Reopening  

Many psychiatrists continue to practice via telepsychiatry as appropriate to their situation.  For those considering seeing patients in person again, the following may be useful:

• CMS – Recommendations on Re-opening to Provide Non-emergent Non-COVID-19 Healthcare
• May 6 Maryland Directive and Conditions for Resuming Non-Urgent Health Care
• AMA – Mistakes to avoid as you reopen
• AMA – COVID-19 screening script
• APA – Guidance Document: Opening Your Practice During COVID-19 
• AMA – Senior Physician COVID-19 Resource Guide – returning to practice
• PRMS – Preparing for What’s Next – To Do List
• CDC – Recommendations for Health Care Personnel Return to Work Following COVID-19 Illness
• MedChi – Managing Healthcare Workers Exposed to COVID-19
• Precautions for Commercial Landlords

Telehealth

• BHA: Telehealth resource guide with telebehavioral health providers
• MedChi: Telehealth billing and coding guidelines
• Maryland Board of Physicians updated its telehealth FAQs to reflect the August 15, 2021 conclusion of Maryland’s State of Emergency as well as new legislation.
• Telehealth expanded during state of emergency to include audio-only calls – see order dated 03-20-20, which was amended and restated on April 1 as EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-04-01-01 and subsequently replaced by the Preserve Telehealth Act (SB 3).  Click here for a list of FAQs as of August 10, 2021.
• Medicare:  Coverage and Payment of Virtual Services video;
  • Telehealth Services (PDF)  booklet
  • Medicare Telehealth Payment Eligibility Analyzer
  • List of Covered Telehealth Services webpage
• CMS: audio-only behavioral telehealth reimbursed on par with regular visits retroactive to March 1 – see APA info
• Updated Novitas – How to Bill Telehealth and Telephone Only Services
• BHA FAQs (March 26, 2020): COVID-19 and Telehealth​
• Maryland Board of Physicians updated telehealth FAQs
• BHA Follow-up Guidance on Telehealth Services (March 24, 2020)​
• Optum Maryland requirements for audio-only telehealth Behavioral Health services. For other Optum provider alerts, click here.
• CareFirst Telemedicine Guidelines
• FSMB: Latest State Licensing Board Changes in Response to COVID-19
• PRMS Telepsychiatry Checklist – includes coronavirus updates (click for more PRMS resources)
• Sample telehealth consent forms: Massachusetts, Upper Midwest, Colorado.
• HHS – No penalties for infractions of HIPAA telehealth rules during the pandemic
• MHCC Telehealth Readiness Assessment Tool and Telehealth Resource Center
• Telehealth platforms – Non-HIPAA compliant platforms are currently allowed, but members may want to consider HIPAA compliant platforms that can be used beyond the pandemic. Although the MPS makes no endorsement, some members use the free, compliant doxy.me platform.
• DEA-SAMHSA: prescribe buprenorphine to new and existing patients via telephone
• DEA COVID-19 Information Page – authorizes CDS prescribing during the emergency via 2-way AV telemedicine for patients not previously examined in person
• Remote MoCA testing
• Free Telepsychiatry in the Era of COVID-19 webinar
• Free to members Telepsychiatry and Risk Management Considerations
• Ryan Haight Act Resource from PRMS
• For more telehealth information, see APA’s Resources on Telepsychiatry and COVID-19 page.

