Dear Colleagues:
Please take time to read the MedChi News announcement of the passing of our colleague, Alex Azar, MD linked in the April 13, 2020 Medchi update.
Over the weekend MedChi sent out several updates that we wanted to share.
We are pleased that MedChi and the Maryland Legislators advocated for physicians and now CareFirst is providing accelerated payments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second update provided information on the CARES act disbursement of funds to health care providers.
Please check the
AAO and
MedChi
websites for the most current COVID-19 information. For archived versions of these updates visit the
MSEPS
website.
Stay Safe & Healthy
Renee Bovelle, MD
MSEPS President
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Virtual Events
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Author, CPA and financial consultant Carole C. Foos will discuss some of the details of the new CARES Act that will be pertinent to you as an individual taxpayer, and as an owner of an ophthalmology practice. Discussion points will include:
- The New Tax Filing and Payment Deadline
- Payment Protection Program and Forgivable Loans
- Individual Rebates
- EIDL Loans
- New Retirement Plan Options for 2020
Disclaimer: MSEPS does not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites or events, and we do not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.
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April 13, 2020
Dear MedChi Members and Maryland Physicians:
We hope you were able to enjoy a pleasant holiday weekend, regardless of what you celebrate and despite our challenging circumstances. Here's what we want to share with you today:
- If you have furloughed staff that is looking for work, FutureCare is seeking RNs, LPNs, GNA/CNA/PCT aides, medical assistants, and EVS workers for immediate hire. Please contact Laurie Houle at 443-699-5982 or [email protected] for more information.
- Here is the link to today's MedChi News, our weekly email newsletter.
Visit MedChi's
COVID-19 Resource Page
regularly for more information and resources as we work through this crisis together.
Thank you for all that you do as physician, healers, and heroes.
Gene Ransom
MedChi CEO
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April 11, 2020
Dear MedChi Members and Maryland Physicians:
MedChi
requested that CareFirst provide financial assistance
for physician practices and worked closely with the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) and several members of the Maryland General Assembly to encourage Maryland's largest insurer to take action to support physicians. We thank CareFirst for responding to our pleas for assistance for our health care practitioners. We hope we can continue to work with them to identify new programs and resources to help physicians during this difficult time.
CareFirst's program will provide:
-Advance lump-sum payments, increased fee schedules, and monthly cash advances for qualifying PCMH panels;
-Monthly cash advances for pediatricians, rural primary care physicians, independent practices in certain specialty areas, and dentists who need additional assistance; and
-Cash advances to select hospitals demonstrating need in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia.
Additionally, MedChi and CareFirst hope to make an announcement soon about a collaboration to provide telehealth support to small practices. This program is in development, and more will be announced soon.
Visit MedChi's
COVID-19 Resource Page
regularly for more information and resources as we work through this crisis together.
Gene Ransom
MedChi CEO
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From MedChi: Special Notice of CARES Act Fund Disbursement to Health Care Providers
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today the immediate disbursement of $30 billion to hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers. This disbursement is the first installment of the $100 billion allocated by Congress for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economics Security (CARES) Act.
The disbursements are calculated in direct proportion to health care providers’ total amount of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) spending in 2019. All facilities and health professionals that billed Medicare FFS in 2019 are eligible for the funds. These funds are grants that do not have to be repaid. Within 30 days of receiving the payment, providers must sign an attestation confirming receipt of the funds and agreeing to the terms and conditions of payment. The portal for signing the attestation will be open the week of April 13
th
, 2020 and will be linked from
https://www.hhs.gov/provider-relief/index.html
.
MedChi will continue to advocate for economic relief for physicians and health care facilities. We have been promised an announcement from CareFirst, Maryland’s largest carrier, sometime in the next week. We applaud
Medical Mutual’s pandemic credit and payment date extension
announced earlier this week. And we continue to pressure Medicaid for additional relief.
I
f you need assistance with economic and business issues, please reach out to MedChi today. We can help answer questions on
federal and state loans and grants
and help you to understand your options in this difficult time. Our COVID-19 Resource Center includes
business resources
.
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We understand the COVID-19 pandemic is severely impacting you both emotionally and financially. Like you, OMIC's Board of practicing ophthalmologists has been forced to cease or severely limit practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects on all of us will be felt for some time. Ultimately, we know that the resiliency of the ophthalmic community will help us pull through these challenging times.
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Financial Resources
**As of 5 p.m. on April 6, Commerce is no longer accepting new applications for its COVID-19 Relief Grant and Loan Programs.**
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Contact Us:
1211 Cathedral St
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone 410-244-7320
Fax 410-727-5967
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