
COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus: Updates & Resources for Physicians
Precautions & PPE | Sourcing PPE | Therapeutics | Testing | Vaccines | ||
Relief Aid | Telehealth | Billing & Coding | Licensure | ||
CME | Volunteer Opportunities | Other Resources | ||
Last Updated May 25, 2022
Recent Updates to this Page:
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a web ordering portal for free at-home test kits via the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS) on January 18 at special.usps.com/testkits. The web page originally expected to house the order form, www.covidtests.gov, will direct patients to the USPS web page. A patient education flyer is available for download.
- The Maryland Department of Health updated Maryland’s vaccination plan to allow children aged 12-15 to seek booster shots 5 months after their first series as of January 6, 2022.
- The CDC updated their recommendations for mitigating personnel shortages and HCP return to work.
- The FDA provided a list of COVID-19 tests which fail to detect the omicron variant.
- MAb therapy update: Of the three MAb therapies stocked in Maryland, only sotrovimab has been demonstrated to retain activity against omicron. There is a nationwide shortage of sotrovimab, including in Maryland. MDH strongly encourages physicians to prioritize the use of sotrovimab for individuals who are 65 years old and older and individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
- Antiviral oral therapeutics paxlovid and molnupiravir are available at select pharmacies. Further information is available below under therapeutics. Read the full clinician letter for details.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, MCMS has offered resources and support to physicians and patients, including timely clinical information and practice support resources. The following is a listing of resources by topic. If your practice needs support or has questions not addressed by these resources, please contact us.
Practice Information: Precautions and OSHA, PPE, Therapeutics, Testing, and Vaccines
Precautions, Exposure Control, and OSHA Recommendations
MCMS Guides for Physician Members
- Infection Control & COVID-19: An OSHA Expert’s Answers to Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
- OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard for Healthcare: Does It Apply to You?
CDC Guidance
Temporary staffing needs? Check out MCMS’s ROI MEDStaffing Service.
Therapeutics
Monoclonal Antibody Treatments
- Of the three MAb therapies currently authorized for use, only sotrovimab has been demonstrated to retain efficacy against omicron.
- There is a nationwide shortage of sotrovimab, including in Maryland. The state expects to run out in early to mid-January.
- MDH strongly encourages physicians to prioritize the use of sotrovimab for individuals who are 65 years old and older and individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised
- To refer a patient for MAb use the CRISP eREFERRAL for Monoclonal Antibody Infusion or use the Maryland Referral Form for Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Treatment and fax it to the preferred site, with fax numbers provided on page four of the referral form.
Antiviral Oral Therapeutics: Paxlovid & Molnupiravir
- Read the full clinician letter for details.
- The federal government is providing initial two-week allocations of 960 courses of Paxlovid and 4,500 courses of Molnupiravir to Maryland.
- With the initial supply, prioritize the use of these medications to the highest-risk patients, following the National Institute of Health guidance developed for prioritization of monoclonal antibodies.
- Prescribing: Physicians, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants only. While not a CDS, prescribers must add their DEA number to the prescription to assist in tracking and record-keeping of the medication. If a prescriber does not have a DEA number, one may substitute an NPI number.
- 32 designated pharmacies have Molnupiravir and 15 designated pharmacies have Paxlovid. In order to avoid sending prescriptions and patients to a pharmacy that has depleted its stock, the State will provide an estimate of inventory by site posted on the MedChi website twice a day.
Evusheld (AstraZeneca) Long-Acting Antibody
- The new Evusheld (AstraZeneca) MAb became available at select hospital sites on Dec. 30.
- Evusheld is indicated for moderately to severely immune-compromised patients over the age of 12 who are not currently positive for COVID-19, nor have been recently exposed, and either are contraindicated for COVID-19 vaccination or lacked an adequate immune response to vaccination.
- Read the full clinician letter for details, including treatment sites.
Sourcing PPE
Project N95 is a national clearinghouse for PPE procurement. Learn more.
Requesting Emergency Equipment and Supplies: To request emergency PPE supplies from MDH, fill out this request form online, or this Emergency Medical Material request form on pages 3 and 4 of this document, then send it to pper.phepr@montgomerycountymd.gov. The online form is the preferred method to submit a request.
HandCraft Services Member Advantage Program: Montgomery County Medical Society and HandCraft Linen & Uniform Services have joined together to provide our members with critical personal protective equipment (PPE) that is currently in shortage, particularly isolation gowns, barrier gowns, and scrubs. Depending on order size and products, your first delivery could arrive within the next few weeks; no upfront fees and no ancillary fees ever (i.e. Delivery, Environmental, and Energy ETC fees.) Learn more.
The following are vendors referred to us that still have stock of some PPE items:
- Sunrise Hitek – Faceshields, masks, and hand sanitizer
- Hatch Exhibit – Faceshields, respirators, and latex gloves
- Medical Mega – Latex gloves, hand sanitizer, and swabs
- Lost Ark Distilling, Co (Columbia, MD) has begun production of hand sanitizer.
- BlueDyer Distilling, Co (Waldorf, MD) also is producing hand sanitizer. To order, email Walker Dunbar.
- Project N95 is a national clearinghouse for PPE procurement. Learn more.
- Dynamic Advertising Solutions – Safety signage, branded masks, acrylic counter barriers. Contact: Tyler Phifer at 267.331.6079 X118.
- Office Depot – Faceshields, masks, hand sanitizer, safety signage, surgical masks, acrylic counter barriers, contact-free thermometers.
