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Thank you for helping Oregonians fight back

Thank you for all you are doing to keep our members healthy. CareOregon has been actively monitoring this situation and working in coordination with local and state public health bodies. We are committed to supporting you and making sure our members get the care they need.


COVID-19 vaccine

As you know, the FDA approved a vaccine for emergency use — this is great news, and we are here to support you as the vaccine rolls out. Here is what we know now:

  • Click here to read our provider FAQs about the vaccine.
  • The Oregon Health Authority is offering guidance to providers and creating a plan to deliver the vaccine in phases. You can learn more on their provider page by clicking here.
  • OHA’s public-facing COVID-19 information is found at covidvaccine.oregon.gov. This website features two tools:
    • Vaccine information tool (chat tool): People can see if they’re eligible and find vaccine appointments. Note: This is currently only available for Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah and Washington counties.
    • Get Vaccinated Oregon (Google tool): People can see if they’re eligible and get notified by email or text when they are. Learn more about this tool here.
    To learn more about the difference between these two tools, click here.
  • We are encouraging members to speak with their providers and visit the public-facing OHA COVID-19 vaccine page for more information. Members can find out when they’re eligible and where they can get their vaccine by using one of the following options: We are reminding members that many people are trying to find information right now, so wait times or website load times may be longer than normal.
  • The federal government is supplying retail pharmacies in Oregon with 100 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine per week. This includes Fred Meyer, Safeway, Albertsons, CVS, Rite-Aid, etc. Supplies are limited, and demand is high. An individual must be in an eligible group to receive the vaccine. We are advising members to contact their local pharmacy for details on how to schedule an appointment. They can learn more at the following links:
  • For additional resources, see COVID-19 vaccine webpages from the CDC and the FDA.
  • As we learn more, we will continue to update this page with more information and resources.

Educational webinars

The Oregon Health Authority is holding regular webinars for providers. For information on future webinars, visit this page.

Provider Support

Click to learn more about support for physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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  • Click to learn more about support for physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Testing and specimen collection

Information on the codes to use when testing for COVID-19.

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  • Information on the codes to use when testing for testing for COVID-19 diagnostic detection and antibody presence.

 

 

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Telephone and video appointments

Resources, codes, and additional reference material related to telephone and video appointments (telehealth/telemedicine).

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Telephone and video appointments

Current codes and guidance for telephone and/or video appointments

Additional telehealth reference material

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Behavioral health resources:

Information specific to behavioral health providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Pharmacy updates 

Pharmacy updates, resources, and information. This section includes some updates on specific medications.

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Pharmacy updates 

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Health-related services

Information about health-related services to cover immediate member needs like cell phones and hotel rooms — including the forms you need to request health-related services — is found on our Provider Support page.

Health-related services

CareOregon is continuing to offer health-related services of many kinds, but in particular we are striving to meet the most immediate member needs:

  • Cell phones: With many providers moving to delivery of services via telehealth, we want to ensure that members have access to a phone. We are working with a provider to offer flip phones and simple smart phones to members.

  • Hotel rooms: For members who are at higher risk due to underlying health conditions, have been exposed to COVID-19 or are showing signs of the virus, we are attempting to find hotel rooms where members can stay while they await test results or other care that does not meet the criteria for the county’s motel sheltering program.

There are two ways you can submit requests for health-related services for members:

  1. Use our standard Health-Related Services Flexible Services Funding Request form to make requests for cell phones, hotel rooms or other health-related services for individual members.

    1. Please remember that requests for health-related services must be directly related to members’ treatment plans and require chart notes to justify the request.
  2. Bulk items are available to help clinics and providers ensure a constant supply of the most needed items. To order items in bulk — including cell phone minutes, transit passes, sleeping bags, hygiene projects and more — fill out our Bulk Purchase Request form.

    1. Bulk requests may take up to 14 business days for review and delivery.
    2. Clinics and county teams may make bulk requests one time per month.
    3. Requests should be submitted by supervisors or managers.
    4. Clinics/teams are required to keep a Bulk Request Tracking document and submit it before new orders can be fulfilled. 

 

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General resources:

Other useful resources related to COVID-19, including links to state and federal resources.

