NARA is providing the following resources for providers to reference as we address the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In addition to the below, we encourage you to check with your State Health Departments for local updates. (Last updated 1/19/2022 10:51am EST).
Some resources are updated previously published documents, guidelines and announcements as this pandemic is changing almost hourly. Please be sure you are looking at the most recent updates. NARA is providing "Last Update" time and date to this page as well as date of information published. We will remove any links that our outdated to ensure you are accessing the most current data/information.
Recommendations from the White House (3/16/2020)
White House Mandate for Vaccines for Nursing Home Employees (8/20/2021)
John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center - this site offers an up to the minute update of the outbreak geographically
What Now for Rehabilitation Specialists? Coronavirus Disease 2019 Questions and Answers
ACHA/NCAL Resources for Delta Variant & Vaccines
- Coronavirus (08/18/2021)
- Five Delta Variant Facts (08/18/2021)
- Should Individuals Who Have Had COVID-19 Get Vaccinated? (08/18/2021)
- Can COVID Vaccines Impact Fertility (08/18/2021)
- Get Vaccinated (08/18/2021)
COVID Testing Unit Comparison Chart (8/19/2021)
NARA COVID Specific Webinars
- COVID Treatment Strategies: Acute Care Setting
- COVID Treatment Strategies: Post Acute Care Settings
- COVID Treatment Strategies: Specialty and Home Health
Vaccine Mandate Resources (CMS & OSHA)
Net Health Telehealth vs In-Person Outcomes Graphic (10/2/2020)
CCI Edits Information - Effective 10/1/2020
Vaccine Mandate Information (added 1/6/2022)
- CMS IFC-6 Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus COVID–19 Health Care Staff Vaccination (11/5/2021)
- CMS Mandate Slides dated 11.5.2021 (1/6/2022)
- Video link for CMS Presentation of IFC-6 dated 11.5.2021 (1/6/2022)
- CMS IFR Guidance for Vaccine Mandate UPDATED 1.14.2022 (1/19/2022) - January 14 guidance applies to Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming
- FAQ Guidance Memo updated 12.28.21 (1/6/2022) - December 28 guidance applies to 25 states (does not include Texas)
- Guidance for the Interim Final Rule - OPT 12.28.2021 (1/6/2022)
- Guidance for the Interim Final Rule - Hospitals 12.28.2021 (1/6/2022)
- Guidance for the Interim Final Rule - HHA 12.28.2021 (1/6/2022)
- Guidance for the Interim Final Rule - LTC/SNF 12.28.2021 (1/6/2022)
- Guidance for the Interim Final Rule - CORF 12.28.2021 (1/6/2022)
- Guidance for the Interim Final Rule - CAH 12.28.2021 (1/6/2022)
- OSHA Vaccine Mandate Updates Website (1/6/2022)
- OSHA FAQ Vaccine Mandate (1/6/2022)
- ETS (Vaccine Tracking) Management Systems options:
- LeadingAge Vaccine Mandate Return to Work and Vaccine Toolkits Resources (1/6/2022)
- Littler Mandaotry Employee Vaccines - By State (1/14/2022)
- Vaccine Safety Monitoring and Reporting (1/7/2021)
- HealthPro Heritage Video with Dr. Avery - Vaccine Information
- CDC Advisory Committee Immunization Practices
- AOTA Position on Vaccination of Occupational Therapy Workforce
- AMDA Slides FAQ on COVID-19 Vaccine
CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019/2020 Resource Webpage
CDC Resources and Updates
- Interim guidance for managing healthcare personnel (1/6/2022)
- Strategies to mitigate healthcare personnel staffing shortages (1/6/2022)
- Holiday Guidance for Employees (10/30/2020)
- OSHA Guidance on Returning to Work (6/19/2020)
- Contact Tracing Toolkit (6/4/2020)
- Posters and Fact Sheets - Link
- Preparing for COVID-19: LTC Facilities and Nursing Homes (3/10/2020)
- CDC in Action: Preparing Communities for Potential Spread of COVID-19 - Link
- Implementation of Mitigation Strategies for Communities - Link
- COVID-19 information - Link
- Travel Health Alert Notice Card - Link
- COVID-19 Table Top Simulation Exercises - Link
- Information for Travelers - Link
- Guidance for Businesses and Employers - Link
- Guidance for Mass Gatherings & Events - Link
- CDC Guidance for COVID19 vaccine and TB Testing - Link
- CDC Management of Post-COVID Conditions
- Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic (9/10/2021)
- Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes (9/10/2021)
- Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (9/10/2021)
- Ending Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19: Interim Guidance (9/14/2021)
CMS Resources and Updates
Secretary Azar used his authority in the Public Health Service Act to declare a public health emergency (PHE) in the entire United States on January 31, 2020 giving us the flexibility to support our beneficiaries, effective January 27, 2020. The PHE was extended effective July 25, 2020.
