Provider Relief Fund
HHS announced that eligible providers can submit their application for funds from the Provider Relief Fund.
Examples of eligible Medicare/Medicaid/CHIP/dental providers include:
  • Providers who did not receive an initial payment that totals approximately 2 percent of their annual patient revenue
  • Providers who did receive an initial payment, but missed the June 3rd deadline to submit their revenue information
  • Providers who were ineligible for prior General Distribution funds due to a change in ownership or because they did not have Medicare fee-for-service revenue in 2019
  • Providers who previously received Phase 1 General Distribution payment(s), but rejected and returned the funds and are now interested in reapplying.
 
All eligible providers will only receive funding of up to 2 percent of their reported total revenue from patient care. 

The deadline for applying for funds is August 28, 2020.
WY COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Released
Wyoming launches COVID-19 exposure notification app with ew bluetooth technology to more efficiently assist in contact tracing and exposure notification efforts.
Governor Mark Gordon today announced that Wyoming has launched Care19 Alert, an innovative exposure notification app that will alert users if they have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19

Wyoming is one of the first states in the country to launch a COVID-19 app using Bluetooth Low Energy technology developed by Apple and Google, which does not rely on personal information or location data. Users opt-in to download and utilize the free app.

“The Care19 Alert notification app provides Wyoming with another tool to fight COVID-19 while protecting your personal privacy,” Governor Gordon said. “The more Wyomingites who choose to download and use this app, the more successful we can be in protecting lives and slowing the spread of the virus.” 
Trump Administration Announces Rural Health Transformation Initiative
The Trump Administration announced it is further transforming the nation’s rural health care system by unleashing innovation through new funding opportunities that will increase access and improve quality.
The Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model delivers on President Trump’s Executive Order from last week on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access as well as the President’s Medicare Executive Order and CMS’s Rethinking Rural Health initiative. Collectively, the Administration aims to ensure individuals in rural America have access to high quality, affordable health care. 

Per the President’s Executive Order, the CHART Model also ties payment to value, increases choice and lowers costs for patients. CHART will empower rural communities to develop a system of care to deliver high quality care to their patients by providing support through new seed funding and payment structures, operational and regulatory flexibilities and technical and learning support.
  • 2021 Medicare Physician Payment Schedule and Quality Payment Program Proposed Rule
  • Expanded access to provider relief fund for physicians with patients insured by Medicaid
  • Physicians urge CMS to delay repayment of advance paymentsCMS and CDC to pay and encourage physicians to counsel patients about coronavirus
  • AMA joins leading medical and health organizations in parity advocacy
  • AMA Advocacy Resource Center survey on pain management
  • August issue of the Journal of Ethics focuses on the intersection of opioids and public health
  • New NABP consumer website warns of the dangers of illegal online pharmacies
AMA Reports
AMA report finds nearly 40% decline in opioid prescriptions, but overdose deaths continue to climb.
Opioid Task Force 2020 Progress Report - Physicians’ progress toward ending the nation’s drug overdose and death epidemic.
WMS Virtual Education Opportunities
The American Academy of Pediatrics Presents:

Vaccine Hesitancy

Tuesday, August 25, 2020 
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Richard Moriarty, MD
Vaccine Hesitancy Discussion:

  • Recent updates about seasonal influenza vaccine and HPV vaccine
  • Origins of the recent surge in anti-vaccine sentiment 
  • Effective strategies to increase vaccine confidence 
  • Legislative advocacy for pediatric vaccines
  • Q&A
The Wyoming Flex Program Presents:

Resiliency Training

(9/30), (10/22), (11/17), (12/9) 
Resiliency Training:

  • Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 8:30 am to noon - Choosing Resilience & Well-being in Healthcare
  • Thursday, October 22, 2020, 8:30 am to noon - Leadership & Resilience
  • Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 8:30 am to noon - Joy & Meaning in Healthcare
  • Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 8:30 am to noon - Compassion, Compassion Fatigue, and Otherishness
Betsy Spomer, MD
WAPA Presents:

Virtual Conference

September 2nd -4th, 2020
Wyoming Business Council - Business Relief Program
In May 2020, the Wyoming Legislature passed a bill to distribute $325 million in federal CARES Act funding to Wyoming businesses and nonprofits that have experienced hardship related to the COVID-19 crisis.
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