October 2020
Wesley G. Bradford, MD, MPH
Congratulations to CAFP for winning the AAFP Leadership in State Government Award, for our support for small primary care practices and the Care for Californians Initiative!
The AMA has added two new codes to the CPT code set to help recognize services regarding COVID-19. Physicians should contact their contracted payers to verify whether they are paying these codes, or plan to in the future:
- 87635 to report COVID-19 antigen (infectious agent) detection;
- 86318 to report COVID-19 antibody detection.
Starting January 1, prescription pads for controlled substances must have a 12-character serial number, a corresponding barcode, and other security features required by AB 149 (2019). See CAFP for details. (This requirement had been delayed for more than a year because Security Prescription Printers were not readily available then.) These prescription pads can be ordered from the list of Security Prescription Printers.
Starting January 1, Medi-Cal pharmacy benefits will be transitioned to “Medi-Cal Rx”, a fee-for-service delivery system administered by Magellan Medicaid Administration, Inc.
CMS has revised the E/M documentation and coding guidelines beginning January 1.
Health and Human Services announced $20 billion in new Provider Relief Funding due to COVID-19 hardships, for providers who have already received payments and for previously ineligible providers. Providers must apply for Phase 3 payments by November 6.
The new AB 890 law will create a pathway for nurse practitioners to practice without standardized procedures, pending regulatory guidance. CAFP has created a factsheet to help explain the law.
CAFP recommends Support for 2 California ballot propositions:
- Prop 16, Allowing Affirmative Action by public universities, schools and government agencies;
- Prop 25,Referendum to maintain a 2018 law eliminating cash bail requirements for pre-trial release, and instead requiring judges to decide whether to release defendants based on risk assessment.
Remember to register now for CAFP’s Family Medicine Clinical Forum starting November 15. 3 virtual events will offer 22 AAFP prescribed credits, with 24 additional credits available through the Commitment to Change (CTC) process.
