Optometric Resources for COVID-19

SDOS provides these resources to help optometrist navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEW:  AOA COVID-19 Federal Laws and Financial Options for Optometrists

American Optometric Association COVID-19 information & resources:  https://www.aoa.org/coronavirus

• Guidance for optometry practices re: CDC announcement
• CDC recommendations for protective equipment, disinfecting practices
• Healthcare professional preparedness checklist
• COVID-19 assessment flowchart
• Webinars on telehealth billing

State of South Dakota information
SD Dept of Health Coronavirus Disease webpage: https://doh.sd.gov/news/Coronavirus.aspx
SD Dept of Health healthcare provider information: https://doh.sd.gov/news/Coronavirus.aspx#SDGuidance

Centers for  Disease Control (CDC) information for health care professionals: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/index.html

• Guidance on supply & resources for protective equipment
• Clinical presentation of COVID-19

OSHA guidance on COVID-19 hazards, standards, prevention:    https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/
American Academy of Ophthalmology guidance for OMDs:   https://www.aao.org/headline/alert-important-coronavirus-context

Small Business Administration guidance & loan resources:  https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

CMS Coronavirus resources:   https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Emergency/EPRO/Current-Emergencies/Current-Emergencies-page

• Recommendation on non-essential medical procedures
• Guidance to providers
• Protective mask guidance for healthcare workers
• Billing & coding guidance
• Insurance coverage guidance

South Dakota Department of Labor resources:

• Reemployment (Unemployment) Insurance Eligibility Requirements https://dlr.sd.gov/ra/default.aspx

Reemployment eligibility Q and A https://dlr.sd.gov/ra/publications/ra_covid_19_eligibility_determinations.pdf
To know before you file a claim  https://dlr.sd.gov/ra/individuals/file_claim.aspx

Telehealth   Telehealth policies have been evolving around the COVID-19 developments. Attached is a summary by the Center for Connected Health Policy of what is covered by various public and private payers. This document will be changing on a regular basis, so check their website here.

Federal legislation   Congress and the Trump administration are working on the   Families First Coronavirus Response Act  that contains these provisions:

• Guarantees 10 paid sick days (80 hours) to full-time workers, prorated for part-time workers.
• Temporarily extents the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provide paid leave to employees working for a business with fewer than 500 employees.
• Permits employers to claim a quarterly tax credit against payroll taxes for payments for sick days and family and medical leave up to an amount that does not exceed the business' total payroll taxes paid in that quarter.

Legal advice: SDOS members can receive one free half-hour call per year to our attorney for legal advice, including questions regarding employment & labor issues.  Call the Cutler Law firm at 605-335-4950 and tell them you are using the SDOS legal advice member benefit.

Ask your Accountant:  your accountant may be able to help you weather a restricted practice environment and answer questions about federal relief available.

Business Insurance contact your agent to see if your business policy has additional coverage for communicable disease.

Debt Payment & Deferments
Credit Cards  https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-should-i-do-if-i-cant-pay-my-credit-card-bills-en-1697/
Student Loan Deferments  https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/lower-payments/get-temporary-relief

Share Information/Ask Questions of your Colleagues www.sdeyes.org  sign onto the membership page and scroll down to “message boards.”

Section 135 Medicaid Waiver :  https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/disaster-response-toolkit/federal-disaster-resources/?entry=54047

Telehealth Information for ODs

The current COVID-19 public health emergency dictates that many Americans remain at home unless in need of urgent or emergent care to reduce community spread of this pandemic, and as such, health care providers are using telehealth as a continuance of care. The AOA successfully advocated to ensure doctors of optometry are fully recognized as physicians and qualified providers in federal actions to temporarily expand telehealth care to Medicare beneficiaries.
As frontline providers of care, doctors of optometry need to understand the current regulatory framework; potential state limitations; billing and coding responsibilities; as well as any malpractice considerations in order to facilitate telehealth care, and AOA offers comprehensive guidance to help doctors make this transition. This guidance includes:

• Preparing for telehealth care
• Malpractice considerations
• State law impacts
• Medicare changes
• Billing and coding considerations
• Medicare telehealth visit coverage summary during COVID-19
• Commercial payer coverage
• HIPAA-related concerns
• Telehealth platform principles
• Practice implementation considerations

 
 

 

 

 

SDOS INFORMATION

2020 South Dakota Optometric Society Events

Spring Convention Canceled
 

The SDOS's priority is the health and safety of all optometrists, their staff, patients, family, friends and vendors. The world faces challenging times to try to keep everyone safe and healthy in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic.   Based on the recommendation by the Center for Disease Control to avoid larger gatherings for two months, the SDOS Board has canceled the spring 2020 Convention.   Additional continuing education opportunities will be added this year to make up for the hours lost due to the cancellation. Convention registrations for all ODs, assistants and exhibitors will be fully refunded in the next three weeks.   Information about fall conference and other continuing education events will be emailed to members and posted on www.sdeyes.org. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Fall Conference:  September 17-18, Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls*
* lodging will be at the Sheraton


  





























 

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