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COVID-19 coding

ICD-10-CM official coding guidelines: Coding encounters related to COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak

 

Medicare Sequestration Changes

Medicare sequestration contract changes (May 1)

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Current guidance for members/patients

The guidance being given to members/patients during the coronavirus pandemic. If you have questions about what to tell patients, this section can help. This includes links to interpretation services.

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  • The guidance being given to members/patients during the coronavirus pandemic. If you have questions about what to tell patients, this section can help. This includes links to interpretation services.

Current guidance for members/patients

  • If a member has symptoms of COVID-19, CareOregon is recommending they call their primary care provider. You can best advise members on the next steps, including how to get tested.

  • We are encouraging members to stay at home and practice social distancing whenever possible. We are reinforcing that this is the most effective way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

  • Except in an emergency, we are urging members not to go to the doctor or the dentist. You should notify members about canceling or postponing any non-urgent appointments to protect your staff. We are reminding members that the Oregon Health Authority and the Governor’s office are asking people to avoid going to providers’ offices, urgent care facilities or hospital emergency rooms, in order to keep the staff members at those facilities safe.

  • We are urging clients receiving mental health and substance use treatment services to contact their providers directly to learn how to access services. Many providers are shifting to offering services by phone. Please see the telehealth and phone-based services guidelines for behavioral health included above.

  • Most, if not all, elective procedures are being postponed until COVID-19 precautions are over. To reduce the administrative burden on providers and reassure members, authorizations for elective procedures are being extended until January 1, 2021.

  • Members still have access to CareOregon’s provider network. None of their benefits have changed, and CareOregon is still committed to helping members meet their physical, dental, mental health and addiction-related care needs.

  • You may be able to set up a telephone or online video call with your patients. We know our provider network is working to use these methods when appropriate and possible. We’ve encouraged members to call their provider to ask if these options are available. See above for an update on telehealth codes.

  • If members need medication, they can still get it. If members get their prescription refilled, we will extend their prescription to 90 days’ worth of medication. They can refill their prescriptions early. They also have the option to receive prescriptions from a mail-order pharmacy. If a member has an approved pre-authorization that expires before the end of the year, we are automatically extending the expiration date by six months.

  • Members and providers still have access to interpretation services. CareOregon’s approved interpretation vendors are Passport to Languages and Linguava. To arrange for an interpreter to be present during an appointment — whether by phone or in-person — complete the CareOregon Interpreter request form found on our Provider Policies and Forms webpage. You can also access our vendors’ online systems to request and confirm an interpreter:
  • Some rides to appointments are still available for members. Due to COVID-19, ride availability may be limited. Members should call Ride to Care at 855-321-4899 to ask about service availability.

We’ve provided answers to other common questions below. This page will continue to be updated with more information as it becomes available. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQ for Providers

Click here to download this FAQ as a PDF

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  • Q: Who is at risk of getting the coronavirus?

  • Q: How can members prevent the coronavirus?

  • Q: Do members need face coverings?

  • Q: Can members get extra medicine if they can’t make it to the pharmacy?

  • Q: Are there medication treatments for the coronavirus that are covered?

  • Q: What should members do if they have more questions or want to learn more?

  • Q: Is CareOregon providing tissues, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes or other supplies to their partners?

  • Q: How is CareOregon handling embedded staff, e.g., care coordinators, panel coordinators, etc.?

  • Q: Who is CareOregon following for guidance?

  • Q: Will interpreters still be available for member appointments?

Additional information

Information about what to do if you think someone in your care has coronavirus, and other resources for clinic staff.

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If there are any questions about CareOregon’s policies during this situation, please reach out to Provider Customer Service at 503-416-4100, option 3. They can help point you to the right resource.

Additional information

What should clinic staff do if they suspect someone in their care has the coronavirus?

Please reach out to the CDC, OHA or Multnomah County. They can help you with any suspected cases and suggest the appropriate next steps.

Resources for health care staff:



Who should we call if we have questions?

If providers or clinic staff have other questions about COVID-19, they should reach out to OHA directly.

If there are any questions about CareOregon’s policies during this situation, please reach out to Provider Customer Service at 503-416-4100, option 3. They can help point you to the right resource.

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