Updated March 27, 2020
*We have included many links to confirmed, legitimate websites as information is changing and updated on a continuous basis. This will insure that you are able to connect with the latest updates posted by that agency.
Mental Health Center - Resources from our local MHC on Stress and Anxiety. There are resources available.
Stress - 5 Things to Know
Dealing With Anxiety
www.mhcnca.org
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) website has the latest news related to conditions in Alabama. View information at http://alabamapublichealth.gov/index.html
Medicare has released information regarding the Coronavirus.
According to the CDC, older adults and people who have severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease are at a higher risk of serious illness if they contract the COVID-19 virus. This means that most people with Medicare are at a higher risk.
Your health, safety, and welfare is our highest priority. In addition to practicing good everyday prevention through things such as hand washing and avoiding touching your face, the CDC says there is more you can do to take precautions against COVID-19 and reduce your risk of exposure:
- Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces with limited air circulation.
- Defer all cruise ship travel worldwide, particularly if you also have underlying health issues.
- Avoid situations that put you at increased risk, including non-essential travel such as long plane trips.
Medicare has also offered flexibility options to health plans including some of the following (paraphrased):
- waive required beneficiary 30-day notification of benefit changes, if the change benefits the enrollee,
- relax ‘fill to soon’ prescriptions,
- relax prior authorization requirements
- remove barriers to mail or home delivered prescriptions
- reduce or waive cost sharing for related COVID tests and services,
- waive referral requirements,
- match in-network cost sharing with out-of-network cost sharing, and
- encourage use of telehealth.
View additional information on what is covered by Medicare here - https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus
NCOA COVID-19 Resources in Spanish. https://www.ncoa.org/about-ncoa/bienvenidos-a-ncoa/covid-19-recursos-para-adultos-mayores-y-sus-cuidadores/
President Trump Expands Telehealth Benefits for Medicare Beneficiaries During the Outbreak
See details on this and other breaking news at https://www.cms.gov/newsroom
Administration on Community Living (ACL) - https://acl.gov/COVID-19
Includes guidance for visitation at long-term care facilities.
