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Expedited claims payment We have expedited claims payment to seven days on average.

Medicare claims payment updates As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented temporary updates to claims payments.

• CMS suspending sequestration payment adjustment: CMS has suspended the sequestration payment adjustment for Medicare claims for dates of service from May 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021. To align with CMS, we will also suspend the sequestration payment adjustment for our Medicare Advantage claims with dates of service from May 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021. Note: For inpatient services, the sequestration payment adjustment will be based on the date of admission.
• CMS applying a 20% increase to the MS-DRG weight for discharges of an individual diagnosed with COVID-19: As part of the CARES Act, CMS is applying a 20% increase to the Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) weight for discharges of an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 for discharges beginning on or after January 27, 2020. Therefore, we are applying this increase for our Medicare Advantage claims for discharges beginning on this date and during the period that the COVID-19 public health emergency is in effect as declared by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Medical record requests If your office is unable to send requested medical records to us via fax or mail, view these steps to submit medical records (PDF) for provider appeals and clinical audits using a secure file transfer protocol (SFTP) site.

For provider appeals, you can also use the SFTP site to upload your appeal request and supporting documentation.

Temporary providers and expedited credentialing

During this health emergency, we are allowing an exception to our Locum tenens policy and expediting credentialing to help meet emerging demands for health care providers and to ensure that our members have access to care.

Locum tenens We are making the following exceptions to our Locum tenens policy to allow a provider to identify and authorize care for his or her patients by another provider, during this pandemic:

• The use of a locum tenens provider by a participating provider has been expanded to 180 days during this emergency.
• A locum tenens can have a valid license in a different state than the one in which they are practicing in.

Expedited credentialing If your practice has been directly impacted by COVID-19, please:

• Complete the credentialing application.
• Contact Provider Relations to request expedited credentialing.
• Note: This process does not apply to routine requests.

View information below regarding temporary updates to telehealth.

In Washington state, contact Washington State Department of Health communicable disease epidemiology staff at (206) 418-5500. Coordinate testing with Washington State Department of Health for individuals who meet the person under investigation criteria.

Congress just passed new legislation to provide help during this crisis. Include below is information on new and expanded resources to assist you as both a provider and a small business employer.

New grants for frontline support
A new Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund includes an initial $100 billion for unreimbursed health care-related expenses or lost revenues that are attributable to COVID-19, as well as for personal protective equipment.

More details will be released soon by the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

HHS is expected to review applications and make payments on a rolling basis, and the application process likely will require a statement of need and a valid tax identification number (TIN).

Tax relief for wages and benefits
Under the new law, physician group practices, clinics and even non-profit community health centers may be able to take advantage of tax credits.

Businesses forced to suspend operations or that have seen gross receipts fall by 50% from the previous year are eligible. Many practices are seeing a loss of revenue as appointments are delayed or even canceled due to concerns around COVID-19.

View the IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief page or speak with your accountant or financial advisor for more information and to see whether your practice or center is eligible.

Loan assistance
Businesses with fewer than 500 employees (including sole proprietors, independent contractors and anyone otherwise self-employed) can apply for “paycheck protection” loans to meet payroll and cover certain other expenses like rent and utilities.

If employers maintain their payroll, borrowers can apply for loan forgiveness (PDF).

The new loans are available through private financial institutions (i.e., banks, credit unions) that participate in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) lending network.

You can download a U.S. Department of Treasury’s application for borrowers (PDF). Visit SBA’s website to find a local partner near you to learn more about this and other programs.

For more information, refer to the following resources:

• CDC COVID-19
• WHO COVID-19
• CDC travel notice
• Pulsara – Free, HIPAA-compliant, video-enabled platform
• Healthwise Coronavirus Resource Center – Information to share with patients
• CMS Answers to Frequently Asked Questions to Assist Medicare Providers
• Washington State Department of Health

Palliative care resources

• CAPC COVID-19 Response Resources – Crisis communication and symptom management protocols for all clinicians, and guidance to help palliative care teams address high levels of volume and stress
• VitalTalk’s COVID-19 Communication Skills – How to talk about difficult topics related to COVID-19