Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources
COVID-19 Interim Reopening Protocol for OMS Office
Please find attached the interim reopening protocols that is also available for members on the AAOMS website.
WDA Resources
AAOMS Resources
- COVID-19 Updates (link)
- Access complimentary CE credit (link) and all 13 chapters of OMSKU Volume V (link) for a limited time! (NOTE: The log-in for both sites is not tied to your AAOMS.org member log-in. If you do not already have an account or have forgotten your password, please select the "forgot password" option or sign up as a new user. Past purchases are not eligible for a refund. Questions? Contact [email protected].)
- The Health Care Group – publisher of some AAOMS practice management publications – has teamed up with Health Care Law Associates to develop a summary of significant COVID-19 legal developments related to OMS practices. COVID-19 Resource for OMS Practice Owners, Associates and Managers is being offered at no cost to AAOMS members. The guide covers mandated paid time off, paycheck protection program under the CARES Act, benefit plans relief and the CMS accelerated and advance payments program.
The SBA Webinars are now available (AAOMS log-in required):
- Free webinar: Financial Steps to Take Now to Overcome a COVID-19 Business Downturn
- Free webinar: What the CARES Act means to you
The Infection Control Webinar also remains active:
Updated Telehealth Resources At-a-Glance
- With the COVID-19 outbreak, CMS and states are working to eliminate barriers to telehealth use – including telephone or “virtual” evaluations and/or treatment advice – to help patients access care remotely and reduce the strain on hospitals and clinics. AAOMS has assembled a new webpage – Telehealth Resources – with details and links that will be updated when new information becomes available. In addition, AAOMS published AAOMS White Paper: Telehealth and Remote Treatment in January.
Mental Health Resources
- CDC: COVID-19 – Managing Anxiety & Stress (link)
- SAMHSA: Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak (link)
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty (link)
- Mental Health America: Mental Health And COVID-19 – Information And Resources (link)
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (link): 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK)
State Resources
- Badger Bounce Back Plan (link)
- Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Wisconsin Ready Plan (link)
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) COVID-19 website (link)
- ForwardHealth News and Resources Page on ForwardHealth Portal (link)
- Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) Child Care Resources (link)
- Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities COVID-19 Resource Guide (link)
- Resilient Wisconsin Initiative and Resources (link)
- Testing Guidelines and List of Community Testing Sites (link)
- Wisconsin Legislative/Regulatory Issues
- Dental therapists – Legislation continues to be pushed to provide for dental therapists within the state. Legislation was aggressively pursued in 2019 but has been relatively silent thus far in 2020.
- Anesthesia regulations – In late 2019, the Dentistry Examining Board (DEB) approved amendments to its regulations to mirror ADA guidelines. After receiving pushback from the DOCS education group on a permitting structure change that would require any practitioner administering enteral moderate sedation to meet the educational requirements of a parenteral sedation permit holder, DEB further amended the language to maintain an enteral sedation permit. The rules were adopted with the amendments and are now in effect.
National / Global Resources
- CDC COVID-19 page (link)
- World Health Organization COVID-19 page (link)
- CMS Guidelines for Telehealth (link)
Other National Issues
- Anesthesia challenges – We continue to see pockets of locations where the OMS model of anesthesia is being challenged, especially in light of the revised AAP-AAPD guidelines. While there have been dental board discussions and legislation, no state currently requires the use of a separate anesthetist to sedate dental patients. In addition, there continues to be no scientific data or studies that indicates utilizing a separate anesthesia provider is safer that the OMS team model. AAOMS continues to offer support to states whose anesthesia models are challenged.
- Surprise billing – States and the federal government continue to seek was to address out-of-network or surprise billing, particularly in emergency situations or an in-network facilities where the patient cannot choose their healthcare provider. While proposals vary in the states, they generally address similar elements and/or ask questions that it may benefit WSOMS to consider before a bill is introduced:
- Reimbursement – Should out-of-network providers – specifically in emergency situations – be reimbursed at the in-network, UCR, or other calculated rate?
- Arbitration – Should an arbitration option if the provider feels reimbursement is not adequate?
- Payment – Should out-of-network providers in emergency situations receive direct payment from the insurer?
- Notification requirements – Who should be responsible for informing the patient that the provider is out-of-network? How far in advance should this notification occur?
- Definition of emergency services – How would the state define emergency services and when is stabilization achieved? In other words, at what point would a patient be able or unable to select an in-network provider?
- Opioid abuse – States continue to take action to address the nation’s opioid epidemic including:
- Limiting opioid prescriptions, typically to a 3- to 7- day limit or 50-90 MME daily dose.
- Mandating PDMP access.
- Manding E-prescribing.
- Mandating practitioner continuing education
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