Effective for dates of service (DOS) on and after April 1, 2020, ForwardHealth introduces new coverage policy for enteral nutrition formula and enteral feeding supplies to improve and increase member access and to reduce administrative burden to providers through the following changes:

• Prior authorization (PA) for enteral nutrition formula will be approved in real time when submitted on the ForwardHealth Portal for members who receive all nutrition administered through a gastric or jejunostomy tube.
• For all PA submission types, the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code for enteral nutrition formula will be approved, not the specific enteral nutrition formula brand name.
• Coverage for enteral nutrition formula consumed orally has been expanded for members with diagnoses of failure to thrive, malnutrition, and/or inborn errors of metabolism.
• Coverage for enteral nutrition formula consumed orally and for members transitioning from tube feeding to an oral diet has been expanded. Requests will be reviewed on an individual basis and will not be subject to predetermined quantity or time limitations.
• Coverage of syringe-fed enteral feeding supply kits will be added.

The full update is available online (link).

The Wisconsin Partnership Program ​released an RFP​ Tuesday for a new $1.5 million grant program to support projects that “aim to improve the health of the people of Wisconsin by lessening the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

 About $750,000 will be available for programs led by Wisconsin-based nonprofits, tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organizations or tribal/government entities. Special emphasis will be given to projects that target vulnerable populations.

Grant applications are due April 15, 2020.

Governor Evers today announced the State of Wisconsin Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is opening two state-run voluntary isolation facilities in Madison and Milwaukee and is providing guidance to local communities throughout Wisconsin. The two sites are set to open April 1, 2020 are at Lowell Center in Madison and a Super 8 hotel in Milwaukee.

These facilities are for symptomatic individuals suspected to be infected with COVID-19 or who have a confirmed case of COVID-19. Individuals will not be permitted to register at the facility unless referred by a medical provider or public health official. Individuals register and stay at the isolation facility on a voluntary basis. The expected length of stay will be about 14 days, or 72 hours after symptoms dissipate. At any time, either the individual or the facility may terminate the individual’s presence at the site. Those staying at the facility will have wellness checks by phone every four hours during the day and if needed at night.

Additionally, the SEOC also issued guidance for communities seeking to open their own voluntary self-isolation centers. This guidance will aid local communities with the following:

• How do we select, set up, and staff an isolation site?
• How does a person get referred to and checked into the isolation site?
• What happens while occupants are at the isolation site? Including details about medical monitoring/wellness check calls and other on-site services.
• When do occupants leave the site? Including details about discharge and involuntary check out from the isolation site.

The full press release is available online (link).

Governor Evers today sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requesting that the president issue a major disaster declaration for the entire state of Wisconsin, as a result the COVID-19 pandemic. The request covers all 72 counties and the state’s federally recognized tribes.

Having determined that Wisconsin met all of the criteria required to receive a major disaster declaration, Gov. Evers in his letter requested that the federal government provide the following programs to support the state’s response: Public Assistance, Direct Assistance, Hazard Mitigation (statewide), and certain Individual Assistance programs; Crisis Counseling, Community Disaster Loans and the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Program.

Gov. Evers declared a public health emergency on March 12 in response to the outbreak, which directed the Department of Health Services to take all necessary and appropriate actions to help combat the spread of the virus. On March 14, the governor directed Wisconsin Emergency Management to activate the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to provide additional coordination in support of the state’s response.

A copy of the governor’s letter (link) and the full press release are available online (link).

Governor Evers today announced that Wisconsin has received its second phase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and is in the process of distribution. The second phase of supplies from the SNS are being delivered to healthcare workers, emergency medical services, and medical facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and clinics across Wisconsin.

The State Emergency Operations Center and Department of Health Services continue working to supply medical facilities with supplies requested from the Strategic National Stockpile. The second phase includes approximately 51,880 N95 respirators, 130,840 face/surgical masks, 23,400 face shields, 20,226 surgical gowns, 96 coveralls, and 79,000 pairs of gloves. Today’s shipment comes as Governor Evers announced Wisconsin’s first delivery of SNS supplies which included approximately 52,800N95 respirators, 130,000 face/surgical masks, 24,768 face shields, 20,286 surgical gowns, 96 coveralls, and 61,750 pairs of gloves. In total Wisconsin has received approximately 104,680 N95 respirators, 260,840 face/surgical masks, 48,186 face shields, 40,512 surgical gowns, 192 coveralls, and 140,750 pairs of gloves from the SNS.

The SNS supply shipments do not include supplies the governor has requested from FEMA for non-medical personnel or supplies being aggressively pursued through procurement, donations, or the governor’s buyback program.

ForwardHealth will allow telehealth services utilizing interactive synchronous (real-time) technology, including audio-only phone communication, for currently covered services that can be delivered with functional equivalency to the face-to-face service. This applies to all service areas and all enrolled professional and paraprofessional providers allowable within current ForwardHealth coverage policy.

Please refer to the Forward Health Update 2020-15 (link) for a comprehensive explanation of the update.

Governor Evers announced a new public-private partnership among Wisconsin industry leaders to increase Wisconsin's laboratory testing capacity for COVID-19. Prior to today's announcement, the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene and the Milwaukee Public Health Lab were leading the Wisconsin Clinical Lab Network labs to bring additional COVID-19 testing online.

The new partnership now includes laboratory support from Exact Sciences, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Promega, and UW Health. These organizations, along with the Wisconsin Clinical Lab Network, will now share knowledge, resources, and technology to bolster Wisconsin’s testing capacity.

The Wisconsin Clinical Lab Network labs have been averaging completion of 1,500-2,000 COVID-19 tests per day. The expanded capacity from the state’s new public-private partnership is expected to double that capacity initially and continue to expand as additional platforms and supplies become available.

Residents who are seeking a COVID-19 test are still required to receive an order from a doctor. These labs are not testing sites. 

The full press release is available online (link).

ForwardHealth has published Alert 009, titled "Temporary Changes for Durable Medical Equipment and Disposable Medical Supplies Face-to-Face Requirements," to the ForwardHealth COVID-19 Portal Page (link). Beginning March 12, 2020, ForwardHealth will not require a face-to-face visit with a physician or authorized non-physician practitioner for an initial prescription of any durable medical equipment or disposable medical supplies. A prescription will continue to be required for durable medical equipment and disposable medical supplies.

Colleagues, leaders, patients, and their families are invited to nominate a home care nurse for the “Wisconsin Home Care Nurse of the Year Award”. The award recognizes the accomplishments of an individual nurse and provides a way to celebrate the work of all home care nurses in Wisconsin.

This award will be presented during the Wisconsin Association of Home Health Care Spring Conference in June to one outstanding nurse who demonstrates excellence in home care nursing practice.

The annual award is designed to recognize the outstanding skills and contributions of individual Wisconsin home care nurses who are the heart of patient care. Recognizing an individual nurse allows WiAHC to honor nurses and their profession. Candidates for the award are individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the delivery of quality care.

The nominee must be a WiAHC member and currently employed within Wisconsin home care as a Registered Nurse for a minimum of one year.

Learn more and submit a nomination here.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services is delaying the start of training and the soft launch date (formerly September 1, 2020) requirement to use EVV for personal care services. A new timeline will be announced when it is available.

Various dedicated EVV webpages, including a new Training Information page, are where you can view current EVV information. Providers are encouraged to join the email list in order to receive updates on EVV.