COVID-19 Update: New CMS Virtual Training
On July 21, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new 10-week, virtual peer-to-peer learning community entitled, HHS Telemedicine Hack. The training was developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness Response (ASPR), and other partners to accelerate telemedicine implementation for ambulatory providers.
This initiative is designed to support the wide adoption of telemedicine services as an essential part of care delivery models now and after the Public Health Emergency (PHE). The free training is being offered on Wednesdays, 12:00-1:00 pm ET. It began on July 22 and will run through September 23, 2020. To view archived sessions, visit the Project Echo webpage for details.
Register for the training here (registration is required).
The HHS Telemedicine Hack initiative includes five teleECHO training sessions, five virtual “office hour” discussion panels, and inter-session peer-to-peer learning facilitated via virtual discussion boards and ad hoc interest groups.
Topics include the following:
- Telemedicine: Where do I start?
- Workflows and Documentation
- Billing & Reimbursement: How Do I Properly Do it and Ensure Compliance
- Clinical Best Practices and the Art of the Tele-Physical Exam
- The New Normal: Tips to Make Telemedicine Part of your Permanent Practice
For additional information and to register, click here. CME/CEU credits are also available.
Clinicians may also be interested in attending HHS/ASPR COVID-19 Clinical Rounds; for registration and additional information, click here.
If you have questions regarding the current telemedicine waivers and flexibilities, be sure to review the Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Medicare Fee-for-Service response to the Public Health Emergency on COVID-19 guidance. The MLN fact sheet has been recently revised and is updated on an ongoing basis.
Reminder of August 3rd Deadline – Provider Relief Fund
Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) the distribution of approximately $15 billion from the Provider Relief Fund to eligible providers that participate in state Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicaid managed care plans and have not received a payment from the Provider Relief Fund General Distribution. Eligible providers must apply by August 3, 2020. To review the eligibility requirements and learn how to apply, review the HRSA Fact Sheet.