• Fact sheet on Coronavirus and Your Eyes
• Another great resource is Coronavirus Eye Safety
• The Academy's Washington D.C. office is advocating to the CMS to waive prior authorization requirements during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please send any examples to Academy director of public relations Susanne Medeiros.
• AAO shares clinical care guidelines and updated evidence on COVID-19 and conjunctivitis and a podcast on practice measures during the outbreak.
• What patients should know about treating coronavirus with hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.
• Dr. David Glasser, the Academy’s secretary for federal affairs, provides an overview of coding for telemedicine. Watch the video or download the slides.
• The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s telehealth resources.
• Free series of Academy webinars on COVID-19
• AAO provides strategies to help facilitate patient check-in for practices when they reopen.
• AAO recommends physical modifications to your office to minimize exposure.
• House approves interim COVID-19 relief package for small businesses.
• AAO provides tips on reopening and organizing patient wait lists.
• Ophthalmic Ambulatory Surgery Center Checklist for reopening.
• Assess your check-in process to ensure compliance with public health guidelines.
• Facedown Treatment for Coronavirus Poses Risk of Vision Loss
• Doctors can now use the malaria drugs Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) and Aralen (chloroquine) to treat coronavirus. Make your eye patients aware of the possible effects on vision.
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Adopt Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Provide PPE Training for Your Staff and Optimize Your Supply
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Discover Exam Requirements for Rescheduled Cataract Surgery
• Ophthalmology After Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Transition Back to Patient Care
• The Academy IRIS® Registry has been approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to include a new COVID-19 Clinical Trials improvement activity for the 2020 MIPS reporting year.
• EHR Vendor COVID-19 Resources  
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Provide Employee Guidance for COVID-19 Operational Safety
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Communicate How Your Practice is Keeping Patients Safe From COVID-19
• House Introduces $3 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Package
• Reboot Your Practice During COVID-19 Recovery
• Surgery Prioritization: Typical Ophthalmic Procedures
• Special Considerations for Ophthalmic Surgery During the Pandemic
• AAOE^® Shares Benefits with All Academy Members through July 31
• Upcoming COVID-19 Webinars and Podcasts
• Coding for Phone Calls, Internet and Telehealth Consultations-updated May 5
• Manage the Revenue Cycle During the Coronavirus Recovery
• Deadline Extended to 45 Days to Attest, Accept Terms and Conditions for Provider Relief Fund Payments
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: COVID-19 Reopening Strategies From the Front Line
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Positively Impact Your Patients With Direct Physician Communication on COVID-19 Safety Measures
• HHS Clarifies Limit on Second Round of Provider Relief Funds
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Use CDC Guidelines to Evaluate Staff With COVID-19 Exposure Risk
• Medicare to Reprocess Telehealth Service Payments Retroactive to March
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Maximize Scheduling Capacity During COVID-19 With Telemedicine Hybrid Exams
• Protective Measures for Ophthalmic Practices Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
• Practice Recovery Tips from EyeNet^® Magazine
• New High-Weight COVID-19 MIPS Improvement Activity Coming Soon
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Connect With Your Referring Providers During COVID-19 Reopening
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Leading With Trust, Communication and Collaboration During Your COVID-19 Reopening
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Consider Remote Work for COVID-19 Recovery and Beyond
• House Overwhelmingly Passes Bill to Ease Paycheck Protection Program Terms
• Academy develops handouts to Prepare Your Patients for Their Return to Your Practice. These PDF handouts are available in both English and Spanish versions.
• U.S. Treasury Clarifies Payroll Period for Paycheck Protection Program Recipients
• HHS Extends Terms and Conditions Acceptance Deadline for Provider Relief Fund to 90 Days
• Special Considerations for Ophthalmic Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Appearance is Everything: Tips for Gaining Patient Confidence During COVID-19 Recovery
• Reboot Your Practice During COVID-19 Recovery
• Leading With Trust, Communication and Collaboration During Your COVID-19 Reopening
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Boost Employee Morale With Alternative Methods During COVID-19
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Safely Reopening Your Optical Shop in a COVID-19 World
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Avoid These Common Pitfalls When Implementing Telemedicine Hybrid Exams
• PPP Bill Passes: Improves Loan Forgiveness Period, Rules on Non-Payroll Expenses
  • Details about the bill can be found here.
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: How to Assess the Financial Impact on Your Practice During COVID-19 Recovery
• Check out the survey results on what reopening looks like for ophthalmology.
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Explore Business Development and Marketing Strategies for the COVID-19 Era
• Upcoming Webinar: AAOE Roadmap to Recovery Series: HIPAA and OSHA Considerations in COVID-19 Era
• Upcoming Webinar: COVID-19: Leadership During a Crisis
• Webinar Recording: AAOE Roadmap to Recovery Series: Managing Your Practice Finances in the COVID-19 Era
• Webinar Recording: AAOE Roadmap to Recovery Series: Employee Guidance and Operational Safety in the COVID-19 Era
• Help Coming for Medicaid Providers in New Round of COVID-19 Relief Grants
• Treasury Releases Guidance on PPP Loans
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Patient Privacy and COVID-19: What You Should Know About the HIPAA Privacy Rule Disclosure Limitations
• HHS Announces Relief Funds, New Provider Portal for Medicaid Providers
