March 22, 2020                                    THE WEEKLY DOSE                    The latest news and updates for Physicians in Bexar County
In This Week’s Issue
· BCMS COVID-19 Resource Page · Metro Health: HEALTH ADVISORY – March 17 · San Antonio COVID-19 Testing Center #s · PPE RMOC Request Form · COVID-19 Testing Supplies Needed · Retired Physicians Returning to Active Status · Telemedicine Payments and Regulations · Texas Medical Board Extends Medical License Renewal Deadline · Upcoming Community Events · University Health System Weekly Newsletter				Circle of Friends ¤ Spotlight ¤ Express Information Systems Synergy FCU TAS United Touchstone Medical Imaging
MEMBER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Auto Program BCMS Calendar BCMS/Favorite Staffing BCMS Phone App Credentialing Services - BCVI LifeBridge Free Physician Counseling Online BCMS Physician Directory Physicians' Purchasing Guide San Antonio Medicine Magazine
Important Physician News and Deadlines
San Antonio COVID-19 Testing Center All Patients Who Need Testing MUST HAVE Signs/Symptoms of COVID-19. Asymptomatic Patients will NOT be Tested. · (210) 233-5970 – Primary Care Providers referrals of citizens who are wanting the test · (210) 233-5978 – Other Health Care Workers (e.g. Nursing Homes, Clinics, etc.) · (210) 233-5967 – Hospital-based Providers (including Physicians) and 1st Responders COVID-19 Testing Supplies Needed To ramp up testing for COVID-19, specimen collection kits are needed! Please check your supplies and consider donating the following: · Viral or Universal Transport Medium (VTM/UTM) with synthetic-tip swab. Example: o Influenza test o HSV PCR test o Certain chlamydia/mycoplasma/ureaplasma tests These items are needed to collect specimens from Persons Under Investigation (PUI) for COVID-19. Any quantity, no matter how small or large, you are willing to share is needed! Without these the VTM/UTM and swabs, the tests cannot be done. Please call with the quantity of items you can provide by calling (210) 301-4391. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Supplies Requests To request critical supplies of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) through the Regional Medical Operations Center (RMOC) from the Strategic National Stockpile click here. Telemedicine Payments and Regulations Governor Abbott has waived many restrictions allowing physicians to safely treat patients remotely with the goal to keep more people at home and reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Contracted or preferred physicians and other health care professionals will be eligible for payment from Texas Department of Insurance-regulated plans for medical visits they conduct over the phone instead of in person at the same rate they would receive for in-person visits. Read full description of changes here Retired Physicians Returning to Active Status As part of Governor Abbott’s State of Disaster Declaration, he has directed the Texas Medical Board (TMB) to fast-track the temporary licensing of out-of-state physicians, physician assistants, certain retired physicians, nurses, and other license types to assist in Texas' response to COVID-19. TMB is encouraging retired physicians who are Texas residents with licenses that have been placed on official retired status for less than two years to apply for a return to active status here Texas Medical Board Extend Medical Licenses Renewal Deadline In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Texas Medical Board will extend all state medical licenses that expired or will expire between Feb.28-May 31 and automatically extending the deadline to August 31^st. Those affected by the extension can view more information here
Upcoming Community Events
Representative Gervin-Hawkins Facebook Live Update on COVID-19 March 23View Flyer National Doctor’s Day March 30 Annual Multidisciplinary Cancer Care Conference April 2-3│RSVP MGMA San Antonio 2020 Charity Golf Event April 16│RSVP
Circle of Friends Gold Sponsors
Thank you to our BCMS Circle of Friends sponsors! Donations from Circle of Friends sponsors help keep down the cost of dues and allow BCMS to continue to provide quality service to its members. The Society continues its pledge to you that it will only involve itself in services  and programs that benefit you, the member, and your patients.
Bexar County Medical Society 4334 N Loop 1604 W, Ste 200 San Antonio, TX 78249 210-301-4391 www.bcms.org About The Weekly Dose The Weekly Dose is a service of the Bexar County Medical Society. Some of the suggestions conveyed may not be applicable to your practice today, but the goal is to offer information over time that returns value in excess of the cost of your membership. If you would like to recommend future topics to share with your colleagues, please submit them to the BCMS Executive Director at steve.fitzer@bcms.org. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited. Copyright © 2020 Bexar County Medical Society, San Antonio, Texas. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe