COVID-19 Practice Management –
CMS Updates and Upcoming Webinars   
Access key practice management tools and resources online at www.accma.org/Practice-Management , including telemedicine guidance, recommended strategies for incorporating telemedicine into your practice, small business assistance, and more. You may also access additional resources, including FAQs, a list of upcoming webinars (see below for full list), practice management resources, and more at www.cmadocs.org/covid-19 .
ACCMA Webinar - "Managing Your Practice Through COVID-19"
Friday, March 27 | 12:15 - 1:15 PM

This one-hour, online training aims to provide private practice physicians with the information needed to manage the COVID-19 crisis in your practice. Learn how to handle layoffs with a labor law expert. Managing your cash flow in your practice and discussion of the telemedicine codes as you navigate your practice in this challenging time. To access the meeting on Friday, March 27, click here .

This is a live recorded program through RingCentral Meetings. The first 100 participants will have access to the meeting and the recording will be available as soon as possible following the meeting. 
CMS Announces Relief for Clinicians, Providers, Hospitals and Facilities Participating in Quality Reporting Programs in Response to COVID-19  
 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced unprecedented relief for the clinicians, providers, and facilities participating in Medicare quality reporting programs including the 1.2 million clinicians in the Quality Payment Program and on the front lines of America’s fight against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Specifically, CMS announced it is granting exceptions from reporting requirements and extensions for clinicians and providers participating in Medicare quality reporting programs with respect to upcoming measure reporting and data submission for those programs. The action comes as part of the Trump Administration’s response to 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). 
 
“In granting these exceptions and extensions, CMS is supporting clinicians fighting Coronavirus on the front lines,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “The Trump Administration is cutting bureaucratic red tape so the healthcare delivery system can direct its time and resources toward caring for patients.” To view a list of all exceptions and extensions  visit the Press Release . 
COVID-19 Provider Enrollment Relief FAQs   
 
CMS released Frequently Asked Questions on Medicare Provider Enrollment Relief related to COVID-19 including the toll-free hotlines available to provide expedited enrollment and answer questions related to COVID-19 enrollment requirements. A copy of the FAQs can be  found here . 
AMA Publishes Telehealth Coding Guide  

The American Medical Association (AMA) has published new resources that provide special coding advice during the COVID-19 public health emergency. One resource  outlines coding scenarios  designed to help health care professionals apply best coding practices. The scenarios include telehealth services for all patients. Examples specifically related to COVID-19 testing include coding for when a patient: comes to the office for E/M visit, and is tested for COVID-19 during the visit; receives a telehealth visit re: COVID-19 and is directed to come to physician office or physician’s group practice site for testing; receives a virtual check-in/online visit re: COVID-19 (not related to E/M visit), and is directed to come to physician office for testing; and more. There is also a quick-reference  flowchart that outlines CPT reporting for COVID-19 testing . 
Upcoming Webinars  
 
Thursday, March 26 | 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
 
The need for social distancing due to the COVID-19 emergency has caused an explosion in the use of telehealth for patient care. Federal and state governments have issued a series of waivers, guidance and directives making it easier for physicians to use telehealth to interact with their patients during this crisis. These changes affect how physicians get reimbursed for telehealth, as well as providing flexibility in privacy laws to allow practices to operate more efficiently. This webinar will present all of the recent changes and how practices can take advantage of them to implement telehealth. To register for this webinar  please click here .  
 
Friday, March 27 | 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
 
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted many challenges for physicians in their role as an employer. In this webinar, attorney Oscar Rivas from Landegger Baron Law Group, will discuss a range of topics to help practices navigate employment and staffing issues, including the applicability of and exceptions to “shelter in place" orders, employee leave and time off, staff furlough and layoffs, and benefits available to staff and practices impacted by COVID-19. To register for this webinar  please click here . 
 
Monday, March 30 | 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
 
Telehealth continues to deliver value in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic by allowing physicians to see patients safely and limit the spread of the virus. Additionally, federal and state waivers, guidance and directives now enable physicians to get reimbursed fairly for telehealth visits, practices. This webinar will provide you with tools and resources for implementing telehealth in your practice. We will discuss options for your practice including the recently announced partnership between CMA Physician Services and Amwell. To register for this webinar  please click here . 
 
Tuesday, March 31 | 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM

This webinar will provide a layout out of financial assistance programs available to physician practices and small businesses, offered by both the federal government and the State of California. These programs are intended to help practices maintain their financial viability while dealing with the influx of patients into their offices and the moratorium of non-essential procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CMA staff will direct physicians to specific resources they can take advantage of during this crisis. To register for this webinar  please click here .  
 
Resources  
Questions/Concerns?  

Please contact ACCMA and 510-654-5383 or  [email protected]  with any questions or concerns you have. Although we may not currently have an immediate answer to all questions, we want to know the information and resources that you need to continue to provide care for our community during this difficult time.  
 
This information will also be posted online at  www.accma.org/COVID-19 and will be updated frequently. Please check the ACCMA website regularly for updates.