WMS COVID-19 Updates

Legislative Special Session Summary

WMS members will receive a legislative update covering important information from the Special Session on Tuesday, May 26th.

PPP Loan Forgiveness

The SBA releases PPP Loan Forgiveness Instructions.

The document provides additional guidance on eligible payroll costs, including more clarity on the payroll periods and adjustments that should be used in preparing the application for forgiveness. The guidance also provides for an alternative payroll covered period for borrowers that have a biweekly or more frequent payroll schedule. Additionally, the instructions provide guidance on eligible non-payroll costs that can be considered in loan forgiveness.

PPP Loan Forgiveness Guide

PPP Loan Forgiveness Application

Providers Must Act by June 3, 2020

T he U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is reminding eligible providers that they have until June 3, 2020, to accept the Terms and Conditions and submit their revenue information to support receiving an additional payment from the Provider Relief Fund $50 billion General Distribution.

All providers who automatically received an additional General Distribution payment prior to 5:00 pm, Friday, April 24th, must provide HHS with an accounting of their annual revenues by submitting tax forms or financial statements. These providers must also agree to the program Terms and Conditions if they wish to keep the funds. Providers who have cases pending before the department for adjudication with regard to eligibility for general distribution funding will not be impacted by this closure. All cases needing individual adjudication will need to be received by HHS no later than June 3, 2020.

View Full Press Release

COVID-19 Testing in Rural Communities

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provides $225 million to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) for COVID-19 testing.

These investments will support over 4,500 RHCs across the country to support COVID-19 testing efforts and expand access to testing in rural communities. Rural Health Clinics are a special designation given to health care practices in underserved rural areas by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that help ensure access to care for rural residents.

This funding is through the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act that President Trump signed into law on Friday, April 24, 2020 which specifically directed these monies to be allocated to RHCs. HRSA funded RHC organizations based on the number of certified clinic sites they operate, providing nearly $50,000 per clinic site.

View Full Press Release

Funding Allocation by State

COVID-19 Research

The Semantic Scholar team at the Allen Institute for AI has partnered with leading research groups to provide CORD-19, a free resource of more than 128,000 scholarly articles about the novel coronavirus for use by the global research community.

Click Here

Johns Hopkins has curated and assessed emerging research on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.

Click Here

WMS Provider Connect Moves to Monthly Meeting

The WMS Provider Connect moves sessions to the first Tuesday of each month over the noon hour.

The weekly WMS Provider Connect Zoom calls have been beneficial for physicians and PAs across the state. Medicine has come together to participate in discussions about healthcare and collaborate to navigate the COVID-19 landscape.

As healthcare continues to guide patients through the next phases of this pandemic response, the Medical Society sees a distinct benefit in continuing the conversations. However, we will be transitioning the Provider Connect Calls from a weekly schedule to monthly. Join us the first Tuesday of each month, starting June 2. As we move forward, these calls will not have to remain focused on COVID-19, rather what's important to medicine at the time.

If you would like to suggest a topic, please email: info@wyomed.org

Please plan to join WMS via Zoom each month!

WYTN Telehealth Provider Survey

There's still time to participate!

WyTN is completing a survey to inform statewide efforts for advocacy, training, and technical assistance.

We appreciate you taking a few minutes to provide your feedback and input.

Participate in Survey Here

Wyoming Key Points

Wyoming Key Points includes:

Wyoming stats
New Public Health Orders
Lab/EPI updates
National Volunteer Week
CDC key points
Social Media
Behavioral health & wellness

Click image to view Wyoming Key Points

Wyoming Leaders in Medicine 2020-2021

Now Accepting Applications

Click image to view WLM 20-21 Brochure

If you have any questions about the 2020-2021 Wyoming Leaders in Medicine program please reach out to WMS at 307-635-2424 or email info@wyomed.org .

Apply Here

A Message From Blue Cross Blue Shield

COVID-19 Antibody Billing Guidance

Please note that antibody testing is appropriate as a diagnostic test in limited circumstances and will not be a benefitable service when conducted for return to work or surveillance purposes.

Asymptomatic and pre-surgical COVID-19 diagnostic testing is covered when medically appropriate and supported by the accepted standards of current medical practice.

As you may know, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) require health plans to cover diagnostic testing of COVID-19. Coverage must be provided without any cost-share, prior authorization, or medical management requirements.

COVID-19 - Billing Guidance

Please click here to see a table to help understand which billing codes are appropriate for COVID-19 testing and how to bill for these services.

BCBSWY COVID-19 Response

You can find additional information about BCBSWY’s COVID-19 response at BCBSWY.com/providers/updates or in the Availity.com BCBSWY Payer Space—including the following:

To opt-in to WMS Text Alerts: Text keyword WMS TO 85100