Keeping Physicians in Mind and Informed.
COVID-19 Update, 5/26/21
Status Update as of 5/25/21 from ADH Website: 


  • Total cumulative cases in Arkansas - 340,515
  • New confirmed cases since 5/24- 329
  • Active cases - 1,990
  • Deaths -5,824
  • Patients in the hospital - 200
  • Patients on ventilators - 37
Prior Authorization Suspensions to End May 31
 
From Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care: The Governor has declared that the Public Health Emergency in Arkansas will end May 31, 2021. As a result, the suspensions of the prior authorization requirements listed below will end as of that date.
 
Physicians need to be prepared to begin submitting requests for these prior authorizations again for dates of service on and after June 1, 2021. DMS and its contracted agents will work diligently to accommodate these requests as quickly as possible.

  1. Prosthetics Provider Manual §§ 220.000 et seq. & 242.110, as it relates to insulin pumps and supplies, and oxygen.
  2. Prosthetics Provider Manual §§ 220.000 et seq., & 242.150, as it relates to formula.
  3. Prosthetics Provider Manual §§ 220.000 et seq., 212.209—210, & 242.153, as it relates to Low-Profile Skin Level Gastrostomy Tube (Low-Profile Button) and supplies.
  4. Prosthetics Provider Manual §§ 220.000 et seq., & 242.170, as it relates to Apnea Monitors.
  5. Prosthetics Provider Manual §§220.000 et seq., & 242.130, as it relates to incontinence supplies.
  6. Hyperalimentation Provider Manual §§ 220.000 et seq., for all hyperalimentation services.
  7. Physician/Independent Lab/CRNA/Radiation Therapy Center Provider Manual § 292.950, as it relates to viscosupplementation services.
 
The Department of Human Services has promulgated an emergency manual to assist physicians with extensions of COVID-19 rule suspensions lasting through 12/31/2021, located at: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/?post_type=rules&p=21048
 
The Division of Medical Services is promulgating the Public Health Emergency rules pertaining to Medicaid to finalize the 12/31/2021 date for anything allowed to remain in effect until the end of the year. Those rules can be found at: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/?post_type=rules&p=21542
 
All other Medicaid memorandums or communications allowing a suspension of rules end on the date indicated within the memorandum.
Updated CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations in 12-15 Year-Olds

Dr. Jose Romero, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health, will be speaking at the Public Health Grand Rounds on Thursday, May 27 from 8-9 a.m. at the Department of Health. Seating is open, and attendance in person encouraged if fully vaccinated. You may also join by Zoom here.

The following materials have been updated to reflect the latest ACIP recommendation to include adolescents aged 12 to 15 years as eligible for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Talk to Your Patients about Getting Their COVID-19 Vaccine

Physicians, you are the most trusted source of information for their patients' health decisions. Your strong recommendation to get a COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most important factors in your patients’ decision to accept vaccination.
Got Questions? Let Us Help.

The Arkansas Medical Society is here to serve our physician members and their medical teams. On our website, we have a place that you can send us questions or share what you're experiencing. Visit ARKMED.org/covid19 and click on the Got Questions box. We will respond to your question as soon as possible. Thank you for your hard work and together we will make it through this crisis.
For more AMS COVID-19 Resources, visit ARKMED.org/covid19.
Arkansas Medical Society ARKMED.org