COVID-19 Resources & Advocacy

OSAA Request to Legislators

• Includes requests regarding alternate location transports, reciprocity for EMS workers in other states to practice in Oregon, prioritization of PPE and testing, funding for childcare, tax relief, extension of timely claims requirements and others

OSAA SPA Comment on reimbursement

• Asks that pending telemedicine SPA includes allowances for the ALS1 base rate payments for “treat and release”

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. *Note appendix A-17), that addresses fire/EMS industry-specific guidance superseding portions of the rule that are applied to other workplaces

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

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

The Oregon Health Authority has released new guidance regarding increased reimbursement for “Treat and Release” calls for public payers. Retroactive to March 18, the reimbursement for procedure code A0998 (Aid call) will be increased from $54, to $420 (ALS1) for FFS and CCO patients for the duration of this emergency. Read more here.

Emergency rules from the Oregon Medical Board regarding EMS scope flexibility

Oregon Health Authority

• Oregon Coronavirus Updates
• Provider Resources Page
• Pre-Hospital Guidance: EMS
• Oregon EMS COVID-19 Q & A Webinar
• OHA COVID-19 First Responder PPE &Exposure Seminar
• Guidance for Employers
• Oregon EMS COVID-19 Q&A Webinar
• OHA COVID-19 First Responder PPE and Exposure Webinar
• OHA COVID-19 First Responder Exposure, Work Exclusion and Q&A Webinar
• CMS Ambulance Waiver Webinar
• OHA Crisis Care Guidance for EMS Webinar

Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS)

• Telemedicine Guidance
• Emergency Order for Insurers (regarding deadlines for claims filed)

Oregon Office of Emergency Management

• General Hub

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 

Centers for Disease Control: COVID-19 Webpage

• For Providers

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.

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

• List of Critical Infrastructure Workers

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

• Feds Slash Interest Rates

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)

• Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19