COVID - 19 INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Data Updates in Connecticut

As of April 15, 2020, a total of 14,755 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported among Connecticut residents. One thousand nine hundred eight patients are currently hospitalized. There have been 868 COVID-19-associated deaths.
COUNTY

Fairfield County
Hartford County
Litchfield County
Middlesex County
New Haven County
New London County
Tolland County
Windham County
Pending Address Confirmation
TOTAL
CONFIRMED CASES

6480
2570
490
379
3758
236
216
89
537
14755
DEATHS

365
213
35
28
195
7
22
1
2
868
For several additional charts and tables on testing performed in Connecticut, including a town-by-town breakdown of positive cases in each municipality, visit  ct.gov/coronavirus .
Medicare Issues Relief Payments to Physicians

Approximately $30 billion of the $100 billion appropriated for healthcare providers in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has been distributed to providers, including physicians, 
across the country. To many, it was a surprise payment – that came with terms and conditions which raise many questions. It is anticipated that additional guidance will follow from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),  but here is some of what we know  now, which remains subject to change.  It is recommended that the relief funds be segregated so that they can be properly accounted for in case of a possible later inspection.
(Information provided by FCMA’s general counsel - Garfunkel Wild, PC) 
Physicians Begin Receiving First Round of CARES Act Grants

Physicians on Friday began receiving $30 billion from the first round of grant funding from Congress’ third stimulus package.

The funds, from the $100 billion provider relief fund in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, were distributed based on providers’ share of 2019 Medicare fee-for-service reimbursements.
The grants do not have to be repaid, but administration officials said Thursday that grant recipients  have to agree not to balance bill   patients for out-of-network COVID-19 treatment.

Many physicians received direct deposits on Friday morning. HHS said that payment was made through information on file either with UnitedHealth Group or the CMS, and paper checks will be sent out for remaining physicians within the next few weeks. Payments for larger medical groups will be sent to the group’s central billing office, according to background materials.

UnitedHealth Group said combined with its affiliates, it has relationships with more than 80% of all U.S. healthcare providers and hospitals. The insurer donated administrative costs in the partnership.

HHS said it is working on how to distribute the remaining $70 billion. The agency said it will prioritize physicians and other providers in areas with severe COVID-19 outbreaks, rural providers and those who serve the Medicaid population or have a payer mix that’s lighter on Medicare fee-for-service payments in the next round. The Friday announcement also  reiterated the department’s intent  to use some of the funds to  reimburse providers  for COVID-19 treatment for the uninsured at Medicare rates.
Surprise Billing for Out-of-Network Services and COVID-19 Services to Patients  

Effective April 5, 2020 through the duration of the public health emergency, an out-of-network provider who renders emergency services to an insured patient may bill the insured’s health carrier directly and health carriers shall reimburse the out-of-network provider as if the services were provided by an in-network provider. EO7U suspends the Connecticut statute allowing health carriers and out-of-network providers to agree to a greater reimbursement amount than in-network providers receive, effectively requiring out-of-network providers to accept the in-network reimbursement rate.
 
Also under the governor’s Executive Order 7U, hospitals, health systems and hospital-based facilities are prohibited from collecting from an insured patient an amount greater than the Medicare rate for services related to the treatment of COVID-19. This rule remains in place unless and until there is an executive order calling for federal funds to cover uninsured patient’s costs related to COVID19. Hospitals, health systems and hospital-based facilities are required to maintain fiscal records of services provided to uninsured patients for COVID-19 treatment.
 
For more information from FCMA’s general counsel concerning these provisions,  click here . 
Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Approves No-Cost Life Insurance Coverage for Front-Line Health Care Workers

Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais announced that front-line health care workers in Connecticut and Massachusetts may soon be eligible to receive up to $25,000 of life insurance at no cost. The Connecticut Insurance Department has expedited approval of HealthBridge, a new Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) life insurance product that offers no-cost, guaranteed issue policies to front-line health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new HealthBridge coverage allows health care and other workers on the front lines of the pandemic to directly enroll for a no-premium payment three-year life insurance policy with a $25,000 death benefit for issue ages 18 to 50. Workers with issue ages 51 to 60 will receive a no-cost $10,000 death benefit.

Eligible individuals must be employed at a licensed hospital, urgent care center, or with an emergency medical services provider in Connecticut or Massachusetts and have exposure to COVID-19 patients. In addition to doctors and nurses, lab technicians, custodial staff, maintenance crews, cafeteria workers, and security personnel will also be considered for coverage. More details and enrollment information is available on  MassMutual’s HealthBridge website .

Quick Reference Guide to Professional Liability Insurance
Carriers Response to COVID-19
Carrier
CMIC
COVID 19 Response FQA's
Payment Deferral
On March 25th, CMIC announced that they are deferring premium payments on all of their policies for 90 days. The new due date for premium payments will be June 30, 2020  
COPIC
Part of FQA Link
Coverys
ISMIE
Mag Mutual
MDAdvantage
MedPro
MLMIC
Medical Mutual of ME
COVID RM Resources Only Link:
Call your underwriter of John Doyle -
(207) 775-2791
(all employees are currently working from home)
Norcal
ProAssurance
TDC
DRS Extends Filing Payment Deadlines for Certain State Tax Returns

(Hartford, CT) – To provide relief to Connecticut taxpayers during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS) is extending the filing and payment deadlines of certain returns until July 15, 2020. These extensions align Connecticut tax filing and payment dates with filing and payment extensions recently announced by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
“In general, Connecticut tax filings are based on submission of the corresponding federal return,” said Acting Revenue Services Commissioner John Biello. “The filing and payment extensions announced by DRS today keep Connecticut in line with recent federal updates and, in these difficult circumstances, offer taxpayers and tax professionals clarity and more time to prepare their returns.”

To view the impacted Connecticut returns and the associated filing dates and payment deadlines
IRS Extends Deadline for Forms 5500 Due Before July 15, 2020

On April 9, 2020, the IRS issued Notice 2020-23 to extend key tax deadlines for individuals and businesses in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
 
This new tax relief is provided under Section 7508A of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), which gives the IRS authority to postpone deadlines for taxpayers affected by federally declared disasters.
Connecticut Receives Donation of Hydroxychloroquine that will be Distributed at Hospitals Statewide

The State of Connecticut has received a generous donation of hydroxychloroquine from Amneal Pharmaceuticals that will be distributed to acute care hospitals as they combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and work to ensure that critically ill patients have access to the medication. The Food and Drug Administration recently authorized emergency use of the medication to treat COVID-19 in certain hospitalized patients. Hydroxychloroquine is traditionally used to treat autoimmune disease such as lupus.

Approximately 400,000 tablets (4,000 bottles) of the 200mg hydroxychloroquine tablets have shipped and are starting to be received by hospitals. They went direct to medical facilities in order to ensure that patients have direct access to the medication and aims to limit hoarding and inappropriate use or prescribing. The donation was secured through the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection’s Drug Control Division with the collaboration of the Connecticut Hospital Association.

The medication was sent to hospitals in the statewide based on the total number of beds the for which each hospital is licensed. Additional allotments were sent to hospitals supporting or expected to support recovery centers. Hospitals, following the procedures set by the Drug Control Division, may move this medication to other hospitals should there be a need.

Medicare Posts Helpful April 7 Letter to Physicians Summarizing a Variety of Areas Including:

To read the letter to Physicians  click here

  • Accelerated and Advance Payments
  • Testing and Claims Reporting for COVID-19
  • Medicare Telehealth Visits
  • Virtual Check-Ins
  • E-Visits
  • Workforce Flexibilities
  • Quality Payment Program
  • Emergency Waivers
CMS Approves Over $51 Billion for Providers with the Accelerated/Advance Payment Program for Medicare Providers in One Week

CMS delivered more than $51 billion to physicians and other healthcare providers on the front-lines battling the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) to ensure they have the resources they need to combat this pandemic. This is an increase from the $34 billion that CMS previously announced. Processing times for a request of an accelerated or advance payment is now four to six days, down from the previous timeframe of three to four weeks. In a little over a week, CMS has already approved over 21,000 of the 32,000 requests it received from physicians, other providers and suppliers seeking accelerated and advance payments. Prior to COVID-19, CMS had approved just over 100 total reques ts in the past five years, with most being tied to natural disasters such as hurricanes.

Note: Payments are now up to $51 billion. CMS approved over 21,000 of 32,000 requests received.
CARES 2 Package Taking Shape in the House

With talks breaking down in the Senate on an interim COVID-19 relief measure, attention is shifting to the House where another large-scale economic stimulus package is taking shape.

This bill, which follows the $2.2 trillion CARES Act signed into law two weeks ago, will likely inject another $1 trillion or more into the faltering economy, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told Democrats on a call this week.

Pelosi said the next relief package will be focused on replenishing funds for programs established in the CARES Act, including the Paycheck Protection Program, which has seen a surge in demand from businesses seeking loans to survive the coronavirus pandemic. Pelosi said there will likely also be additional direct payments to individuals, extended unemployment insurance and more resources for food stamps in the bill. House Democrats are also looking for more aid for state and local governments in this next phase.

Pelosi said the House will pass the next relief package this month. The House is not scheduled to be back in session until April 20 at the earliest and passing legislation by voice vote would require unanimous consent.
HELPFUL ARTICLES




Less than 2% of COVID-19 Cases Involve Children  (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

USEFUL LINKS












PAST GARFUNKEL WILD WEBINARS

Implementing and Expanding Telehealth to Address COVID-19

COVID-19 Billing for Telemedicine Services and Q&A Session

Navigating A Murky Landscape: An Employer’s Guide To Responding To The Challenges of COVID-19

Exiting and Entering Contracts in the Age of Coronavirus

A State Update: How to Operationalize the Connecticut Administration’s Expectation Regarding Elective Cases in ASCs
PAST HCMA WEBINARS

CT Unemployment and Shared Work Programs

Small Business Loans and Tax Advice

The COVID Crisis: Financial Options and Contract Issues