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Target Your COVID-19 Recovery Strategies Using PEST and SWOT Analyses
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: OSHA Provides Helpful Guidance on Identifying COVID-19 Risk in the Workplace
• New PPP Loan Terms Mean Much More Flexibility for Businesses
• Updated: State-by-State Rules on Elective Procedures
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: CMS Issues COVID-19 Guidance for Patients Returning to Health Care Facilities
• New HHS Portal for Medicaid, CHIP Providers to Apply for COVID-19 Relief
• Risk Management: Patient Disclosures and Informed Consent for COVID-19 Risk
• Conjunctivitis Could Be the Only Presenting Sign and Symptom of COVID-19-This case study details five patients with non-remitting conjunctivitis that was the sole symptom of COVID-19.
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Prepare for the Arrival of a Possible COVID-19 Patient in Your Clinic
• MIPS Tips: CMS Opens Application Period for 2020 MIPS Hardship Exceptions
• Webinar Recording: COVID-19: Leadership During a Crisis
• When Staff Is Exposed to COVID-19-What happens when your staff is exposed to COVID-19? And what should you do?
• Treasury Releases Guidance on PPP Loans
• Risk Management: Patient Disclosures and Informed Consent for COVID-19 Risk
• Study Affirms Masks Reduce Speech-Generated Droplets
• HHS: Quarterly Provider Relief Fund Reports Not Required- . The information on quarterly reports is one of the new answers to questions (PDF) about the Provider Relief Fund for practices that applied for aid.
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Encourage Staff to Continue Education During COVID-19 Reopening
• Can Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor Effectively Decontaminate N95 Respirators?
• Elastomeric Half-Mask Respirators Can Serve as an Alternative to Disposable N95 Masks
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Health Care Personnel and COVID-19: Recognize Stress and Provide Support
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Survey Your Patients on Their COVID-19 Clinic Experience
• Physician Wellness: Helping Practices Come Back from COVID-19
• Webinar Recording: Ophthalmology Learning During COVID for Medical Students, Residents, and Educators
• Webinar Recording: COVID-19: Lessons Learned from the Epicenters
• Health Care Personnel and COVID-19: Recognize Stress and Provide Support
• More Reopening and Recovery Tips
• Five Ways to Keep Your Credit Healthy Throughout COVID-19
• The New Normal: Nuances of the Hybrid Telehealth/In-Person Exam
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Boost Your Telemedicine Coding Knowledge with Free AAOE^® Resources
• Medicaid Providers Relief Grants for COVID-19 Due July 20
• Webinar Recording: Update on Federal COVID-19 Financial Relief
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Use AcadeMetrics™ Benchmarks to Monitor Your COVID-19 Recovery
• Webinar Recording: AAOE Roadmap to Recovery Series: Managing Your Practice Finances in the COVID-19 Era
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Prepare for Setbacks on Your Road to COVID-19 Recovery
• Impact of Social Distancing, Face Masks and Eye Protection on SARS-CoV-2 Transmission
• Requirements, Usage and Shortage of PPE for Surgeons During the Pandemic
• Medicaid Providers Relief Grants for COVID-19 Due July 20
• HHS Clarifies Overpayment Procedure for Provider Relief Fund
• Could the Eye Be an Entry Point for SARS-CoV-2?
• Video Recording: SARS-CoV-2 Implications in a Simulated Ophthalmology OR Setting
• Aug. 8 Deadline for Paycheck Protection Program
• On July 13, the Academy announced that the live annual meeting scheduled for November in Vegas has been cancelled. The Academy will present a virtual-only event. More details on the virtual event are to follow.
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Unexpected Business Strategies During the COVID-19 Era
• Conjunctivitis May be the Presenting Sign of Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Associated With COVID-19
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Daily Huddles Provide Support During the COVID-19 Crisis
• Personal Wellness in a COVID-19 World
• Podcast Recording: Physician Wellness During COVID-19 with Drs. Ferhina Ali and Andrew Schimel
• Senate COVID-19 Relief Bill: What It Means for Ophthalmology
• Flexibility for Telemedicine, HIPAA Continue as HHS Renews Public Health Emergency
• Academy Supports Bill to Allow HHS to Extend Drug and Device Pass-Through Payment Periods Due to the Public Health Emergency
• Academy to Help Members Obtain PPE-In response to difficulties ophthalmologists have obtaining personal protective equipment, the Academy is partnering with Project N95, to reserve quality-certified PPE exclusively for our members for purchase with no minimum. Updates will be provided in this newsletter when ordering is available.
• Are Immunosuppressive Treatments Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: 7 Tips to Increase Your Clinic Productivity During the Pandemic
• Trump Administration Renews Public Health Emergency-U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar signed a renewal of the public health emergency July 23.
• Flexibility for Telemedicine, HIPAA Continue as HHS Renews Public Health Emergency
• CMS Audits Restarted Monday, August 3- Under the COVID-19 public health emergency, CMS suspended numerous audits beginning March 30 — but that reprieve ended on Monday, Aug. 3
• Recipients of Larger Coronavirus Relief Payments Do Not Need to File Quarterly Reports
• Physician Groups Press CMS to End Temporary Waivers of Certain Licensure and Scope Requirements After Pandemic
• Patient Screenings Require Documentation and Planning During COVID-19
• Senate COVID-19 Relief Bill: What It Means for Ophthalmology
• Flexibility for Telemedicine, HIPAA Continue as HHS Renews Public Health Emergency
• Guidance for Managing Noninfectious Uveitis with Immunomodulatory Therapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Act on Civil Rights Protections: Ensure Your Practice is Compliant During COVID-19
• Academy Partners With Project N95 to Help Members Obtain PPE- Look for an email from the Academy on Aug. 19, alerting you to submit your orders.
• COVID-19 Linked to MOG Antibody-Associated Optic Neuritis and Myelitis
• ‘We Are Resilient’: Administrators Share Their COVID-19 Practice Success Pearls
