• CMS will hold "Lessons from the Front Lines" on Tuesday, August 11 at 5:00 pm. Call 833-614-0820 and enter passcode 3498643 or register for the webcast link.

• MedChi Committee on Ethics & Judicial Affairs and the Center For a Healthy Maryland presents “Lessons Learned: Ethical Dilemmas Faced During The COVID-19 Pandemic” on Thursday, September 24 at 6:00 pm. RSVP to Josette Fullard or reach out for more details.

• The Maryland Department of Health issued a revised health care matters order (you can see the full order here) that made three changes:

1. In addition to those individuals already authorized to collect COVID-19 specimens for testing, any individual licensed, registered, or certified by MDH or a MD health occupations board who has appropriate training may collect COVID-19 test specimens. (page 3)
2. COVID-19 point of care testing platforms (6) are authorized to perform COVID-19 test analysis, provided (1) that the facility is a CLIA-certified lab, and (2) the appropriate certificate of waiver is obtained from OHCQ. (pages 3-4)
3. POC results must be reported to MDH (along with technical changes to the COVID-19 test results reporting section, pages 4-5)

• Organizations who are performing point-of-care COVID-19 testing are required to report results to the Maryland Department of Health through CRISP if they do not have access to an existing mechanism for reporting. CRISP now provides clinicians with a reporting tool within the Unified Landing Page (ULP) that allows facilities that offer point-of-care COVID-19 testing to report data, for all testing completed, to the State. Click here to read more about the CRISP Point-of-Care Reporting Tool.

• Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the US Senate to allow any licensed health care practitioner in good standing to provide health services anywhere for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Temporary Reciprocity to Ensure Access to Treatment (TREAT) Act will broaden and standardize the actions that have already been taken by many states to provide consistent and comprehensive licensing and reciprocity rules.

• The proposed rule for the Medicare 2021 physician fee schedule was released this week, and the AMA has shared a preliminary summary of key points.

• We are aware of several services for physicians and other health care providers who would be interested in stress relief services during the time of the pandemic. The Physician Support Line was launched on March 30 to provide free counseling to doctors facing challenges during the pandemic. Its website describes it as a “national, free, and confidential support line service made up of 600+ volunteer psychiatrists, joined together in the determined hope to provide peer support for our physician colleagues as we all navigate the COVID-19 epidemic.” More information is available at the website. The support line can be reached at 1-888-409-0141. Physicians in Maryland are reminded that stress or other issues can also be addressed by appointment through the Maryland Physicians Health Program, 410-962-5580 or 800-992-7010.