- NAHC Resources (12/10/2020)
- CMS COVID-19 FAQ MFS Billing (12/10/2020) - Updated by CMS 12/8/2020
- CMS Nursing Home Resource Center (11/3/2020)
- CMS Updates COVID-19 Snapshot (10/2/2020)
- CMS QRP COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheets: HH, SNF (9/8/2020)
- COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheets: SNF, HH, IRF (July 27, 2020)
- Update: Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) (6/29/2020)
- Visitation Nursing Homes Reopening FAQ (6/25/2020)
- Preliminary Medicare COVID-19 Data Snapshot (6/25/2020)
- COVID-19 Nursing Home Data (6/25/2020)
- MLN Matters Article Index November 19, 2019 - May 2020 (6/19/2020)
- UPDATED FAQ - includes Telehealth for Institutional Providers see pages 70 - 71 (5/28/2020)
- ACCESS TO Transcripts of CMS Office Hours Calls
- Letter from Administrator Verma to Nursing Homes (5/12/2020)
- New Codes for Therapist Assistants Providing Maintenance Programs in the Home Health Setting (5/7/2020)
- CMS Announces Independent Commission to Address Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes (4/30/2020)
- UPDATED Home Health Guidance for Infection Control (Dated 4/23/2020) (4/30/2020)
- Notice from the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals - Hearings and Appeals continue (4/22/2020)
- Opening Up America Again: CMS Recommendations Re-opening Facilities to Provide Non-emergent Non-COVID-19 Healthcare: Phase 1 (4/19/2020)
- Trump Administration Announces New Nursing Homes COVID-19 Transparency Effort (4/19/2020)
- Upcoming Requirements for Notification of Confirmed COVID-19 (or COVID-19 Persons under Investigation) Among Residents and Staff in Nursing Homes (4/19/2020)
- Accelerated Payment Fact Sheet (04/15/2020)
- 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Long-Term Care Facility Transfer Scenarios (4/14/2020)
- Additional Waivers announced April 9, 2020 (4/10/2020)
- COVID-19 FAQ On Medicare Fee for Service Billing (4/9/2020)
- Lessons from the Front Line COVID-19 - recorded call with Administrator Verma (4/7/2020)
- Updated Long Term Care Facility Guidance (4/2/2020)
- Trump Administration Issues Key Recommendations to Nursing Home, State and Local Governments (04/02/2020)
- COVID-19 Recorded Call Transcripts (4/2/2020)
- Sweeping Regulatory Changes to Help US Healthcare System Address COVID-19 Patient Surge (3/31/2020)
- OCR Bulletin: Civil Rights Laws and HIPAA Flexibilities COVID-19 Emergency (3/29/2020)
- Long Term Care Nursing Telehealth and Telemedicine Tool Kit (3/29/2020)
- Financial Relief for Medicare Providers (03/29/2020)
- OCR FAQs on Telehealth and HIPAA (3/23/2020)
- Provider Enrollment Relief (3/23/2020)
- CMS Relief for Participants in Quality Reporting Programs RE: COVID-19 (3/22/2020)
- CMS Delays Implementation of MDS 3.0 v1.18.1 release (3/19/2020)
- FAQ for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies (3/18/2020)
- Medicaid State Plan Fee For Service Payments for Services Provided through Telehealth (3/17/2020)
- Guidance to Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Organizations (3/17/2020)
- Coronavirus COVID-19 Stakeholder Calls 3/13/2020 and 3/16/2020
- OCR Guidance Related to Expanded Telehealth (3/17/2020)
- OIG Policy Statement Related to Expanded Telehealth (3/17/2020)
- President Trump Expands Telehealth Benefits for Medicare Beneficiaries During COVID-19 Outbreak (3/17/2020)
- CMS Telemedicine Fact Sheet (3/17/2020)
- CMS Telemedicine Healthcare FAQ (3/17/2020)
- CMS Coronavirus (COVID-19) Partner Toolkit (3/16/2020)
- Medicare Fee For Service Response to the Public Health Emergency includes waiver information (3/16/2020)
- CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus in Nursing Homes (Guidance for visitors) (3/13/2020)
- CMS Takes Action Nationwide to Aggressively Respond to Coronavirus National Emergency (3/14/2020)
