EOCCO Clinics & Staff,
Welcome to the April 2022 issue of the EOCCO monthly newsletter. Below is a preview of the articles you will find in this month's email:
- Retacrit Supply Disruption
- THW Reporting
- Provider Search Tool Update
- Upcoming Events & Trainings
- Unite Us
- Fentanyl Awareness One-Pager
- Post-Partum Benefits Policy Change
- Reminders
Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns or recommendations. We would love to hear from you!
Please contact: Kelly Watanabe at kelly.watanabe@eocco.com
Thank you,
Your EOCCO Team
Retacrit Supply Disruption
Pfizer announced it expects a supply disruption for its short-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA), Retacrit (epoetin alfa-ebpx). The forecasted disruption is expected to start May 2022 and last through Q4 2022. In anticipation of the market shortage, EOCCO will temporarily modify our process to minimize the disruption to your patients and practice.
How will this impact you and EOCCO members?
For members currently receiving Retacrit, you can seamlessly switch to another epoetin alfa agent (Epogen/Procrit), and EOCCO will cover the drug at the same level as Retacrit.
For members initiating treatment with an ESA during the shortage, the requirement to use Retacrit before Epogen/Procrit will be waived. Access to Epogen/Procrit will be approved when prior authorization criteria are met during the active shortage period.
Once supply returns, EOCCO will go back to our pre-shortage policy and process. Providers currently prescribing ESAs will be receiving more information in the mail. You can monitor FDA drug shortages here.
THW Reporting
EOCCO is using a new reporting process to track Traditional Health Worker (THW) utilization after receiving feedback from many partners about the existing tracking document. Starting in 2022, we are asking THWs to report directly to EOCCO through a Smartsheet survey form. EOCCO will continue to send quarterly report reminders. The following link will take you to the reporting form here. This survey does not ask for patient PHI, but does ask optional demographic information of the THWs themselves.
If your clinic practice does not employ CHWs or other THWs, no action is needed.
Provider Search Tool Update
EOCCO providers needing to refer a patient to a participating specialist or other EOCCO provider can now locate them with the provider search tool on the main page of the EOCCO provider website. Just scroll down to the “Find an EOCCO provider” section or click the link here: https://www.eocco.com/eocco-provider-search/.
In order for the provider search tool to remain accurate and up to date, we encourage everyone to send us updates when there are provider changes to your practice at providerupdates@modahealth.com.
Upcoming Events & Trainings
2SLGBTQ+ Training
This daylong virtual event provides training on gender affirming healthcare and moving agencies to an affirming space for 2SLGBTQ+ patients. OHSU will provide the second half of the training, which will focus on writing a letter of support for gender affirming healthcare. This training is appropriate and suggested for every staff member in your agency. There will be CEU's attached for those that need them.
Tuesday, 5/24/22, 8 am – 5 pm
To view the agenda and learning objectives please visit 2SLGBTQ+ Training registration page
Motivational interviewing trainings for diabetes management (no-cost CME)
Oregon Medicaid providers are invited to no-cost virtual trainings (with CME) on motivational interviewing for diabetes management. The trainings will focus on improving providers' confidence and skills in conversations about sensitive behavior change topics required for diabetes management. Dana Sturtevant, MS, RD, will lead these trainings. Three types of trainings are available, with multiple opportunities to attend each between June 2022 and February 2023:
Motivational interviewing for diabetes management: Level 1
Motivational interviewing for diabetes management: Level 2
Using motivational interviewing in diabetes management groups
To view the full details, including prerequisites, draft agendas, schedules and registration links visit this site.
Unite Us
On Tuesday, April 12th, Eastern Oregon went live on the Connect Oregon network! Thank you to those who have already submitted their Partner Registration Forms and who attended our Launch Party. We are excited to expand the Unite Us tool across the EOCCO service area. If your organization has not joined Unite Us yet, you can do so by filling out the Partner Registration Form here.
We encourage you to invite your priority partners to join the platform with you. By helping spread the word among your networks of community partners, we can together create a robust network of health and social care providers in Eastern Oregon. Community-based organizations (CBOs) who provide social services such as nutrition, housing and shelter, employment, and behavioral and mental health support can onboard to Connect Oregon for free! Please include Courtney Gallant (courtney.gallant@uniteus.com), our Unite Us Community Engagement Manager, to your outreach to community partners.
Fentanyl Awareness One-Pager
Greater Oregon Behavioral Health Inc. (GOBHI) has created a one-page flyer to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl. Below are a few fentanyl facts:
- Overdoses involving fentanyl have spiked in Eastern Oregon.
- No one is immune. This danger affects every community.
- You can’t smell or taste fentanyl.
- It greatly increases your risk of overdose and death.
- Counterfeit pills often contain fentanyl and can be deadly.
To view and download the flyer, please visit GOBHI's Fentanyl Warning Toolkit page.
Post-Partum Benefits Policy Change
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has implemented a new policy changing the duration of post-partum benefits. Those receiving OHP supplemental benefits will now continue to receive benefits for 12 months following the end of their pregnancy, instead of 2 months. EOCCO members with post-partum benefits will continue to have access for 12 months post-partum.
This policy affects those eligible for OHP plus (BMH) benefits whose pregnancy ended or will end on or after April 1, 2021. EOCCO will share more information once it becomes available.
Reminders
DMAP Applications
In our efforts to quickly and efficiently process all Oregon Medicaid DMAP enrollment applications received by EOCCO, we are moving to digital only applications. Please note that effective 05/01/2022 applications will only be accepted via email to ProviderDMAPApps@modahealth.com. Any applications received via fax or mail after 05/01/2022 cannot be accepted and we will reach out to you.
If you have questions, concerns or difficulties with this process change, please email ProviderDMAPApps@modahealth.com
Medical Records Review
Beginning April 2022, the OHA and Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG) will be conducting a Medical Record Review of a portion of EOCCO members randomly pre-selected by HSAG. Your clinic/facility may be contacted by EOCCO to ask to procure a medical record for this review if your patient falls into the randomly pre-selected batch.
Questions?
Questions related to incentive measures, health equity, traditional health workers, SDoH, and HIT - Please email EOCCOMetrics@modahealth.com
Questions related to claims and payment information - Please email EOCCOProviderInquiry@modahealth.com
Need to verify if your provider or group NPI is active? Please use OHA’s verification tool
Need to register your practitioner, group or facility? You can find forms on EOCCO.com/Providers/becomeaprovider
If you would like to be added or removed from the email list, please let us know at kelly.watanabe@eocco.com
