COVID-19 Coding Update, Nicholoff in Bridge Magazine, MOA offering Autumn Online CME, member survey and more

October 6, 2020

MOA Executive Director Kris Nicholoff with Opinion piece in Bridge Magazine

The dangers of delaying cancer screenings amid COVID-19

Here in Michigan, as in all other places around the country, most of us put off important preventative appointments throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Some of us are just beginning to get those checkups back on the calendar. Cancer screenings fall into this category, too, and we must work hard to offset the effects of those "lost" months.

Health organizations knew how critical it was to follow federal and state guidelines to help slow the spread of this virus within our communities and nation. Many of our osteopathic physicians and medical students were and are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response. We knew our patients had to stay home and safe while hospital resources were stretched thin in many parts of our Great Lakes State and country. We adapted and incorporated more telemedicine wherever possible.The results of that early quarantine period are plain to see. In March, nationwide screenings for breast, cervical and colon cancer plummeted between 86 percent and 94 percent compared to the previous three years. (continue to Bridge article)

A New Wave of Diagnoses: How COVID-19 Has Changed Rural Life in Michigan

Michigan Osteopathic Association President Elect David Best, DO, MS, ABAM, was quoted in a recent edition of Gander Newsroom. The article highlights the changes northern Michigan has seen in healthcare and stresses the importance of rural hospitals in the near future.

“Private insurance, they’re in business to make profits and they don’t want to take on high-cost patients if they don’t have to,” Best told The ‘Gander. “That would lead to potential loss of coverage and decreased options and probably more expense if they’re able to get coverage at all.” (continue to full article on Gander Newsroom)

Autumn Online CME event Nov. 7 and 8

After surveying our membership and analyzing the current situation regarding COVID-19, the Michigan Osteopathic Association has made the decision to cancel the in-person convention that is annually held in Grand Rapids. In its place, the MOA will provide CME sessions online in the same manner Spring CME sessions were presented. The speakers for this event are being selected and registration is open. If you participated in the Spring CME program, your Online Learning Center profile has been created.

Simply register using the link below and the program will show in your profile one week before the event. If you are new to the Online Learning Center, you should also register using the link below. Your profile will be created and the program will be added a week before the event. All registrants will receive instructional emails before the event.

For more information and Autumn CME registration

There is a watchful eye and a bold voice for policy affecting you and your practice.

Without events like our House of Delegates Meeting and Annual Convention, contributions are down. Help bolster MOPAC efforts today with your donation for the osteopathic profession.

Donate to MOPAC

2020 Donor List

Membership Renewal

The membership Renewal notices have been sent out for the 2021 calendar year. While this has been a challenging year for all, the MOA has focused on transitioning in-person events to online events to better serve our members. We have also focused on how we can offer information and services during the time of COVID-19. Please let us know if we can help you and your practice as we navigate reopening our communities.

We thank you for your continued support and hope that all of our members are staying safe. Please know we are working hard to adapt and that we are thankful for the support our members and partners.

Membership Renewal

"The services provided to patients in many counties in Michigan by osteopathic physicians was very much depended on support and services provided by Michigan Osteopathic Association and other osteopathic organizations, county and state. These organizations were needed to continue improving, protecting and strengthening laws that protect the osteopathic practice, prompting members of the state legislature to enact and enable the development of a College of Osteopathic Medicine."

William Anderson, DO,

MOA Member since 1965

On demand CME from the MOA Learning Center

7 Sessions. 7 AOA Category 1-A credits

Nuts and Bolts Session

Michigan’s expanded Medicaid program hits record enrollment during coronavirus crisis

From MLive— More than 800,000 Michiganders have enrolled in Michigan’s expanded Medicaid program, which aims to provide health care coverage to low-income residents through the Affordable Care Act.

The Healthy Michigan Plan had almost 682,000 enrollees in late March at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. As COVID-19 has affected Michiganders' finances and health, enrollment has grown to a record 800,794, or about 8% of residents, according to a Tuesday, Sept. 29 announcement from the Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office.

(continue to MLive article)

Employment Policies Regarding a COVID-19 Vaccine

From Kerr Russell— As clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine progress, many employers are asking whether they will be able to require their employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment once a vaccine becomes available.

While neither the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) nor the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have taken a position regarding COVID-19 vaccine policies, their response to the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic offers guidance to employers who are considering a mandatory vaccine requirement.

In 2009, OSHA took the official position that employers may require employees to get a vaccine but emphasized that the employee must first be “properly informed of the benefits of the vaccinations.” But an employer’s ability to require a vaccine as a condition of employment is not absolute. OSHA further explained that “an employee who refuses vaccination because of a reasonable belief that he or she has a medical condition that creates a real danger of serious illness or death may be protected under Section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 pertaining to... (continue to full article)

COVID-19 Coding Update

COVID-19 Coding Update The effect of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) worldwide is unprecedented and multidimensional. The American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT ® ) Editorial Panel is tasked with ensuring that CPT codes remain up to date and reflect the latest medical care available to patients. To achieve this, the CPT Editorial Panel has set a precedent for rapidly releasing CPT codes during the pandemic to address this emergent issue. In keeping with this practice, the CPT Editorial Panel approved new Category I codes and expedited the publication of these new codes to the AMA website on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, at https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/cpt/covid-19-coding-and-guidance

These codes are effective immediately. New code 99072 was established to report additional practice expenses incurred during a Public Health Emergency (PHE), including supplies and additional clinical staff time.

DHHS RESCHEDULES OPIOID TOWN HALLS: A slate of opioid abuse townhalls have been rescheduled, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday. Each of the townhalls will also be presented virtually. Details on how to participate will be provided at michigan.gov/opioids closer to the events.

DHHS released the following town hall schedule with new dates:

· Upper Peninsula (previously the Escanaba town hall) Thursday, October 8.

· West Michigan (previously the Grand Rapids town hall) Friday, November 6.

· Macomb and Oakland counties Thursday, December 3.

The Flu and COVID-19 episode

Drs. Gilpin and Shajahan discuss what it will take for the U.S. to avoid a "twindemic" - the COVID-19 pandemic colliding with flu season - and why it's the most important year to get a flu shot.

HouseCall link

Fulford Percussion Course - Member Survey

In November of 2019, the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) presented the Fulford Percussion Course. The two-day event featured Richard Koss, DO, C-SPOMM, C-ACOFP, and William H. Stager, DO, MS, MPH, FAAFP teaching OMT, osteopathic philosophies and practice principles that Dr. Robert Fulford perfected in his over 55 years of exploration and clinical practice. The sessions drew attendees from 5 different countries and 9 states.

The MOA is in the planning stages of delivering another Fulford Percussion Course in 2021 and we are looking for input from our members. We invite all MOA members to take this quick, 3-question survey and provide your opinion.

Fulford Course Member Survey

VotER works to get patients registered to vote

VotER is creating momentum around civic engagement in healthcare, with a range of partners across the US including Ascension network of hospitals, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Hospital Association, several community health clinics, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Wisconsin, and more.

VotER is an online platform that low acuity patients can use to register to vote while they

wait, using their personal phones. Posters, hospital badge accessories, and patient handouts can all trigger the platform via text/QR. The platform also guides users through the process of requesting an absentee ballot and sets up automatic election reminders to ensure patients are prepared to vote.

Get more information on VotER

SoFi Rate Discounts

Provides AOA members (including residents) a 0.25% rate discount when refinancing student loans or a $100 cash welcome bonus for personal loans. See how much you can save in two minutes.

SoFi Discount link