Alien Emergency Medical COVID-19 Coverage Expansion (WAC 182-507-0115)

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Alien Emergency Medical (AEM) clients can access care within the provider’s* office setting (outside of the emergency department, inpatient and other outpatient settings) to diagnose and treat COVID-19. *Includes MD/DO, ARNP, NP providers Includes coverage for testing and treatment in any office, mobile, non-hospital based setting. Medications, medical supplies and follow-up visits may be covered in the following situations:

  1. Upon presentation for testing when medications or supplies are determined to be medically necessary for care while waiting for COVID-19 test results.

  2. Following diagnosis of COVID-19 additional medications and medical supplies are covered.

  3. Following discharge from an inpatient admission due to COVID-19 two (2) follow-up visits in any setting (office, outpatient etc) will be covered.

Molina Healthcare Services and Resources

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Key Molina Washington Resources:   

  • COVID-19 Specific Information for Molina Members

We are maintaining a coronavirus alert on the homepage of our website www.MolinaHealthcare.com that links to information and resources regarding services to address the COVID-19 pandemic, please check frequently for updates.  We also recently finalized a Member Flyer (English & Spanish versions attached) that include links to access Molina Virtual Urgent Care.  We would appreciate your help in making this information broadly available to community partners.

 

  • Molina’s Virtual Urgent Care available at no cost to Molina Marketplace and Medicaid Members

Retroactive to March 1, 2020, Molina’s Marketplace members have 24/7 access to Molina Virtual Urgent Care services at no cost. Molina Washington Medicaid members already enjoy 24/7 access to Molina Virtual Urgent Care, these services cover more than 800,000 Molina Members.  We are working on launching a similar option for about 10,000 Molina Medicare DSNP members which is scheduled to go live on Friday March 20th. Please note that the URL and phone number for Molina virtual Urgent Care for MarketPlace and Medicaid members are different.

 

  • Prescription Medications & Access to Mail Order Pharmacy Services

Molina is now allowing 90-day prescription volumes.  Members can receive an early refill for 30 days, plus two additional refills, up to a 90-day supply.  We are also encouraging all Molina Members to take advantage of our CVS mail order pharmacy with free delivery.  Please see attached Mail Order Rx Flyers in English and in Spanish, explaining how Members can access these services.

  • Information and Communications for Providers

Molina has added Alerts on our Medicaid and Marketplace (QHP) Provider landing pages and Provider Portal linking to a new landing page: www.MolinaHealthcare.com/providers-wacovid19 that includes provider information and resources such as:

    • Telehealth resources including how to bill for telemedicine services different than Molina Virtual Care

      • COVID-19 Telehealth Billing Molina is covering  all modalities of Telehealth (telemedicine, telephone, and online digital) as noted below:

        • Telemedicine (real time interactive, e.g. video-conferencing)  – Molina will pay for services rendered directly by providers who offer telemedicine services and is also making telemedicine services available through Molina Virtual Urgent Care.  For our Molina Marketplace or Medicare Members, we are waiving cost share for telemedicine services received through Molina Virtual Urgent Care.

        • Telephone – Molina is covering Telephone services.  For Medicaid, we are following HCA billing guidance. 

        • Online Digital (email; store and forward) – Molina is covering online digital services.  For Medicaid, we are leveraging HCA billing guidance.

    • Coverage for COVID19 testing (with no cost share for testing for any Molina members)

    • Authorization Extensions

    • Allowance for 90 day Prescription volumes

Telephone numbers available to Molina Members:

Molina Member Services

  • Medicaid – (800) 869-7165

  • Marketplace (QHP) – (888) 858-3492

  • Medicare – (800) 665-1029

  • Member Services Fax – (800) 816-3778

  • Member Enrollment – (866) 916-0916

 

Molina Nurse Advice Line (24-Hours a day, Monday to Sunday)

  • (888) 275-8750 (English)

  • (866) 648-3537 (Spanish)

Accessing Resources in a Home Rule State

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As most of you may know, WA state has a home rule which means control of resources in an emergency or disaster are at the local level through Emergency Preparedness leadership at your local health department. This is also where most of not all state or federal relief funds will be disbursed. We have been advised that this person can elevate local issues up the statewide incident management team. We have offered you a link to that list.

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1000/SystemsTransformation/LocalHealth/DirectoryLocalHealthJurisdictions2020.pdf

If you identify issues for rural that you believe are statewide policy issues, I am willing to communicate those up through the DOH leadership at Incident Command, with an effort to limit such communication to the highest priority issues and needs at this time.

The Rural Health team at DOH is largely mobile now and is committed to being responsive. Our thoughts and hearts are with you as you care for the vulnerable members of your communities.

 
Pat Justis, MA
Executive Director
Rural Health/Office of Community Health Systems
Health Systems Quality Assurance
Washington State Department of Health

Patricia.justis@doh.wa.gov
360-236-2805 | www.doh.wa.gov
Mobile 360-338-2875

Relief for CMS Regulations

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As part of President Trump's 3/13 Emergency Declaration CMS is waiving key regulations. The Fact Sheet lists all changes. Of particular relevance to rural are the CAH changes: 

Critical Access Hospitals

CMS is waiving the requirements that Critical Access Hospitals limit the number of beds to 25, and that the length of stay be limited to 96 hours.

There are additional provisions for skilled nursing beds, home health and more.

A press release outlining CMS announcement can be found here:  https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-takes-action-nationwide-aggressively-respond-coronavirus-national-emergency

A fact sheet outlining these actions can be found here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/covid19-emergency-declaration-health-care-providers-fact-sheet.pdf


Pat Justis, MAExecutive Director
Rural Health/Office of Community Health Systems
Health Systems Quality Assurance
Washington State Department of Health

Patricia.justis@doh.wa.gov
360-236-2805 | www.doh.wa.gov
Mobile 360-338-2875

Temporary Practice Permit Applications for RNs

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The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission completes the licensing for all nurses in our state, including RNs, LPNs, ARNPs and Nursing Technicians.         

The Nursing Commission is giving top priority to the temporary practice permit applications for nurses to assist with the urgent and critical care needs in King County during this COVID-19 crisis. Nurses may volunteer as an Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners. Complete the Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Application (Word) Applications will be screened to ensure the potential volunteer’s health license is in good standing in each state of licensure. The volunteer’s name will be entered into a database of approved emergency volunteer health practitioners. The Washington State Department of Health will activate approved volunteers as needs arise while an emergency proclamation is in effect. This process allows out of state nurses without a Washington State license to work in Washington for the duration of the emergency.

If your facility is in need of emergency staffing and is planning on hiring nurses from out of state, the nurses may apply and be licensed in Washington. Please send an email to nurselicensing@doh.wa.gov with a list of applicant names. Please indicate the urgency of this request based on one or more of the following criteria:

·         intensity of patient care

·         lack of current staffing to provide patient care

·         staff unable to continue to provide patient care due to illness

·         existing nursing vacancies that are currently unfilled due to the COVID 19 situation

 

Our office will expedite the applications and issue temporary practice permits if the applicants meet all the licensure requirements. Once we receive the application, our office will send a fingerprint card packet. Applicants must complete an FBI criminal background check and submit their fingerprints as soon as possible. The temporary practice permit allows the nurse to practice in Washington while awaiting the results of the criminal background check.

For the application and directions to the online nursing application, please go to https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/6000/669419.pdf

Our office needs a list of nurses from your facility who are applying for positions in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties to expedite the process.

Thank you.

Paula R. Meyer MSN, RN, FRE

Executive Director

Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission Washington State Department of Health

COVID-19: What does it mean for our work?

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COVID-19: What does it mean for our work?

The BHT team is trying to be mindful of what is happening in our community and not unnecessarily burden our organizational partners during this time. We fully expect that most, if not all, of our Transformation work together will pause as you redirect your resources toward addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.

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BHT COVID-19 Response

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BHT COVID-19 Response

As coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread, for the safety of our staff, as well as our partners and the communities we serve, Better Health Together has decided to implement the recommendation for social distancing. On Monday, March 16, the following protocols will go into effect for BHT…

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Pay-for-Equity Menu Released

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On March 5th, BHT finalized our Pay-for-Equity Menu. Organizations who completed our Equity Assessment now have the opportunity to commit to a Pay-for-Equity item that they will implement in their organization. Committing to an activity earns additional financial assistance from BHT, as well as 8 hours of free Technical Assistance from our Equity TA Bank, made up of consultants who can offer trainings and facilitation to support your equity work. 

Partners will be invited to select an activity via survey in early April. As a reminder for Partnering Providers, this is a requirement in your contract. 

BHT will be updating our website soon to add an Equity page where we can list resources and information about our TA partners – stay tuned for that reveal!

 

Noise Ordinance to Protect Health Care Facilities - Letter of Support

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BHT wrote the Spokane City Council members in support of the changes to the noise ordinance being considered on Monday, March 2, 2020. Please see the letter, copied below.

RE: Proposed Noise Ordinance to Protect Health Care Facilities

Dear City Council Members:

We support the proposed changes before City Council give the City of Spokane greater authority to enforce the City’s noise ordinance and protect health care patients and staff.

As the Accountable Community of Health (ACH) organization responsible for the Medicaid Transformation efforts in Eastern Washington, BHT is charged with implementing efforts to improve the health of our region. For the past five years, we’ve connected, convened, and financially supported health care providers in our region to accomplish this goal.

We strongly believe that reproductive health care is health care. Better Health Together is proud to partner with Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho to improve the health of our Spokane community. In addition to the critical work they do for reproductive health, in the last year Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho has expanded to offer mental health services, a severe shortage in our community, as well as increased primary care services.

City Council member Lori Kinnear’s ordinance to address noise at health care facilities will help protect the health and safety of our community members accessing health care in Spokane. The proposed changes before City Council give the City of Spokane greater authority to enforce the City’s noise ordinance and a private right of action for impacted staff and patients.

Thank you for your consideration,

Alison Poulsen
Executive Director
Better Health Together

Other Collaborative resources

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