- Maryland Primary Care Program PPE Supplier List
- Maryland Manufacturing Network Supplier Portal – Please note that any vendor may add their organization to this portal without vetting.
Testing
Testing Information for Physicians
- CDC guidance on testing
- Maryland guidance on testing:
- MDPCP’s Roadmap to Recovery Part II – COVID Testing
Testing Locations
- Montgomery County DHHS Test Sites (Walk-ups Allowed at Select Locations)
- Maryland Test Sites (searchable)
- DC Test Sites
Vaccines
While guidance continues to evolve and additional details are released each day, the MCMS Immunization Task Force has created this toolkit to provide updates on COVID-19 vaccination distribution in Montgomery County, collate guidance on vaccine handling and storage, promote strong vaccination recommendations to patients, and answer frequently asked questions from physician members.
Practice Economics: Relief Aid, Telemedicine, Billing, and Coding
Relief Aid
- Maryland Business Relief Wizard
- MCMS Financial Relief Check-Up (Includes Tax Credits)
- MedChi Business Help Resources
- Provider Relief Fund Application
- Provider Relief Fund Reporting FAQs
Telehealth
From MCMS
- Regional Update: Interstate Telemedicine Waivers During COVID-19
- On-Demand Webinar: Rapid Implementation of Telehealth
- On-Demand Webinar: Rapid Implementation of Remote Patient Monitoring
- Telemedicine Vendor Options
- Remote Patient Monitoring Vendor Options
- From Our RPM Speaker: Remote Patient Monitoring Implementation Guide
- From MHCC: Telehealth Readiness Assessment (TRA) Tool
From MedChi
From the American Medical Association (AMA)
From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- General Provider Telehealth and Telemedicine Tool Kit
- FAQs on Telehealth and HIPAA during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency
- Medicaid Telehealth Guidance
- Medicaid State Plan Fee-for-Service Payments for Services Delivered Via Telehealth
- Clinician Letter – 4.8.2020
From SimpleVisit
- An overview of How to Get Paid for Telehealth and their Telemedicine 101 Overview
- MCMS Webinar with SimpleVisit on Rapid Implementation of Telehealth
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Notice from the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on Telehealth – OCR will exercise its enforcement discretion and will not impose penalties for non-compliance with the regulatory requirements under the HIPAA Rules against covered health care providers in connection with the good faith provision of telehealth during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency. Learn more.
Billing and Coding
- AMA Tool: COVID-19 CPT Code Look-Up
- AAFP Telehealth Coding Algorithm
- ACP Telehealth Guide with Embedded Coding Help
- MedChi Telehealth Coding/Billing Guidelines
Licensure & Continuing Medical Education
Maryland Licensure Updates
In Executive Order 21-03-09-03, Governor Hogan postponed the expiration of professional licenses, including physician and other health occupations licenses. The Order extended the expiration date of all licenses through June 30, 2021. On Tuesday, June 15th, an additional “Grace Period” was established through August 15th, but no further. If you have not yet renewed yours, do so promptly.
MCMS’s article on licensure updates includes additional details on healthcare workforce flexibility.
COVID-19 CME
- MedChi Rockpointe Web course CME – 1.5 Credits
- CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Training Modules – 1.75 Credits
- Yale COVID-19 Vaccination: A Communication Guide for Providers – 1.0 Credit
- CDC Vaccinating Adolescents: Injectable Vaccines – 0.5 Credits
- ACP COVID-19 Vaccine: Practical Clinical Considerations – 1.0 Credit
- ACP COVID-19 Vaccine: Promoting Vaccine Acceptance – 1.0 Credit
- Mayo Clinic COVID-19: Vaccine Education and Debunking Myth – 1.5 Credits
- Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Vaccines: Myths, Mysteries, Misinformation, Myopia, and Miracles – 1.5 Credits
- Defense Health Agency COVID-19 Vaccine Training: General Overview of Immunization Best Practices for Health Care Providers – 2.0 Credits
Volunteer Opportunities
The Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps are seeking volunteers to staff clinics and field hospitals. To register for Maryland Responds, please visit the Medical Reserve Corps here.
For the A-Z resource guide, and additional information on how to help – including Red Cross blood donations, Meals on Wheels, and other ways – visit Maryland Unites.
Montgomery County is also looking for volunteers – both clinical and non-clinical. If you are interested in assisting the community, please visit their website here. Physician volunteers are encouraged to contact Jessica Pryor at jessica.pryor@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Bethesda Transit has also provided information on essential transportation updates and how to help local businesses here.
Other Resources
The following is the contact information for clinicians to use for local health departments, if necessary:
- Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services: M-F Business Hours – 240.777.1755 After Hours & Weekends – 240.777.4000
- District of Columbia Department of Health: 202.727.3616 or report cases using this web portal.
- List of Contact Information for All Maryland Local Health Departments
COVID-19 Variant Information: The CDC is carefully monitoring COVID-19 variants. For the latest news, visit the CDC’s Science & Research update page.
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Resource Center for Health Care Professionals
- Situation Summary
- Latest HAN Update Summary
- Factsheets, Handouts, and Posters
From the World Health Organization (WHO): WHO Coronavirus Home
From the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA): Guidance for diagnosis and treatment, updated on a rolling basis.
Local Maryland/Montgomery County Resources
- Maryland Department of Health’s (MDH) web page for the latest updates on the virus
- Montgomery County’s Health Department’s general information page for the public
- MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society’s resource page
- For an up-to-date incidence map, see the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health GIS map.