Daily COVID-19 Email Update - May 11, 2020

A Message from Dr. Rebecca Wartman, NCOS Third Party Liaison

North Carolina Moves to Phase 1

On Friday at 5 p.m., Governor Cooper modified North Carolina's Stay At Home Executive Order, transitioning the state to Phase 1. Resources for business are available in English and Spanish online, including:

  • Executive Order 138 and FAQ
  • Fact Sheet on What's New in Phase One 
  • Interim Guidance for Owners, Staff and Patrons of Businesses 
  • Checklist for Business Owners 
  • Signage for Businesses 
  • Symptom Screening Checklist 

What to Know About Cloth Face Coverings

Following CDC guidance, Executive Order 138 recommends that people wear a cloth face covering when they leave their house and may be less than six feet from other people who are not family or household members. Covering your face is about helping others and being a good neighbor and community member.

Learn more about cloth face coverings. (English / Spanish)

New Portal Opens to File Claims for COVID-19 Testing and Treatment of Uninsured Patients 

Health care providers and hospitals can use a new portal to request reimbursement for claims associated with COVID-19 testing and treatment of uninsured patients retroactive to Feb. 4, 2020. The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal was launched by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support health care providers in delivering COVID-19 diagnostic testing and treatment at no cost to patients. It can be accessed at COVIDUninsuredClaim.linkhealth.com.


NCOS Webinar - Claims Filing: Completing the CMS 1500 Form

A new Third Party webinar is now available and ready to be viewed. This webinar reviews how to properly complete the standard insurance filing form.

Click here to view the webinar. 


NCTracks: Know Your W's

Wear. Wait. Wash. As North Carolina eases some COVID-19 restrictions, the NC Department of Health and 
Human Services is asking people to remember these three things to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve.

If you leave home, practice your Ws: Wear, Wait, Wash  

  • Wear a cloth face covering if you will be with other people. 
  • Wait six feet apart. Avoid close contact.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer. 

Help get the word out by sharing materials and posting on social media in English and Spanish. Encourage people to remember their 3 Ws: Wear, Wait, Wash.


CMS Telehealth Video: Medicare Coverage and Payment of Virtual Services

CMS updated a video that answers common questions about the expanded Medicare telehealth services benefit during the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

New information includes how CMS adds services to the list of telehealth services, additional practitioners that can provide telehealth services, and the distant site services that Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) can provide.

Further, the video includes information about audio-only telehealth services, telehealth services that hospitals, nursing homes and home health agencies can provide, along with how to correctly bill for telehealth services.


#AskAOA Crisis Relief Webinars for Doctors and Staff

The AOA encourages member participation and questions in the next #AskAOA COVID-19 webinars.

Doctors: #AskAOA Hot Topics

What: Drs. Jeff Michaels, Rebecca Wartman and Chris Wroten discuss the latest telehealth billing changes, questions and issues facing practice reopenings, PPP forgiveness updates and more.
When: 9 p.m. ET, Tues., May 12

Register here

Staff: #AskAOA Practice Reactivation Guidance for Paraoptometric Staff

What: Erlinda Rodriguez, CPO, addresses reactivation guidance for staff with information concerning waiting room design, cleaning procedures, best patient engagement practices and more.
When: 9 p.m. ET, Thurs., May 14

Register here

Doctors and staff can email advance questions to [email protected] or ask live.

Through continuous outreach to policymakers, payers, the news media and the public, the AOA and affiliates are advancing urgent priorities:

  • Supporting practice reactivation
  • Holding plans accountable
  • Fighting for PPE cost relief
  • Expanding relief to more doctors and practices
  • Securing full patient care and COVID-19 testing authority
  • Building greater public awareness of optometry and eye exams

Visit AOA's COVID-19 Resource page for updates and resources.


SECO LIVE Webinar - The Disease of Myopia and Strategies for Myopia Control

Myopia is an independent risk factor for glaucoma, cataracts and retinal detachment.This lecture reviews current myopia risk factors, prevalence, progression, management and marketing strategies to help the doctor manage myopia appropriately.

When: Thursday, May 14th at 8:00 PM
Speaker: Melissa Barnett, OD

Register Now!

NOTE: COPE has approved this course as LIVE CE. You will receive the same credit as if you attended a live face-to-face CE event.


New Resources

To Stay Afloat in the Pandemic, Doctors' Offices Turn to GoFundMe (5/10/20)

Employers Ask, "How Do I Get My Workers Back to the Workplace?" (5/8/20) 

CMS Evaluation and Management Services Guide (5/8/20)


COVID-19 Statistics

NCDHHS COVID-19 Dashboard

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center 

WorldoMeter Coronavirus Website