COVID-19 UPDATES

For the next few weeks, our Weekly Alert will focus on COVID-19 Updates. IPA staff are working from home remotely but are prepared to support you and your patients. We are in the process of setting up a hotline to help triage patients, establish telehealth services for eClinical Works clinics and create customized letters, postcards and patient portal messages to send to your patients. We are also testing a process to follow up with patients going to the ER who have tested positive for COVID-19 and checking in by phone with patients who need behavioral health support. PPE shortages are a huge problem. Please sign up below to be placed on a priority list for masks (deadline today, March 26). Attached are EHI IPA COVID-19 guidelines attachment and the latest DOH Medical Advisory information (here). Here is a direct link to the DOH Medical Advisories.

 

*NEW* Hawai‘i Department of Health COVID-19 Updates can be accessed by logging on to hawaiicovid19.com. This website provides timely information and resources on coronavirus, including guidance on how to prevent and mitigate community spread, common symptoms, and frequently asked questions. Sign up to receive updates at health.hawaii.gov/updates.

*NEW* Governor Ige Issues Statewide Order to Stay at Home   On Monday, March 23, Gov. David Ige issued an order for the State of Hawaii to stay at home and work from home starting Wednesday, March 25 through April 30. Essential workers are exempt. Attached is the announcement including the official proclamation and more.

*NEW* Request for Masks   Vibrant Hawaii is sending out this request form to all clinics who need to request for masks (attached). Please submit form TODAY, THURSDAY, MARCH 26.

*NEW* Hilo Medical Center (HMC) Asking for Provider Volunteers   HMC has detailed plans in place to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. HMC will not have enough licensed providers to handle the anticipated flood of patients requiring hospitalization. They need to rely on our network of independent community providers. We shared with HMC that our provider members are currently on the front line, managing patients to keep them out of the hospital and ER as much as possible, helping them postpone elective procedures and providing invaluable education. Our goal is to help prevent a tsunami of cases from ever reaching the hospital and keeping our providers and staff healthy and safe so we are available to serve the community. Attached is a letter asking physicians to sign up and applicable forms (here, here, here, and here). Compensation and insurance are available for anyone who chooses to serve. If you are interested in signing up, please contact Jo at jvitales@ehiipa.com 808-797-3113.

COVID-19 Employment Guidelines & FAQ   America’s Physician Groups (APG) shared a guideline (here) for employers as a resource.

Endoscopy Center   On March 14, gastroenterology clinics around the nation were advised to postpone all elective procedures, such as screening & surveillance colonoscopies, and non-urgent Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The Endoscopy Center has rescheduled all procedures with these diagnoses for dates after April 5, 2020. For more details, please read the notice attached.

TESTING

Hilo Medical Center COVID-19 Drive-Up Testing

Drive-Up 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. Write in the COVID‐19 Test code U685 in the miscellaneous field, then fill in an ICD‐10, 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* COVID-19 TESTING CRITERIA AND SPECIMENT COLLECTION PROCESS

Clinical Labs of Hawaii has updated their specimen collection guidelines. They have combined flu/respiratory panel kits and COVID-19 kits into ONE simple kit. Only ONE (1) nasopharyngeal swab in viral media is now required for any of the tests noted above. Per CDC recommendations, an Oropharyngeal (OP) swab is acceptable if NP swabs are not available if only ordering COVID-19 (attached). Contact CLH Account Services Representative Jacqueline Kopie at 808-987-7439 if you have any questions or need testing supplies.

Diagnostic Laboratory Services has provided the following ordering guidelines. Use the following:

  • SARS SOV-2 RNA (COVID-19) (DLS7180) – for sending out COVID-19 test to Quest

  • Influenza A/B w/Reflex to COVID-19 (DLS6234R) – influenza a/b reflex to COVID-19

TELEHEALTH BILLING

COVID-19 Information & Resources from HMSA   Please see attached announcement from HMSA President & CEO Dr. Mark Mugiishi that is being sent to all PCPs (here).  The HOC (HMSA Online Care) PRC site is now live. You can find it under the “working with HMSA” top navigation and it’s under both “news” and “FAQ,” or by searching for “HOC” or “HMSA’s Online Care.” HMSA also added a link to the HOC page on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) page.

CONTACT TIFFANY PA at tiffany_pa@hmsa.com or call 808.630.5020 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS

Medicare Telemedicine Healthcare Provider Fact Sheet   The links attached (here and here) provides regularly updated information on Medicare telemedicine visits and reimbursement.

*NEW* HMSA Telehealth Services Policy   HMSA encourages all members to consider using telehealth services when healthcare is needed to comply with the stay-at-home mandate currently in effect. HMSA will waive all cost sharing and deductibles for fully insured Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid members who use telehealth visits, virtual check-ins, and e-visits during this period of emergency declaration (through May 15). See attached chart of billing codes to use for virtual visits. Visit the FAQ here. Please email PSInquiries@hmsa.com with any questions on this updated policy.

RESOURCES

COVID-19 Precautions Video   Attached is a video on basic information regarding COVID-19 to send to your patients using the link (here).

CDC COVID-19 Flyers   Attached are flyers 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.

EVENTS

*NEW* Hilo Heart Walk Event CANCELLED   Mahalo to offices and individuals who participated. EHI IPA raised over $2000 and is one of the top three fundraising teams. There will be a virtual heart walk activities from March 28 – April 3. See attached for more details.

*NEW* Annual General Membership Meeting (UPDATE) – Wednesday, April 29, 5:30 PM   Plans are underway to hold a virtual Annual Meeting. We will send an updated announcement next week.