Maryland

• Maryland COVID-19 Vaccinations
• COVID-19 Pandemic Orders and Guidance
• MedChi Coronavirus Resource Center – includes COVID-19 testing sites in Maryland, telehealth coding/billing guide, and more
• Coronavirus Emergency Special Enrollment Period on Maryland Health Connection
• Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps online volunteer registration

Maryland Department of Health

• BHA COVID-19 Best Practices and Resource (Nov 2021)
• MDH coronavirus page with updates on cases in Maryland
• MDH Advisory waiving health insurers’ time restrictions on prescription refills
• MDH COVID-19 #1 – expansion of Medicaid to permit telehealth to the home
• Operation Courage addresses long-term mental health care needs of frontline workers and first responders amid the pandemic
• MDH PSA videos on coping with stress, anxiety, and depression
• MHCC – Broadening Access to Telehealth during a Public Health Emergency includes info on private insurance
• BHA COVID 19 web page including telehealth provider info, survey results, FAQs and more
• BHA Provider Guidance during COVID-19
• Recovery and Wellness Support Resources
• To ask questions about BHA procedures during the emergency, use their COVID-19 FAQ Submission Form.
• MDPCP Coronavirus Resources.

Maryland Insurance Administration

• Insurers to waive any time restrictions on prescription drug refills and authorize payment to pharmacies for at least a 30-day supply of medication
• The MIA is encouraging health insurers and HMOs to extend premium payment dates and grace periods during the pandemic.
• Deductibles, co-pays and other cost-sharing waived to control spread of COVID-19
• COVID-19 Health Insurance FAQs

General

• CDC added mood disorders, including depression, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders to its list of underlying medical conditions associated with higher risk for severe COVID-19.
• Department of Health and Human Services renewed the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, extending it for another 90 days from October 13, 2022 which will extend through January 11
• FAQs on Medicare Fee-for-Service Billing from CMS
•  Prescribers may order clozapine without an absolute neutrophil count reported within the specified timeframes
• SAMHSA Training and Technical Assistance Related to COVID-19
• SAMHSA guidance, including OTPs and Take Home OUD med quantities
• A CMS clinician letter summary of COVID flexibilities, including telehealth and virtual visits, accelerated and advanced payments, and waiver information.
• The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act waives geographic and originating site Medicare telehealth reimbursement restrictions for mental health services. CMS guidance allows patients to be seen via live videoconferencing in their homes, regardless of geographic location.  Click here for telehealth service codes.
• CARES Provider Relief Payment Portal and provider guide
• Accelerated and Advance Medicare payments (Accelerated Payment Program amounts are now being reevaluated and Advance Payment Program to Part B suppliers is suspended)
• FCC COVID Telehealth Program offers $200M of CARES funding to community mental health centers, teaching hospitals, medical schools, and other e nonprofit health systems to integrate telehealth technology into their practices.
• Medicare Provider Enrollment Relief
• CMS Coronavirus Toolkit
• AMA Code of Medical Ethics: Guidance in a pandemic
• APA Ethical Guidance for Psychiatrists’ Obligations during COVID-19
• Resources for psychiatrists, patients & families, and health care/community leaders are posted on the APA Coronavirus Information Hub.

Financial Assistance for Physician Practices 

• HHS:  CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Distribution Summary
• AMA:  CARES Act Financial assistance for physician practices
• MedChi:  Business Help Resources

Coping with Stress and Other COVID-19 Info

• Coping in the 2020/21 School Year A resource guide for students and young adults
• Webinar Series: Helping the Helpers and Those They Serve
• To support Marylanders experiencing mental health impacts related to COVID-19, a WARMLine is available 9 AM to 5 PM weekdays.  Dial 443-608-9182.
• Maryland Physician Health Program can help if the stress of the pandemic becomes too overwhelming. Please call 410-962-5580 or 800-992-7010, option 3.
• CDC – Healthcare Personnel – how to cope with COVID stress
• Clinician Well-Being During COVID-19 Webinar
• National Center for PTSD – managing anxiety for health care personnel
• MGH Psychiatry COVID-19 Mental Health Resources (continually updated)
• Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress Coronavirus Resources
• CDC advice on stress and coping
• CDC communicating during a public health crisis
• Coronavirus.gov
• WHO has COVID-19 Health Alerts in seven different languages via WhatsApp.

Resources for Children

• MY PANDEMIC STORY – A Guided Activity Workbook for the World’s Children, Families, Teachers and Caregivers