• Relief Fund Portal Reopens to Certain Medicare Providers
• New Aug. 28 Deadline for Medicaid/CHIP Providers to Apply to Provider Relief Fund- You can apply for a payment through the Enhanced Provider Relief Fund Portal.
• Helping Practices Come Back From COVID-19
• Check out: Ophthalmology journal’s COVID-19 articles
• Use AcadeMetrics Benchmarks to Monitor Your COVID-19 Recovery
• Stalled Negotiations on COVID-19 Relief Delay Additional Help for Physicians
• Cyberattacks Target Small Businesses Receiving Coronavirus Loans
• **Exclusive PPE Offer for Academy Members-Academy members may place their orders on the Academy-Project N95 partnership page on AAO.org, using their Academy login, starting at 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 19. You will have until 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 26 to place orders.
• Use CDC Guidelines to Evaluate Staff With COVID-19 Exposure Risk
• Appearance is Everything: Tips for Gaining Patient Confidence During COVID-19 Recovery
• Don't Skip Preschool Vision Screens During COVID-19
• Stalled Negotiations on COVID-19 Relief Delay Additional Help for Physicians
• Cyberattacks Target Small Businesses Through Coronavirus Relief Loan Emails
• Latest Coronavirus Updates for Eye Patients
• Scope Editorial: The Pandemic
• New Aug. 28 Deadline for Medicaid/CHIP Providers to Apply to Provider Relief Fund  
• Payments for Providers Who Had a Change in Ownership
• Ocular symptoms, conjunctival SARS-CoV-2 presence appear unrelated to disease duration
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Avoid These Common Pitfalls When Adapting Telemedicine Hybrid Exams
• Academy Offers PPE Through Project N95-Place order by August 31st at 4PM ET
• Ocular Findings and Proportion With Conjunctival SARS-COV-2 in COVID-19 Patients
• COVID-19 and Ophthalmology: The Pandemic’s Impact on Private Practices
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Plan – Do – Check – Act: Three Practice Leaders Share Their Process Improvement Steps for COVID-19 Recovery
• Don’t Skip Vision Screens for Young Children During COVID-19
• Relief Fund Portal Reopens to Certain Medicare Providers
• New Aug. 28 Deadline for Medicaid/CHIP Providers to Apply to Provider Relief Fund  
• Payments for Providers Who Had a Change in Ownership
• Learning Surgery During a Pandemic: How to Make the Most of Training
• Reopening and Recovery Tip: Assess Required Skills for Ophthalmic Personnel During COVID-19 Recovery and Beyond
• Podcast Recording: COVID-19 Adjustments to Retina Fellowship Applications
• Federal Relief Fund Updates: Sept. 13 Deadline for Certain Providers to Apply for Relief Fund
• Upcoming Deadline: Sept. 13 Deadline for Certain Providers to Apply for Relief Funds 
• Hydroxychloroquine Shows No Benefits for Postexposure COVID-19 Prophylaxis
• COVID-19 Findings and Precautions for Eye Care Providers
• Podcast: COVID-19 Adjustments to Retina Fellowship Applications
• Early Trial Results Indicate COVID-19 Vaccine is Immunogenic and Safe
• COVID-19 Viral Material from Asymptomatic Carriers Found on Ophthalmology Examination Room Surfaces
• REOPENING AND RECOVERY TIP: Change Management in the COVID-19 World
• Week in review: COVID candidate, new Quest, dopamine boost
• Reopening and Recovery Tips: ‘We Are Resilient’: Administrators Share Their COVID-19 Practice Success Pearls
• Upcoming Webinar: The Ophthalmic Hospitalist — An Emerging Model for Hospital Based Consultation
• Tip: Understand the Scenarios: Hardship Exceptions and Reweighted Categories
• CMS Confirms Current Suspension of Some Agency Audits After Academy Objections
• Parsing the Controversial Results on Eyeglasses and COVID-19 Risk
• Pink Eye May Signal COVID-19 in Children
• Latest Coronavirus Updates for Eye Patients
• HHS Releases Guidance on Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements
• Provide Academy Patient Education on COVID-19
• Implications of COVID-19 for Ophthalmologists
• Reflections of an Ophthalmology Trainee in the Time of COVID-19
• 2020: The Year of the Ophthalmologist
• Provider Relief Fund to Distribute $20 Billion in Third Round of Funding
• Senate Passes Improvements to Medicare Advance Payments
• Democratic House Members Revisit Academy Priorities for COVID-19 Relief
• AMA Announces New Code for Additional Practice Expenses During the Pandemic
• HHS Releases Guidance on Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements-(PDF)
• Remote Ophthalmology Training: E-Learning Trends for the Future
• Preventing Myopia During the Pandemic
• Ophthalmologists Detail Their Lives After COVID-19
• Negotiate Vendor Contracts to Boost COVID-19 Recovery
• Plan to Avert Government Shutdown Could Improve Advance Medicare Payments
• Risk stratification tool helps triage glaucoma appointments during pandemic
• Educate your patients remotely with high-quality Academy videos
• Week in review: Tocilizumab, fast track, retinas in a dish
• AAO Teleophthalmology Toolkit: A resource for members
• Senate Passes Improvements to Medicare Advance Payments
• House Members Press HHS and CMS Leaders to Mitigate 2021 Medicare Payment Cuts
• MIPS 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic and Applying for Hardship Exceptions 
• Provider Relief Fund to Distribute $20 Billion in Third Round of Funding
• CMS Confirms Current Suspension of Some Agency Audits After Academy Objections
• Negotiate Vendor Contracts to Boost COVID-19 Recovery
• Parsing the Controversial Results on Eyeglasses and COVID-19 Risk
• Breath shields offer variable protection
• Training future ophthalmologists amid the COVID-19 pandemic
• Academy CEO’s perspective on health policy during COVID-19
• Academy Calls for E/M Pay Equity for Surgeons, COVID-19 Accommodations in 2021 Medicare Physician Schedule
• HHS Extends Public Health Emergency into 2021
• MIPS 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Applying for Hardship Exceptions
• Academy Calls for E/M Pay Equity for Surgeons, COVID-19 Accommodations in 2021 Medicare Physician Schedule
• HHS Extends Public Health Emergency into 2021
• New simple loan forgiveness form for PPP
• The Resilient Practice: Positioning the Practice for Success Post-COVID-19
• Latest Coronavirus Updates for Eye Patients
• Study hints wearing eyeglasses may offer protection from COVID-19
• Ophthalmology patient visits exceeding baseline levels
• Recognize stress and provide support during the pandemic
• Week in review: Atropine microdose, errant injection, ocular COVID

