COVID-19 Resources
OAO Members –
Below are COVID-19 Resources specific to ophthalmology practices in Oregon. Included are links to the State Executive Orders, OHA guidance, specialty-specific recommendations from AAO, information on financial assistance for practices and more. We will continue to update this home page regularly so please continue to check back.
We know these are difficult times so please do not hesitate to reach out to our team if we can be of assistance!
Your OAO Staff: Amanda, Sabrina and Shelley
COVID-19 Advocacy:
Your staff and lobby team are fighting for you at the State and local level throughout this pandemic. See below for just a few examples of our efforts, which are highlighted in coalition letters and news articles. If you have any questions about our advocacy efforts, do not hesitate to reach out to staff.
- CAT Relief Letter
- Requests a delay of implementation of the CAT or partial assessment
- House of Medicine Request (letter)
- Includes requests regarding PPE, telemedicine payment parity, liability protections, physician discretion, network protections, financial relief for practices, and others.
- Request to Governor’s Office—Liability Protection for Healthcare Providers (letter)
- Requests liability protection both for providers on the front lines who are faced with a serious lack of equipment, as well as many of our specialty physicians who, in following the executive order to delay non-emergency care, are altering the normal standard of care. As well, this letter requests an expansion of our Good Samaritan Laws.
- In the news: Oregon healthcare workers seek limited legal immunity in coronavirus fight
COVID-19 Resources:
STATE
NEW: OR-OSHA Temporary Rules
There are new OR-OSHA COVID Temporary Rules that impact ALL workplaces. The rules are effective Monday, November 16th with some requirements assigned extended effective dates. A reminder that these rules include additional requirements for those in a health care setting.
You can view the Temporary Rules here: https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/div1/437-001-0744.pdf
View workplace chart for application here: https://osha.oregon.gov/rules/advisory/infectiousdisease/Documents/Overview-Table-for-Oregon-OSHA-COVID-19-Temporary-Rule.pdf
We recently partnered with the legal experts at Tonkon Torp to provide a free webinar on these rules. A recording of the webinar will be available here: https://tonkon.com/events/2020-11-03/how-to-implement-or-oshas-covid-19-rule.html
Ban on non-emergency procedures lifted, effective May 1
Framework for Restarting
- Framework for Restarting Non-Emergent and Elective Procedures in Hospitals and Ambulatory Surgical Centers
- Framework for Restarting Non-Emergent and Elective Procedures in Medical and Dental Offices
Guidance on Resumption of Non-Emergent and Elective Procedures
- At Hospitals
- At Ambulatory Surgical Centers
- At Medical and Dental Offices
- View Governor’s press conference here
- In the news: Nonemergency medical procedures can resume May 1 in Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown says
Executive Orders
- Executive Order 20-12: Ordering Oregonians to Stay at Home, Closing Specified Retail Businesses, Requiring Social Distancing Measures for Other Public and Private Facilities, and Imposing Requirements for Outdoor Areas and Licensed Childcare Facilities
- Executive Order 20-10: Preservation of PPE, Prohibition on Non-Emergency Medical Procedures. See OHA Guidelines on this EO here.
Other COVID-19 executive orders not directly related to healthcare can be found here: https://govstatus.egov.com/or-covid-19
Oregon Health Authority
Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS)
Oregon Office of Emergency Management
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Centers for Disease Control: COVID-19 Webpage
CMS: Current emergencies webpage/updates
- Advance Payments: CMS has announced the availability of advanced payments for Medicare services to help providers during this time of uncertain revenue. The advanced payment program allows eligible providers to request up to 100% of three months of Medicare payments, and will provide a period of 120 days before recoupment begins. For more details, see the CMS online fact sheet.
- Freeze on Reporting Requirements: On March 22, CMS announced it is granting exceptions from reporting requirements and extensions for clinicians and providers participating in Medicare quality reporting programs with respect to upcoming measure reporting and data submission for those programs. The action comes as part of the Trump Administration’s response to 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). View the press release here.
From AAO:
- Financial and employment guidance for ophthalmologists
- Paycheck Protection Program and COVID-19
- Full coverage at aao.org/coronavirus
- Clinical Care Guidelines
- Urgent and Emergent Procedures: A master list of urgent and emergent surgical ophthalmic procedures, along with their more common likely indications.
President’s Executive Orders
- Executive Order on Preventing Hoarding of Health and Medical Resources to Respond to the Spread of COVID-19 (3/23/20)
- Executive Order on Gives HHS Secretary Azar Broad Supply Chain Authority (3/18/20)
- Executive Order on Prioritizing and Allocating Health and Medical Resources to Respond to the Spread of Covid-19 (Defense Production Act summary) (3/18/20)
Congress
- 3548 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Summary
- H.B. 6201 signed by the President (3/18/2020)
IRS
- Payment Deadline Extended to July 15, 2020
- 90-day Delay for Payment of Taxes, Filing Deadline Remains
U.S. DHS
U.S. DOL
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
- Fact Sheet for Employees
- Fact Sheet for Employers
- Q&A
- Guidance in Unemployment Insurance Flexibility during COVID-19
Federal Reserve
Small Business Administration
- Disaster Declared in Washington and Six Oregon Counties
- Disaster Declared for Curry, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Lake Counties
- Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Other Resources: