The Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association (POMA) realizes that our community is involved in direct patient care and the impact of the COVID-19 on the profession is of the utmost concern.
We will be posting updates the second and fourth Wednesday of month with news pertaining to COVID-19.
Recommendations for People with COVID-19 and Close Contacts
The CDC has several resources available for people who are symptomatic, caring for someone, or recovering from COVID-19:
If you are sick, contact your healthcare provider to determine if you are eligible for COVID-19 treatment.
Facts on Vax Addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy with your patients
Facts on Vax is a partnership of osteopathic organizations committed to lowering the rates of COVID-19 through prevention, of which POMA is a member. We are collaborating in partnership to prepare osteopathic physicians to discuss the importance of COVID-19 prevention, including vaccinations with patients. Learn more today!
Become a COVID-19 Vaccine Provider
POMA is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) to spread the word that YOU can become a COVID-19 vaccine provider.
Click here for a message from Pennsylvania's Acting Physician General, Denise Johnson, MD to POMA members regarding this important initiative.
How to Make PPE with a 3D Printer: Unity Mask - P100 Respirator Mask
Thanks in part to a grant from the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association Foundation and the American Osteopathic Information Association, POMA Resident Members, Steve Martin, DO, and James R. Latronica, DO, residents at the Clarion Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program in Clarion, Pennsylvania, have designed a P100 respirator mask, called the Unity, and a guide to make it using a 3D printer.
COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus Resources
Dear Colleagues,
POMA continues to monitor the rapidly changing information surrounding the spread of COVID-19. As we have seen this week, the numbers in Pennsylvania continue to climb each day.
In an effort to provide accurate and helpful information to POMA members, we have gathered some of the resources we are finding to be most useful and accurate at this time. We hope this helps you in staying on top of the latest developments in the spread of the disease and in helping your patients.
We continue to see rising numbers of COVID-19 cases throughout the state.
Yesterday, I participated in a conference call with Senator Toomey and other healthcare entities from Pennsylvania to share what we are seeing on the ground. I was able to share concerns about PPE availability and delayed testing turn-around times. In response, LabCorp and Quest will be ramping up testing from 2,000-3,000 tests per day to 10,000 tests per day. It is anticipated that additional national testing sites will open by this weekend (currently all testing is done in NC and CA).
On your behalf, I asked Senator Toomey about payment for telehealth visits with our own patients. CMS announced yesterday afternoon they will pay for telehealth visits for Medicare patients. It can be billed like a face-to-face E/M visit and the place of service (POS) should be documented as 02 - telehealth. Click here for specific guidance for Medicare beneficiaries. For Medicaid patients, you can have telehealth visits but they are included in your negotiated monthly rate. Specific guidance for Pennsylvania's Medicaid program can be found here and here. As for private insurance - your patients will need to go through the participating vendor designated for that specific payor.
Yesterday, Gov. Wolf announced that Montgomery County is now in the mitigation phase (March 13 – 27) to slow the spread of COVID-19.
POMA will continue to evaluate all options throughout this time and keep the lines of communication open concerning the Annual Clinical Assembly (April 29 – May 2). Contingency plans are underway to deliver the educational content in alternative ways. Should you decide to cancel your registration at this time, the current refund policy stands in place.
The Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association (POMA) realizes that our community is involved in direct patient care and the impact of the COVID-19 on the profession is of the utmost concern. You may have already registered or are considering registering for the 112th Annual Clinical Assembly and Scientific Seminar in King of Prussia. We want to keep you informed regarding our plans for the program.