• Check out the American Board of Ophthalmology's COVID-19 information and resource center.
• COVID-19 and the American Board of Ophthalmology: When the Best-Laid Plans Go Awry
• Editorial-in-press for Ophthalmology on the ways the ABO has recently adapted its certification and MOC programs to meet the challenge of COVID-19. 
• Diplomates have submitted more than 200 Improvement in Medical Practice projects designed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. More than 1,600 diplomates have answered 7,457 questions about COVID-19 articles in Quarterly Questions. 
• The ABO is transitioning the Oral Examination to an online delivery format for 2020 and will pilot the exam to more than 100 candidates in July. We plan to administer the Written Qualifying Examination on September 30 at test centers nationwide. 
• In collaboration with professional societies, three new Academy Learning Plans became options on the ABO’s Improvement in Medical Practice Menu for MOC. 
• ABO Director Steven Gedde, MD, explored the assessment of surgical competence at the residency program level in an article now in press in Ophthalmology. I was honored to provide an accompanying commentary.
• COVID-19 News You Can Use

• The American College of Surgeons (ACS) and 22 members of the ACS-led Surgical Coalition sent a letter to Congress making requests for the next COVID-19 legislative package. 
• ACS develops interim guidelines for resuming elective ophthalmic care.
• The American College of Surgeons has launched a new registry to help hospitals capture data about patients they treat who have COVID-19. 

