Your Daily COVID-19 News & Updates
MSNJ Member COVID-19 Update
May 1, 2020
COVID-19 Updates & Resources
KN95 Masks Available for Physician Practices
MSNJ is sourcing KN95 masks and can make them available to members in quantities of 1,000. If you have interest in this, please reply with your contact information here . 
PPE and Test Kits Brought to New Jersey
Yesterday, Governor Murphy visited The White House to meet with President Trump and was given 550,000 new COVID-19 test kits and 750,000 swabs from the federal government. Murphy said “the state also has secured a commitment that 358 nursing homes in New Jersey will be receiving a direct shipment of PPE from the federal government, including roughly 220,000 masks, 19,000 goggles, 200,000 gowns and 1 million gloves.” Read more .
Audio-Only Telephone Visits
CMS announced that it will be increasing payments for audio-only telephone visits between Medicare beneficiaries and their physicians to match payments for similar office and outpatient visits. This would increase payments for these services from a range of about $14-$41 to about $46-$110, and the payments are retroactive to March 1, 2020. Read a letter from United States Senators which helped push CMS to make this decision.

On another note, legislation is trying to be passed (Health Care at Home Act, H.R. 6644) that would:
  • Ensure all medically necessary benefits in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plans are covered via telehealth for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
  • Establish parity between telehealth and face-to-face visits, including audio-only visits.
  • Bar restrictions on which conditions can be managed remotely.
  • Ensure that all cost-sharing for COVID-19 related treatment can be waived
HHS Awards $20 Million to Expand Pediatric and Maternal Telehealth Services – Read more .
The AMA updated its "Physician’s Guide to COVID-19." Read the guide .
HRSA Webinar on COVID-19 Provider Funding for Uninsured
Yesterday, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) hosted a webinar providing an overview of the process for providers to receive reimbursement from HHS when they provide COVID-19 testing and treatment to uninsured individuals. Read the summary of the webinar. More information .
Managing mental health during COVID-19 – Read more .
Free Subscription to Headspace Plus (Meditation and Mindfulness)
Headspace , an AMA preferred provider of meditation and mindfulness, is offering any US-based healthcare professional with a National Provider Identifier (NPI) a free subscription to Headspace Plus through December 31, 2020.
COVID-19 Education
MSNJ Member Discount: Endocannabinoid Educational Learning System
Medical Cannabis Deemed “Essential” and “Life-Sustaining”
In the current COVID-19 environment, state governments recognize medical cannabis as essential and life sustaining for many different qualifying medical conditions reinforcing the need for essential ECS knowledge. MSNJ has partnered with Havas ECS to give MSNJ members a 10% discount on their Educational Learning System which offers a 12 CME Credit Certification in Endocannabinoid Medicine.

When purchasing these modules, please register using the email address that MSNJ has on file.
CMS Call: Lessons from the Front Lines Calls
Friday, May 8, 2020 12:30pm to 2:00pm
  • Conference lines are limited, so we encourage you to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser
  • Or, call 877-251-0301; Access Code: 9146779
AMA Physician Burnout & Wellness CME Course
American Meditation Institute's "First-Aid Kit for Burnout"
Harvard Medical School COVID-19 CME Video Series
Recorded Videos:
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