To access the News on Rheumatology Matter – COVID 19 issue – click here

U.S. Renews COVID-19 Public Health Emergency – article

Tips for Top-Notch Documentation of your PPP Loan and HHS Provider Relief Program – webinar  handout

Paycheck Protection Program Loans – article

ACR – Guiding Principles on Urgent vs Non-Urgent Services – handout

CARES Act Provider Relief Fund – website

CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Payment Attestation Portal – website

Track Your Employee Each Day – handout

CDC Get Your Clinic Ready – handout

Hart Heath Strategies Resources for Small Businesses – handout

Hart Health Strategies Federal Relief Information – article

CMS Announces Relief for MIPS and other Programs – article

CMS announces expansion of Accelerated and Advance Payment Program for Medicare providers and suppliers – handout

Small Business Administrations’s 7(a) loan program – article

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) document prepared by congressional staff on the Phase III coronavirus legislation – the CARES Act – handout

Physician Provisions in CARES Act – article

Tax provisions in CARES Act – article

Small Business Paycheck Protection – Summary – article

Small Business Paycheck Protection Program FAQ resource page – article

State Resources Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic – handout

AbbVie

The Complete programs are always available to support new and continuing patients with product education and access support. AbbVie’s Complete resources are full operational. By contacting the product’s complete program you can also learn about the new MyAbbVie Assist Interim Assistance program. This resource will provide medication at no charge for people who have recently lost their job and no longer have commercial insurance coverage.

HUMIRA Complete: 1-800-4HUMIRA (1-800-448-6472)
RINVOQ Complete: 1-800-2RINVOQ (1-800-274-6867)

Additional information may also be found on these website: HUMIRA Complete          RINVOQ Complete

BMS

BMS expanded their patient support program to provide free medication to those that have lost their job or are from another country and are unable to return home to access their medications.

For additional information click here.

COVID-19 Emergency Food Assistance Program funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.

For additional information click here.

Horizon

Horizon Therapeutics update.

Myriad

Patient Assistance information.

UCB

ucbCARES stands ready to help anyone impacted by COVID-19 find answers to their questions and ensuring they receive the respect and care they deserve during this concerning time. Our team is able to provide information related to UCB products as well as our expanded patient assistance programs for those impacted by COVID-19.

Contact ucbCARES at +1-844-599-CARE (2273), via email at UCBCares@ucb.com, or visit: https://ucb-usa.com/Patients/Patients

Additional information on UCB’s response, including on our supply chain and clinical trials is available here: https://ucb-usa.com/stories-media/UCB-U-S-News/detail/article/UCB-Statement-on-COVID-19-Outbreak

Janssen

As a reminder, Janssen CarePath continues to offer programs supporting patients with different needs:  For eligible commercially insured patients starting or continuing on certain Janssen medicines, programs that help patients lower their out-of-pocket costs; For patients who have lost their jobs and insurance coverage, Janssen CarePath can provide a referral to independent foundations that offer free medicines; and for new patients starting on most Janssen medicines, free trial product programs

CMS Announces Temporary Claims Hold Pending Congressional Action to Extend 2% Sequester Reduction Suspension

From a special edition newsletter on March 30, 2021:

Temporary Claims Hold Pending Congressional Action to Extend 2% Sequester Reduction Suspension

In anticipation of possible Congressional action to extend the 2% sequester reduction suspension, we instructed the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to hold all claims with dates of service on or after April 1, 2021, for a short period without affecting providers’ cash flow. This will minimize the volume of claims the MACs must reprocess if Congress extends the suspension; the MACs will automatically reprocess any claims paid with the reduction applied if necessary. 

Read more here.

Coronavirus Town Hall hosted by NORM on March 18, 2020.

Recording: (available 3/18 afternoon) ~ link

Slides available here

Understanding the Families Coronavirus Response Act Q&A Webinar – Webinar

Scott Warwick, JD, MLHR, CEQC, SHRM-SCP website for Coronavirus information include two current files on Healthcare Workers and Responders the Families Response Act and Providers with less than 50 employees and the Families Response Act – Website

Trump Signs Coronavirus Relief Bill with Paid-Leave Mandate – article

Family Medical Leave Act – https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/pandemic

Sequence for Putting On Personal Protective Equipment handout

Personal Protective Equipment- handout

Interim Infection and Disease Control – handout

Return to Work Criteria – article

Health Care Workers on the Front Lines – handout

Genentech letter

UCB letter

Janssen letter

COVID Vaccine Document

ACR Guidelines

On February 11, 2021, the ACR released guidelines when it comes to the COVID19 vaccine and our medications. For our practice, this affects patients who are on MTX, JAK Inhibitors, Rituxan, and Orencia. (https://www.rheumatology.org/About-Us/Newsroom/Press-Releases/ID/1138)

The Summary: https://www.rheumatology.org/Portals/0/Files/COVID-19-Vaccine-Clinical-Guidance-Rheumatic-Diseases-Summary.pdf

Methotrexate:
Hold MTX 1 week after each vaccine dose, for those with well-controlled disease; no modifications to vaccination timing.

JAKi:
Hold JAKi for 1 week after each vaccine dose; no modification to vaccination timing.

Abatacept SQ:
Hold SQ abatacept both one week prior to and one week after the first
COVID-19 vaccine dose (only); no interruption around the second
vaccine dose

Abatacept IV:
Time vaccine administration so that the first vaccination will occur
four weeks after abatacept infusion (i.e., the entire dosing interval),
and postpone the subsequent abatacept infusion by one week (i.e., a
5-week gap in total); no medication adjustment for the second vaccine
dose.

Cyclophosphamide IV:
Time CYC administration so that it will occur approximately 1 week
after each vaccine dose, when feasible.

Rituximab:
Assuming that patient’s COVID-19 risk is low or is able to be mitigated
by preventive health measures (e.g., self-isolation), schedule
vaccination so that the vaccine series is initiated approximately 4
weeks prior to next scheduled rituximab cycle; after vaccination, delay
RTX 2-4 weeks after 2nd vaccine dose, if disease activity allows.