VMS Applauds New Guidelines on Resuming Some Non-Urgent Health Care Services, But Seeks Clarity on Staff Testing
The Vermont Medical Society (VMS) applauds Governor Scott and Department of Health Commissioner, Dr. Mark Levine, for releasing guidance yesterday allowing for certain non-urgent health care services to resume in Vermont, including non-urgent out-patient clinic visits, diagnostic imaging and outpatient surgeries and procedures. The VMS has been actively working with the Agency of Human Services and with the Vermont Association of Hospital and Health Systems (VAHHS), HealthFirst and Bi-State Primary Care Association to develop Principles and Guidance for Patient Care During COVID-19 that helped inform the Administration's guidance. The VMS continues to seek clarity on the periodic testing of health care employees required by the guidelines for those performing outpatient surgeries and procedures. Dr. Levine clarified in a VMS-Department of Health call this afternoon that physicians and other clinicians can use their clinical judgment in ordering tests for patients ahead of procedures “requiring airway management,” and that this refers to procedures that routinely require airway management rather than those that might need airway management on an unexpected, emergency basis. VMS put out a press release yesterday thanking the administration and urging patients to seek needed medical care. VMS is also running the ad included on the top of this email to inform patients that medical practices are open to provide care.
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Health Care Committees Hold Telehealth Hearing – VMS Urges Continuation of Emergency Flexibilities
During a joint hearing
with the House and Senate Health Care Committees this morning, a number of
stakeholders testified on the quick scaling up of telehealth delivery in
Vermont during the COVID-19 crisis and the need for flexibilities in telehealth
regulation to continue for the foreseeable future. Family physician and VMS
member, Katie Marvin, M.D., shared how telehealth and phone services have been
a true game changer in her practice’s ability to serve the elderly, the
underserved, patients on MAT and patients with chronic care needs. Jessa
Barnard, the Executive Director of the Vermont Medical Society, also testified
and urged the Committees to keep the changes made in H.742/Act
91 that have provided broader telehealth coverage and licensing
flexibilities until at least June 30, 2021. This would allow Vermont
practitioners to maintain health care services if the COVID virus begins to
resurge. Insurance carriers testified that they are looking at which services
are clinically appropriate for audio-only delivery if that coverage is to
continue beyond the immediate COVID 19 emergency. The Committees are scheduled
to discuss potential legislation on this topic on Thursday at 9:30 am and the
VMS will continue to monitor closely. |
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Questions for VDH? VMS Hosts Weekly COVID-19 CALLS With VDH
Tuesdays 12:15-12:45 pm
Join Skype Meeting
Join by phone: Dial-in number: +1 (802) 552-8456
Conference ID: 993815551
Please join VMS, for a Weekly COVID-19 update from 12:15-12:45 pm hosted by Vermont Department of Health (VDH) Commissioner Mark Levine to update Vermont's clinicians on the latest state information and protocols.
Click here for the latest VDH Health Alerts
NGS Upcoming Training Sessions for Medicare Part B Providers
Do you want to learn more about the CMS Advanced and Accelerated Payment Program or Medicare's Telehealth coverage. National Government Services are offering several educational training sessions and webinars over the next two weeks that could help you and your practice. Click here to see the schedule and to find the registration links. |
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Please click here for the updated UVM Larner College of Medicine CMIE 2020 Conference schedule. |
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Vermont Care Partners is hosting several webinars during the months of May and June, 2020 regarding mental health delivery, telehealth and community care service delivery during COVID-19. Click for the event schedule. |
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VMS May Webinar: Optimal Care for Elders in the TIme of COVID 19 with Zail Berry, M.D.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
from 12-1PM via ZOOM
Please preregister
Join us for this CME webinar with Zail Berry, MD. We are now offering our monthly webinars for free for all participants and have changed the platform of our webinars to a ZOOM. Please register for this webinar here. You will receive one credit of CME. To see the full schedule and to learn more about the VMS 2019/2020 Monthly Webinar Series that occurs every third Thursday of the month from 12-1PM click here.
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VPQHC Upcoming Telehealth Events Click here for all upcoming events
Wednesday, May 6th, "Barriers to Telehealth in Primary Care & Chronic Care Management" during the 12-1p.m. office hour, led by Dr. Mark McGee, current President of Alpine Telehealth, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont. Contact telehealth@vpqhc.org to join
Thursday, May 7th, "Medicare Coverage for Telehealth," during the 8-9 a.m. Virtual Office hour. Contact telehealth@vpqhc.org to join Friday, May 8th, "Telehealth for Mental Health Providers" from 12-1p.m. Click here for more information and to register Telehealth Virtual Office Hours on Wednesdays from 12 pm - 1 pm and Thursdays from 8-9 am. The Wednesday office hour session will be supported by Dr. Mark McGee, current President of Alpine Telehealth. Contact telehealth@vpqhc.org
Please let VMS know if you are having issues with any aspect of expanding telehealth services for your practice, including the technology, coding, reimbursement, etc. Contact jsudhoffguerin@vtmd.org
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Vermont Medical Society 134 Main Street PO Box 1457 Montpelier, VT 05601 -- Unsubscribe -- |
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