- FAQs on Essential Health Benefit Coverage and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) (3/13/2020)
- CMS Issues Key Protective Mask Guidance for Healthcare Workers (3/10/2020)
- CMS Sends More Detailed Guidance to Providers about COVID-19 (3/10/2020)
- CMS Issues Guidance to Home Health Agencies (3/10/2020)
- Telehealth Benefits in Medicare (3/9/2020)
- CMS Issues Guidance to help Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans Respond to COVID-19 (3/10/2020)
- Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in nursing homes
- Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): FAQs and Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement and Hospital Discharge
- Information for Healthcare Facilities Concerning 2019 Novel Coronavirus Illness (2019-nCoV)
- Suspension of Survey Activities
- COVID-19 FAQ
- Clinical management of patients with COVID-19: Rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19 (8/25/2021)
- Latest Updates - Link
- Situation Dashboard - Link
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) training: Simulation exercise
- Online Training Videos - Link
- Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
- OSHA Health and Safety Topics COVID-19
- OSHA Health & Safety - Control Prevention Healthcare
- OSHA Health & Safety - Standards
- OSHA Health & Safety - Hazard Recognition
- Prevent Work Exposure
https://www.aota.org/Practice/Health-Wellness/COVID19/decision-guides.aspx.
UHC Resource Page (4/27/2020)
- NRTRC Telehealth 101 Online Training (8/13/2021)
- CCHP State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report (10/21/2020)
- UHC Telehealth Policy Updates (10/16/2020)
- BCBS Telehealth Policies are specific to local policies - please check your BCBS - State specific sites for more details on the telehealth policies. Use this link to find your state specific information. (10/16/2020)
- Aetna Telehealth Policies - as of right now coverage is available through 12/31/2020 (10/16/2020)
- Center for Connected Health Policy (6/26/2020)
- TRICARE FAQs COVID-19 and Telehealth (6/25/2020)
- NARA Telehealth Webinar 4/21/2020 (4/23/2020)
- AOTA Telehealth State by State (6/12/2020)
- AOTA Commercial Payer Policies Grid (4/22/2020)
- AOTA Telehealth Resource Page (4/22/2020)
- Telehealth-Friendly Physical Assessments (4/22/2020)
- VGM Telehealth and Risk Management Practices You Need to Consider (4/16/2020)
- PT Compact Webpage (4/10/2020)
- Aetna Policy on Telemedicine (4/8/2020)
- UHC Telehealth Update 4.5.2020 Includes UB Billing (4/6/2020)
- UHC Approved Codes for Therapy during COVID-19 (4/2/2020)
- UHC Reimbursement of Therapy Telehealth During COVID-19 (03/27/2020)
- APTA Quick Reference to Using E-Visits for PT (3/26/2020)
- APTA FAQ E-Visits (3/18/2020)
- AOTA OT and Telehealth (3/26/2020)
- OCR FAQs on Telehealth and HIPAA (3/23/2020)
- OCR Guidance Related to Expanded Telehealth (3/17/2020)
- President Trump Expands Telehealth Benefits for Medicare Beneficiaries During COVID-19 Outbreak (3/17/2020)
- CMS Telemedicine Fact Sheet (3/17/2020)
- CMS Telemedicine Healthcare FAQ (3/17/2020)
The clinician would want to document the skilled intervention and amount of time of the intervention per usual. In addition, they would add the following:
- Documentation of consent of a virtual treatment
- Note: Some states and some payers require written consent and not just documented verbal consent
- Documentation that the mode of treatment occurred via telehealth
- Therapy billing of telehealth (for other payers who reimburse for it) typically uses the same CPT codes as in-person treatment. There would be modifiers to identify the treatment as delivered virtually and include a location code
EMOTIONAL HEALTH/WELLNESS RESOURCES during COVID-19 (5/26/2020)
Managing Stress & Anxiety During COVID-19 (3/24/2020)
Rehabilitative Care Alliance - Collection of Reahb Specific COVID Resources (8/25/2021)
