COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 SPECIAL COMMUNICATION

Return to Training: Management of the Athlete
from the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Updated PPE History & Physical Exam Forms

On August 5, the AOASM joined the sports and medical organizations responsible for the Preparticipation Physical Exam in supporting the following statement on athletes and the COVID-19 vaccination. The multi-organizational statement was released at the same time as the White House statement COVID Vaccination in Athletes & Updated Interim Guidance on the Preparticipation Physical Examination during the SARS-Cov2 Pandemic. As part of this initiative, the PPE History and PPE Physical Examination Form were updated to include questions about COVID-19 vaccination status. Updated copies of the PPE History Form, in both English and Spanish, and the Examination Form are available here.

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Considerations for Youth Sports

As some communities in the United States begin to start youth sports activities again, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers strategies for ways in which youth sports organizations can protect players, families, and communities and slow the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Learn more.

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Support for DOs: HHS to Distribute $30 Billion in Grants Starting Today

The AOA has advocated for physicians impacted by COVID-19 in multiple ways over the last several weeks. We have pushed for liability protection, paid medical leave, and funding for PPE and other essential medical supplies. The AOA has also worked with partners across the allopathic and osteopathic medical community to push for financial support for physicians.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the $2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill signed into law last week, includes $100 billion for a new program to provide grants to hospitals and other Medicare and Medicaid enrolled providers to cover unreimbursed health care related expenses or lost revenues attributable to the public health emergency resulting from the coronavirus.

However, it was unclear whether any of this funding would be directed to physicians. Through the hard work of the physician community, HHS has announced that $30 billion will be distributed immediately, with payments arriving through direct deposit beginning April 10 to eligible providers throughout the healthcare system.

This is a grant program, not a loan or advance payment. These payments are for providers in areas heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as those who have healthy patients delaying care and cancelling elective services. Learn more. 

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Message to Affiliates from Nicole Blankenship

I look forward to your participation in our next Quarterly Affiliate Call on Thursday, April 16, from 2-3 p.m. CT.  To participate:

  • Via conference call:  Please dial (877) 369-0926, ID: 669 993 0092#.  
  • Via Zoom: Please click this link. Attendees who participate in this manner will have the ability to submit questions during the “Open Discussion” period.

Earlier this week Val Carr sent affiliate leaders an Outlook invite to this meeting. Please contact  her if you did not receive it. The agenda is also available on the  Affiliate workspace . If you have issues accessing the workspace, please contact me . 

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Emergency Funding Needs

The American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) has compiled resources for COVID-19-related emergency funding needs. These include:

If you you need assistance to determine if a grant is right for you or if you have questions about grant requirements, please contact AOF Director of Development Terry Sanders via email at  [email protected] or phone at (312) 202-8230.

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New COVID-19 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) created a new ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (U07.1) for the virus. Providers should use this new diagnosis code, where appropriate, for discharges on or after April 1, 2020.  

In addition, CMS has updated the ICD-10 MS-DRG GROUPER software package to accommodate the new ICD-10-CM diagnosis code currently available on the CMS webpage. This updated GROUPER software package (V37.1 R1) replaces the GROUPER software package V37.1. For detailed information regarding the assignment of new diagnosis code U07.1, COVID-19, under the ICD-10 MS-DRGs, visit theMS-DRG Classifications and Software  webpage.