the page here and enter the password “2020IPAEHI”

  • Screening & testing in hilo & PAHOA

  • Hilo Medical Center COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing

  • COVID-19 TESTING CRITERIA AND SPECIMEN COLLECTION PROCESS

BILLING & FINANCE Visit the page here and enter the password “2020IPAEHI”

  • Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)

  • HMSA Coding & Telehealth Services Policies

  • Medicare Telehealth Policies and Reimbursement

  • Medicare Financial Relief Program

CLINICAL RESOURCES Visit the page here and enter the password “2020IPAEHI”

  • Acute Respiratory Illness Precautions Checklist for Offices

  • PPE Donning and Doffing Video

  • COVID-19 Precautions Video for Patients

  • COVID-19 Flyers

THIS WEEK’S UPDATES

*NEW* PPE and Cleaning Supplies Request Form   Click here to request PPE/Cleaning Supplies hosted by the Behavioral Health & Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group (BHHSURG). Please note that these are pooled requests and will be compiled every Sunday, so please submit by Saturday, 11:59 PM. For more information on BHHSURG, visit their site here.

*NEW* Hilo Medical Center COVID-19 Drive-Through Testing

Drive-through COVID-19 testing continues to be available at Hilo Medical Center. Providers MUST SCREEN ALL PATIENTS for travel history & symptoms prior to sending them for testing. It is important to know that this service is for COVID-19 testing ONLY (Respiratory Panel & Influenza NOT included). To utilize these services:

  1. Complete a CLH lab requisition (or electronic order from your EHR)

  2. CLH COVID-19 Test code U685 has been changed. Order using Test code U681 instead. Include an ICD-10 and note on req “For HMC Drive-Through Testing

  3. If faxing paper requisition, fax to CLH Hilo Medical Center location at  (808) 935‐6928

Attached is the announcement with more details.

*NEW* Big Island Neurology Services   Effective April 2020, Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience has services available in their Kona clinic. See attached for more detail.

EVENTS

Board of Directors Election Mail-In Ballots   Due to COVID-19, the election for open seats on the EHI Board will be held by mail-in ballot. Ballots were mailed to all members this week. Please contact us if you DID NOT receive a ballot. Please return your ballot and sign your name (legibly) on the envelope provided. You may also FAX your ballot but must sign the form or it will not be counted. Ballots must be received at the IPA office by mail, hand delivery or FAX no later than noon on April 28. Ballots received after that time will not be counted. The results of the election will be announced at the Annual Meeting on Wednesday, April 29, held via webinar. If you are interested in participating in the meeting, please RSVP via Evite. Attached are nominee statements (here) and CVs (here). The IPA office is open for deliveries. If you plan to drop off your ballot in person, please call in advance at 808-797-3113.  If you have any questions, please email Jo at jvitales@ehiipa.com or call 808-797-3113.