Hospital Discharge to Home/Other Settings: Avalere ATI Advisory
Unavoidable injury? COVID-19 skin discolorations may mimic pressure wounds, panel warns - McKnights (7/11/2020)
Keeping Family Together During COVID-19: A Checklist (6/25/2020)
Should I Take My Loved One Home During the COVID-19 Crisis? (6/25/2020)
CVS COVID-19 Testing (6/19/2020)
AOTA Decision Guides (6/12/2020)
AHCA/NCAL Keeping People Connected: Innovative Methods Infection Control (6/5/2020)
APTA Report Impact Of COVID-19 On The Physical Therapy Profession (6/5/2020)
COVID-19 PHE Regulatory Timeline & Documentation for Risk Management (Proactive Medical Review) (5/28/2020)
AOTA Ethics Advisory (5/8/2020)
CDC Reopening Guidance For Cleaning & Disinfecting (5/1/2020)
Gallagher Resources for COVID-19 (4/24/2020)
Gallagher Bassett COVID-19 Legal Updates (4/24/2020)
Aegis & HealthPro Heritage Webinar: What Therapists Need to Know from 4/17/2020 (4/24/2020)
AAAASF Guidance for Re-Opening Your AAAASF Accreditied Facility (4/24/2020)
Coronavirus Relief Fund - US Treasury - (4/24/2020)
JAMA Communications about Serious Illnesses (4/16/2020)
Vital Talk Communication Playbook (4/16/2020)
Ariadne Crucial Conversations COVID (4/16/2020)
ODG Viral Pandemic Management Guidelines (4/16/2020)
AOTA Coronavirus Resource Page (4/15/2020)
APTA Coronavirus Resource Page (4/15/2020)
APTA Learning Center Catalog (4/15/2020)
AEI Roadmap to Recovery (4/14/2020)
AAAASF COVID Resource Page (4/9/2020)
LeadingAge California - COVID Communications Positive Test (4/6/2020)
Rehabilitation Documentation Guidance for COVID-19 PHE Provided by Proactive Medical Review (4/3/2020)
COVID-19: Therapy Treatment Strategies and Finding Control Throughout the Unknown (4/1/2020) provided by Independence Rehab
Rebate Checks - IR-2020-61: Economic Impact Payments: What you need to know (3/31/2020)
US Chamber of Commerce CARES Act (3/29/2020)
SBA Guidance (3/29/2020)
Paycheck Protection Program (3/29/2020)
Payroll Provisions CARES Act (3/29/2020)
US Library of Medicine (3/25/2020)
Joint Commission Resources (3/25/2020)
Click here for a telehealth platform matrix developed by the APTA Health Policy and Administration Technology Special Interest Group. (3/24/2020)
Utilizing Skype for Interviews - Instructions on how to download and use (3/24/2020)
AAAASF - Donate Medical Equipment and Supplies (White House Asks for Help to Meet National Needs with COVID-19) (3/24/2020)
Acute Care Physical Therapy and COVID-19: How Can We Add the Greatest Value? (3/23/2020) Slides, Recording, Other Resources
Identifying Critical Infrastructure during COVID-19 (3/20/2020)
Comprehensive FAQs for Employers on COVID-19 (3/20/2020)
3-Day Waiver and Spell of Illness FAQs (3/20/2020)
FEMA Eligible Emergency Protective Measures (3/20/2020)
Coronavirus: SBA Loans and Litigation Updates (3/19/2020
Proactive Medical Blog: National Emergency Declaration: Quick Summary of Medicare Impact (3/19/2020)
Washington State Society for Post Acute & LTC Medicine (3/19/2020)
Linda's Favorite Activity Kits for Residents (3/16/2020)
Treatment in Room and Activity Ideas (3/16/2020)
The Emergency Coronavirus Bill: Families First HR 6201 (3/14/2020)
AHCA/NCAL Memo on CMS Waiver for 3 Day Stay and Spell of Illness (3/14/2020)
AHCA/NCAL Memo on National Emergency, SNF Visitor Restrictions and House Relief Package (3/14/2020)
CPT Releases New Coronavirus Code & Description for Testing (3/13/2020)
National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) Resource Page for COVID-19
Memo to AAAASF Surveyors (3/12/2020)
Letter to Residents, Staff and Family (3/13/2020)
COVID-19 Toolkit (3/13/2020)
Social Distancing Algorithm (3/13/2020)
Emergency Management Decision Guide (3/13/2020)
Emergency Management Workforce Operations Policy (3/13/2020)
COVID-19 Exposure Pay Guidance (3/13/2020)
Redeployment Guidance (3/13/2020)