Cigna is making an exception during the COVID-19 emergency to allow providers to bill a standard face-to-face visit for all virtual care, i.e., telehealth services, including those provided by telephone-only. This policy applies to new and established patients (Cigna has released separate interim telehealth guidance for behavioral health services).
KMA has produced a one-page guide for physicians, available here, for utilizing telehealth with Cigna patients. This document is available to members as an informational resource. KMA expresses no opinion as to the feasibility, applicability, or impact to your particular practice. The guidance outlined applies to Anthem plans only.
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Releases Statement Regarding Continuing Certification During COVID-19
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has released a statement regarding continuing certification in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. The statement includes the Board’s commitment to flexibility during this time, including “enhanced activities and heightened education in partnership with specialty societies focused on COVID-19, to deferment of activities or requirements and/or the extension of cycle deadlines, depending on the timing of activities in the Boards’ continuing certification programs in 2020.”
“We understand that the pandemic will have a highly variable impact on physicians based on the unique needs of their specialty. Individual Boards will respond in ways that best meet the needs of physicians in their particular specialty.”
The full statement is available here.
Directives from Kentucky Board of Pharmacy Special Board Meeting
The Kentucky Board of Pharmacy met March 25 to discuss concerns regarding prescriptions and licensing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Directives from that meeting are available here.
CMS Conference Call: Lessons from The Front Lines: COVID-19
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is inviting physicians to participate in a conference call tomorrow, Saturday, March 28th from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST. The topic of discussion is “COVID-19 Therapeutics.” Physicians are invited to join to share ideas, strategies, and insights with one another.
Please see dial-in details below. Conference lines are limited, so attendees are highly encouraged to join via audio webcast, either via computer or smartphone web browser.
Participant Dial In: 877-251-0301
Conference ID: 9409959
Audio Webcast https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=0d59a9bc-510ca0af-0d599883-0cc47adb5650-9ac2bdf1f2555d1a&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=1738
Reminder to Members: KMA COVID-19 Webpage Resources
KMA’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage, kyma.org/covid19, provides a number of resources of interest to Kentucky physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The page includes sections on telehealth, directives and waivers, coding reminders, archives of previous KMA Member Alerts, and links to public service announcements produced by KMA and the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.
Members are also encouraged to sign up for KMA’s text alert service for the latest updates by texting “KMA” to 50457 and to follow KMA on Twitter, @KYMedAssoc.
