Updated January 9, 2023

MAOT recognizes that COVID-19 has had a major impact on our daily lives.  We continue to adapt to these uncharted waters.  We hope that these resources will be helpful to you.  Please feel free to contact MAOT if you have any questions.

CDC Workplace Guidance and Strategies:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fcommunity%2Fworkplaces-businesses%2Findex.html

Massachusetts guidelines for masking:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-mask-requirements

Practitioner Well Being:

https://www.aota.org/publications/ot-practice/ot-practice-issues/2022/research-update-practitioner-health-wellness  (AOTA members only)

Occupational Therapy in the Age of Coronavirus:

https://www.aota.org/practice/clinical-topics/covid-19 (AOTA members only)

Federal Student Loans: 

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/coronavirus

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education COVID-109: 

http://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/

 

U.S. Department of Education information and Resources: 

https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus

Telehealth:

AOTA Telehealth Resources: 

https://www.aota.org/telehealth

AOTA Guide to Telehealth Services Decision Making: 

https://www.aota.org/~/media/Corporate/Files/Practice/Manage/Occupational-Therapy-Telehealth-Decision-Guide.pdf

HIPPA Telehealth Compliant Resources:

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/index.html

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/hipaa-audio-telehealth/index.html?mkt_tok=NzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGE_dfnlQfHMNHQLkDEWuW53hwBVYhBhxN2ctYHibluCwugUMKrQXOaF6sjzipOuwbDaNoZZuACOGOdyhegFxCa0z6sIxLdplxdaIEiqkrNQ2FH

WPS Statement on Telehealth and standardized assessments:

https://www.wpspublish.com/wps-tele-assessment-statement

CMS/Medicare and Telehealth: 

https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/

Massachusetts Telehealth law: 

https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-baker-signs-health-care-legislation-increasing-access-to-quality-affordable-care-promoting-telehealth-and-protecting-access-to-covid-19-testing-treatment

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2020/Chapter260

Massachusetts MassHealth Telehealth Guidelines:

https://www.mass.gov/doc/all-provider-bulletin-327-access-to-health-services-through-telehealth-options-corrected-0/download?_ga=2.8793589.1186399049.1634649034-1910155924.1633384550

https://www.mass.gov/doc/all-provider-bulletin-355-access-to-health-services-through-telehealth-options-amendment-0/download

Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance Bulletin for Telehealth: 

https://www.mass.gov/doc/bulletin-2021-10-continued-access-to-telehealth-services-in-2021-issued-september-7-2021/download

Massachusetts Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications During the COVID-19 Nationwide Public Health Emergency: 

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html

Free Zoom account: 

https://zoom.us/docs/ent/school-verification.html?zcid=1231&_ga=2.228851412.995105639.1583699918-735451631.1546545079

Liability insurance and Telehealth:

FAQ from HSPO about liability insurance, COVID, and telehealth:  http://www.hpso.com/support/faq/Index

Statement from Proliability/Mercer:

"The Policy does not exclude telehealth services. The intent of the Professional Liability Policy is to defend and indemnify claims arising from healthcare professional services for the profession listed on the Declarations page.  For practitioners electing to provide professional services via telehealth, it is the responsibility of each practitioner to ensure that they are lawfully providing professional services and meeting the requirements outlined by their professional state licensing or regulatory boards. It is upon the practitioner to be familiar with all laws and regulations regarding telehealth to ensure they are practicing within their profession’s scope and standards of practice. Failure to follow the required scope and standards of practice may limit or void your insurance.

The foregoing is provided for information purposes only. Please refer to the Policy for its complete terms and conditions. Coverage determinations can only be made by the Claims department after a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of an actual claim.

If you have questions regarding the guidelines, laws or regulations relating to telehealth, we encourage you to contact your national association and regulatory bodies."

Practitioners can get a separate liability rider for consultation and education.  Practitioners are encouraged to contact their provider for specific coverage.