• AMA provides tips for your practice in business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• AMA Webinar: COVID-19 Vaccine Development: What Physicians Need to Know
• New CPT codes for multi-virus tests detect COVID-19 and flu

• ASCRS and ASOA webinar on how to implement telemedicine visits for practices and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Real Time Program for the ASCRS Virtual Meeting, May 16-17, 2020, is now available!

• Countrywide coronavirus mortality and use of masks by the public co-authored by Dr. Craig McKeown of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

• International Analysis Finds Wearing Face Masks Can Reduce COVID-19 Mortality Rates

• The CDC has a dedicated section on their website for information and updates on COVID-19. Their website is being updated on a daily basis.
• CDC Activities and Initiatives Supporting the COVID-19 Response and the President’s Plan for Opening America Up Again

• CMS issues guidelines for reopening facilities for non-emergent/non-COVID-19 care.
• CMS is suspending its advance payment program for physicians who treat Medicare patients immediately while it evaluates how much has been paid out under the program.
• CMS issued new regulatory waivers and rule changes that will increase telehealth service reimbursements to practices and make it easier for Medicare patients to access their physicians over the telephone.
• CMS Posts Letter to Clinicians to Summarize Actions CMS Has Taken to Ensure Clinicians Have Maximum Flexibility to Reduce Unnecessary Barriers to Providing Patient Care. Items addressed in the letter include: Accelerated and Advanced Payments, Testing and Claims Reporting for COVID-19, Medicare Telehealth Visits, Virtual Check-ins, E-visits, Expanded Options for Telehealth Services, Workforce Flexibilities, CMS Quality Payment Program, Emergency Waivers, Caring for Your Patients.
• New CMS Regulatory Relief Bolsters Telehealth Service Payment During COVID-19

• The Department of Health and Human Services has added new guidance for the second round of the $50 billion general distribution targeted for health care providers under the CARES Act.
• Eligibility Terms for Second Distribution of Relief Funds Raise New Questions
• The FL DOH provides updates on Governor DeSantis’ Executive Order, the final report of the Re-Open Florida Task Force, Renewal of Declaration of Public Health Emergency, Diagnostic Testing, Antibody Testing, and free therapy provided by Talkspace.
• Webcasts for Applying to Provider Relief Fund Medicaid and CHIP Distribution; Register for the HHS webcasts: 2-3 p.m. ET Tuesday, June 23, or 2-3 p.m. ET Thursday, June 25.
• In response to questions about Provider Relief Fund distributions, the Department of Health and Human Services on Monday released a detailed breakdown of the assistance (PDF) granted to health care providers hard hit by COVID-19.
• Providers who automatically received their Provider Relief Fund payments before 5 p.m. Friday, April 24, must submit documentation of their annual revenues, including tax forms or financial statements, to the Department of Health and Human Services through the HHS General Distribution Portal.
• Medicaid Providers Relief Grants for COVID-19 Due July 20
• New Aug. 3 Deadline for Medicaid/CHIP Providers to Apply to Provider Relief Fund. You can apply for a payment through the Enhanced Provider Relief Fund Portal.   
• HHS’ Provider Relief Fund — will be open through Friday, Nov. 6

• The U.S. Department of Labor issued guidance on the new legislation.
• Flyer on employee rights specific to Families First Coronavirus Response Act. 

• Governor DeSantis Extends State of Emergency for COVID-19-Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-166 extending the state of emergency for 60 days for the entire state of Florida, which expires on September 5, 2020.
• State Surgeon General Issues Public Health Advisory for COVID-19-The State Surgeon General, Dr. Scott A. Rivkees, issued a Public Health Advisory on July 20, 2020, with updated measures regarding face coverings, gatherings, and vulnerable populations to ensure the protection of public health in response to COVID-19.
• Volunteer for COVID-19 Clinical Trial-Florida has been invited to participate in the federal CDC vaccine pilot group. Florida is one of four states chosen to participate, along with the city of Philadelphia. To learn more about volunteering for a COVID-19 Prevention Clinical Study, please click here.
• The Agency for Health Care Administration issued Emergency Rule 59AER20-8 on August 5, 2020. This rule replaces the previous Emergency Rule 59AER20-6 to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) updates to provide clarity for hospitals and long-term care facilities about clinical decision making during the transfer of residents.
• Criteria for Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection (Interim Guidance) Updated - for HCP-The CDC issued updated interim Guidance on Health Care Personnel Returning to Work. This guidance indicates that, except for rare situations, a test-based strategy is no longer recommended to determine when to allow health care personnel to return to work. To learn more about the interim guidance, click here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/return-to-work.html.
• Duration of Isolation and Quarantine for Persons with COVID-19-On July 22, 2020, the CDC released updated guidance regarding the duration of isolation and recommendations regarding retesting of COVID-19 cases. The Florida Department of Health seeks to ensure that providers have resources available to assist with educating their patients regarding the actions that they, along with their close contacts, should take to remain safe. Provided below is a brief overview of recommendations.
• COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma-Donating plasma is one of the ways you can help those fighting COVID-19. If you or your patients have had COVID-19 and have been completely symptom free for at least two weeks, your plasma may help save the lives of other patients. Learn more at https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/donate-covid-19-plasma.
• Health Care Practitioner COVID-19 Resources- Health care practitioners have access to resources developed by the Department of Health related to COVID-19 that can assist their patients. For additional information, please visit https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/.
• Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard-To view the latest COVID-19 statistics, such as the number of positive cases, please visit the Department of Health’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard.
• View the latest Florida COVID data

• The Florida Medical Association continues to update their website with COVID-19 information and resources on telehealth, payment guidance and financial assistance.
• FMA signed on to the AMAs letter the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging them to cover the expenses for every physician, nurse practitioner and physician assistant enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid
• On April 21, the FMA sent a letter to the Governor urging him to lift executive order on non-essential elective medical procedures.
• Read the FMA’s primer on reopening your practice under Executive Order 20-112.
• This flyer from FMA preferred vendor Florida Rx Card helps remind you and your patients of the life of the Coronavirus on different surfaces.
• A physician’s guide to Florida’s executive and emergency orders.
• Patient-provider encounter trends have stabilized but remain significantly lower than before COVID-19
• FDA clears saliva test for COVID-19, opening door to wider testing 
• Physicians to Congress: Don’t harm access to care with bad ‘surprise billing’ law

• Health insurer financial performance amid the Coronavirus pandemic

• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on outpatient care: Visits return to prepandemic levels, but not for all providers and patients 

• Due to the circumstances surrounding the pandemic, the FSO made the difficult decision to CANCEL the Masters in Ophthalmology 2020 Annual Meeting scheduled for October 9-11.
• The FSO will hold a virtual Annual Business Meeting on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 7:00 PM. Click here register for the Annual Business Meeting.

• FDA issued enforcement policy to help expand the capability of remote ophthalmic assessment and monitoring devices to facilitate patient care while reducing patient and healthcare provider contact and exposure to COVID-19 during this pandemic. 

• On April 16, President Trump unveiled a three-phased plan to reopening the United States.

• Resources have also been made available by Holland & Knight, the FSOs law firm. 

• Governor DeSantis
• Contact Your Senator
• Contact Your Representative

• Op-ed: Dying in a Leadership Vacuum

• OMIC announces COVID-19 Premium Credit for policyholders.
• OMIC developed a COVID-19 consent form for those insureds who practice in states requiring consent.
• OMIC also developed an essential eye exam and treatment consent form.

• Plaquenil is considered off-label for both prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19.
• A non-randomized study using plaquenil, especially in combination with azithromycin, has shown promise for the treatment of COVID-19
• American Journal of Ophthalmology published an article on March 25 on COVID-19 and Chloroquine/Hydroxychloroquine: is there Ophthalmological Concern?
• Currently we are following the recommendations of the AAO, which state that hydroxychloroquine is being investigated and physicians should follow CDC recommendations.

• Information on Disaster Assistance/Loans for Small Businesses Facing Economic Hardship as a result of COVID-19
• $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Package. The legislation includes $100 billion for hospitals and physicians.
• SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application Now Available
• Another resource provided by the FSO’s General Counsel Holland & Knight: What Florida Businesses Need To Know About the COVID-19 Response. This report is continuously being updated on a real-time basis and provides electronic access to orders issued by the Governor and regulatory agencies concerning COVID-19.
• Congress Rushes to Get a Nearly $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Package to President. The legislation includes $100 billion for hospitals and physicians.
• ASCRS put together a detailed outline of important Phase III Stimulus Relief-Key Physician Provisions.
• SBA Shorter Loan Forgiveness Applications Available-Participants in the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program can apply to have their loans forgiven with two shorter online applications.
• Economy Disaster Loan Program Reopens-The Small Business Administration began accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance applications to help small businesses hurt by the pandemic.

• Regeneron will temporarily extend physician payment terms for EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection purchases from authorized distributors to 150 days. This has no impact on current EYLEA return policies. For more on Regeneron's scientific efforts to help address COVID-19, go to regeneron.com/covid19

STATE OF FLORIDA

• Florida Reopens: DeSantis Lifts State’s Coronavirus Restrictions

TELEHEALTH RESOURCES

• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has broadened access to Medicare telehealth services so that beneficiaries can receive a wider range of services from their doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility and has put together an easy to read telehealth fact sheet.
• The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s telehealth resources.

• In response to COVID-19, Topcon Healthcare is providing FREE Breath Shields for slit lamps. Visit bit.ly/topconshield to request your breath shield.

• ZEISS is providing FREE protective breath shields for slit lamps for ophthalmic practices. Click here for more information or to submit a request.