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Arizona Pain’s Response To COVID-19

covid 19 response

As we continue to navigate this difficult time during the COVID-19 pandemic, Arizona Pain remains committed to providing world-class pain management care to our patients, in a number of ways. You can also find out more about our COVID-19 webinar series here.

Telehealth options

All locations now have a telehealth option. Our locations will remain open for appropriate patients.

Given new medical guidelines we can manage controlled substances conservatively for new patients through telehealth and also book behavioral health visits with our licensed social worker.

Launch Telehealth Portal Click Here

We have implemented a telehealth option that will allow us to continue to serve our vulnerable patient population while also protecting their health. We will be available to see both new and established patients via this method, and will provide the following:

  • Visits conducted via telephone and/or video options by one of our highly qualified pain management providers
  • Continued focus on safe and responsible prescribing of opioids, inclusive of our 12-Step Opioid Protocol
  • Ability to send prescriptions to a pharmacy via e-prescribing system
  • Implementation of a comprehensive approach to pain management

Of note, government agencies and payers have lifted some of the restrictions placed on telehealth during this national public health emergency. Medicare recently published an updated policy that includes these important notes:

  • Effective for services starting March 6, 2020 and for the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Medicare will make payment for Medicare telehealth services furnished to patients in broader circumstances.
  • These visits are considered the same as in-person visits and are paid at the same rate as regular, in-person visits.
  • Starting March 6, 2020 and for the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Medicare will make payment for professional services furnished to beneficiaries in all areas of the country in all settings.
  • While they must generally travel to or be located in certain types of originating sites such as a physician’s office, skilled nursing facility or hospital for the visit, effective for services starting March 6, 2020 and for the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Medicare will make payment for Medicare telehealth services furnished to beneficiaries in any healthcare facility and in their home.

Low-risk, in-office visits

We will also continue to see patients in our offices as long as advisable, however we have implemented the following safety measures in our clinics to protect both our patients and staff:

Before admitting a person to our clinic, we are asking the following questions:

  • Are they currently sick (fever, persistent cough, other respiratory symptoms)?
  • Do they have any family members at home who are currently sick (fever, persistent cough, other respiratory symptoms)?
  • Have they had close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19?
  • Have they traveled to any of the following countries in the past four weeks: China, South Korea, Italy, or Iran?

Further, we are taking these additional precautionary measures at our front desk:

  • Every person entering the clinic should have their temperature taken. If a person is found to have a temperature of 100.4 F or above, they will be asked to leave the clinic.
  • We are restricting visitor access.
  • Patient distancing in the lobby by removal of chairs and re-spacing of remaining chairs.
  • Staff should wear a mask whenever possible and limit touching patients.

We understand the necessity of continuing to care for the pain management patient population and are here to partner with you to do so. Please reach out to our office directly should you have any questions or wish to refer a patient for services.