The MOA is monitoring updates and recommendations from MDHHS, CDC, World Health Organization and local health agencies.
If you have any comments or questions for the MOA, please use the link below to contact the MOA directly and we will respond accordingly. 

Comments or questions? Contact the MOA

COVID-19 Volunteers

The MOA has received a number of calls from members looking for ways to volunteer their skills. Michigan.gov has created a webpage with links for volunteers and donations. The www.michigan.gov/fightcovid19 site has options for Healthcare Providers, Public Health & Community volunteers. The site also links for donating PPE materials and a link to the Red Cross for blood donations. 

Personal Protective Equipment Donations

As many news reports have stressed, there is a shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) healthcare responders need in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare facilities across the state are asking for assistance to help protect healthcare workers and limit the spread of the virus.

Here are the materials most needed at this time:

• Disposable face masks

• N95 masks, sometimes called respirators

• Eye protection including face shields and safety goggles

• Disposable gowns

• Disposable gloves, especially non-latex

• Disposable surgical caps

• Disposable foot covers

• Wipes: bleach or antimicrobial

• Hand sanitizer

More specialized items:

• Ventilators
• Nasal testing swabs
• Viral testing kits

In order to ensure the supplies are distributed efficiently and to the areas of greatest need, donations can be directed to the Michigan Community Service Commission at [email protected] or call (517) 335-4295.

March 25, 2020 — COVID-19 UPDATE:The MDHHS has issued a Memorandum 

MDHHS recently ordered that all health professionals should conduct testing for the Novel Coronavirus in accordance with the COVID-19 prioritization criteria published by MDHHS. This letter informs you of three changes to this system.

1. Change in Prioritization Criteria
2. Expansion of access to PUI authorization
3. Reminder about MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories (BOL) submissions
Read the full memorandum here
The Michigan COVID-19 Laboratory Emergency Response Network (MI-CLERN) provider hotline (888-277-9894)

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus 
For those who have questions about the state’s actions to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, please call the COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-535-6136 between 8AM - 5PM daily. 

The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) continues to monitor the ongoing spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). While the immediate risk of exposure for the residents of Michigan remains relatively low, the MOA encourages all residents to follow recommendations to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The MOA conducts daily meetings to study updates to the situation in Michigan and stay informed on how other states are responding to the outbreak of COVID-19. In an effort to provide accurate information on the various issues surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak to MOA members, we have created a webpage to aggregate information: 

MOA COVID-19 Information & Resources

CORONAVIRUS HOTLINES
MDHHS Coronavirus General Information (8am-5pm daily): 888-535-6136
MDHHS COVID-19 Emergency Laboratory Network Hotline 888-277-9894 
Centers for Disease Control: 800-232-4636

Prior Authorization Reform 

The Michigan State Senate has recently held to committee hearings regarding prior authorization. SB 612 will go a long way towards easing the confusion and delays providers and patients encounter due to prior authorization requirements. The MOA urges our members and supporters to take action. Use the links on this page to review the issue. Then, contact your legislators and let them know you support SB 612. Our patients deserve timely care and as physicians, we can use more time to treat our patients and less time dedicated to navigating complex requirements.
Be sure to share the link to “approvemycare.org” with friends and colleagues. Your support is greatly appreciated.
- Craig Glines, DO, MSBA, FACOOG
President Michigan Osteopathic Association

Restrictive prior authorization requirements often force patients to delay much-needed care and put a strain on the physician-patient relationship. These requirements also put a strain on a physician's practice - requiring additional administrative work to get important procedures and prescriptions approved for patients. That means more money going towards administrative work instead of patient care.  That's why we need you to reach out to your State Senators and ask them to support Michigan Senate Bill 612. This legislation would go a long way toward streamlining the prior-authorization process by making it more transparent and creating strict timelines for approval. The bill achieves this goal by requiring insurers to:  - Post prior-authorization requirements on their public website. These requirements should be described in detail, use easily understandable language, and be based on peer-reviewed clinical review criteria.  - Post statistics regarding prior-authorization on their website. - Ensure that any adverser determination is made by a licensed physician who practices in the same specialty as the provider who would normally perform or prescribe the treatment in question. - Respond to "urgent" requests within 24 hours and "non-urgent" requests within 48 hours. If requests are not responded to in that time frame they are considered granted  Michigan Senate Bill 612 will not solve every problem associated with prior authorization, but it will go a long way to alleviating the burden it places on your practice and your patients. Write your Senator today and ask them to support SB 612!

Be heard Prior Authorization requirements and step therapy can delay medical procedures and cause complications in patient access to quality care. As a physician, health care provider, patient or family of a patient, if you have experienced delay or denial of medical care due to insurance requirements we want you to be heard. If you would like to share your story—either in writing, audio or video—we want to hear from you.  Share your story of delayed healthcare       UPDATE Feb. 6, 2020: The  hearings on SB 612 by the Senate Committee on Health Policy & Human Services have been very successful in educating the committee members and public about the challenges with current prior authorization and its impact on access to health care. Patients have shared compelling personal stories on how these current practices are delaying and denying care.  We hope continued patient stories will move the needle for successful discussions and negotiations in the coming weeks. - Kevin McKinney, MOA Governmental Liaison   SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL IN COMMITTEE (Date Completed: 1-29-20) This document analyzes: SB0612

Contact Your Legislator regarding SB 612

Economic Impact Report

Revised FAQ on Michigan Opioid Laws

MARCH 6, 2019 – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) have released an updated ‘Michigan Opioid Laws, Frequently Asked Questions’, document.

 Changes to the document include additional guidance specific to Health Profession Subfield Licensees and can be found in the following location in the PDF:

• Page 7, FAQ #5
• Subsection “c” added.
• Page 13, FAQ #9
• Subsections “c” and “d” added. Additionally, the links to Michigan statute that were previously broken have been fixed.

 Additionally, the links to Michigan statute that were previously broken have been fixed. Click on the button below to access the PDF file, Michigan Opioid Laws FAQ.

LARA Michigan Opioid Laws FAQ (PDF)

LARA Updated Regulations: Bona Fide Prescriber-Patient Relationship