• The Maryland Department of Health all-physician calls will be held on Wednesdays ONLY.

• MedChi's COVID-19 email updates will be sent on Wednesdays and Fridays.

• The Maryland Department of Health all-physician call will be held today, Wednesday, July 1 at 5:00 pm.

• A webinar on PPP updates will be hosted by the Montgomery County Medical Society today at 1:00 pm

• CMS will hold its weekly Office Hours call on Tuesday, July 7 at 5:00 pm. Call 833-614-0820 and enter access passcode: 3048844 or register for the audio webcast link.

• The Horizon Foundation is hosting Coping with Trauma on the Frontlines of COVID-19 on Wednesday, July 8 at 12:00 pm.

• MedChi is hosting a discussion on business and legal considerations for medical practices during COVID-19 on Thursday, July 9 at 5:00 pm.

• Be sure to catch up on the latest news (both COVID- and non-COVID-related) in this week's MedChi News. MedChi members will continue to receive this newsletter directly in your inboxes on Mondays as we shift to a Wednesday-Friday schedule for our COVID-19 updates.

• I shared information in local papers on contact tracing and health insurance exchange special enrollment.

• Can a medical practice charge patients an extra fee for PPE? The answer is usually no (informational video link).

• Johns Hopkins is hiring COVID-19 hospitalists.

• The AMA wrote letters to Vice President Pence and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urging immediate action to address ongoing PPE shortage and access issues in ambulatory settings. 

• For COVID-19 testing in Maryland, including updates on this week's testing availability, visit the Maryland Department of Health's testing website.

• We are aware of several services for physicians and other health care providers who would be interested in stress relief services during the time of the pandemic. The Physician Support Line was launched on March 30 to provide free counseling to doctors facing challenges during the pandemic. Its website describes it as a “national, free, and confidential support line service made up of 600+ volunteer psychiatrists, joined together in the determined hope to provide peer support for our physician colleagues as we all navigate the COVID-19 epidemic.” More information is available at the website. The support line can be reached at 1-888-409-0141. Physicians in Maryland are reminded that stress or other issues can also be addressed by appointment through the Maryland Physicians Health Program, 410-962-5580 or 800-992-7010.