Open Letter to the NDSBA and All ND School Boards to adopt a COVID-19 policy consistent with the AAP and CDC
Released August 17, 2021
An Open Letter to North Dakota School Boards Association and all School Boards in North Dakota - The North Dakota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (NDAAP) and our partner health care providers call on all school boards in North Dakota to adopt COVID policy consistent with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). We write this letter as North Dakota suffers a surge in COVID-19 cases as the virus’s highly contagious Delta variant makes its way across the country. Increases in infections, hospitalizations, and deaths have concerned medical and educational professionals, who wish to bring children back into classrooms while minimizing the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak.
The AAP and partnering organizations strongly recommend that all school plans for COVID-19 start with a goal of keeping students safe and physically present in school. The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is substantial evidence of the negative mental and physical health impacts on children because of school closures in 2020.
Read the letter.
Released August 17, 2021
An Open Letter to North Dakota School Boards Association and all School Boards in North Dakota - The North Dakota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (NDAAP) and our partner health care providers call on all school boards in North Dakota to adopt COVID policy consistent with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). We write this letter as North Dakota suffers a surge in COVID-19 cases as the virus’s highly contagious Delta variant makes its way across the country. Increases in infections, hospitalizations, and deaths have concerned medical and educational professionals, who wish to bring children back into classrooms while minimizing the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak.
The AAP and partnering organizations strongly recommend that all school plans for COVID-19 start with a goal of keeping students safe and physically present in school. The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is substantial evidence of the negative mental and physical health impacts on children because of school closures in 2020.
Read the letter.
Continuation of Mask Mandate Request to Governor Burgum & Press
Released December 2, 2020
The NDAAP sent a letter with 59 signatures on it recommending a continuation of the mask mandate that the Governor put in place on November 16, 2020. The current mandate is set to expire at 11:50 pm on Sunday, December 13, 2020. Read the letter.
Released December 2, 2020
The NDAAP sent a letter with 59 signatures on it recommending a continuation of the mask mandate that the Governor put in place on November 16, 2020. The current mandate is set to expire at 11:50 pm on Sunday, December 13, 2020. Read the letter.
TriState Letter to Governors & Press
Released November 18, 2020
AAP Chapters in North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota teamed up send a joint letter to the governors requesting a mask mandate for SD and stricter regulations for MN and ND. Read the letter.
Mask Mandate Request to Governor Burgum
Released October 13, 2020
The NDAAP sent a letter with 63 signatures on it requesting a mask mandate be implemented. Read the letter.
Released October 13, 2020
The NDAAP sent a letter with 63 signatures on it requesting a mask mandate be implemented. Read the letter.
Well child visits via telehealth insurance coverage
Released 4/24/20.
BCBSND and Medicaid statements on their rules on well child visits and telehealth:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota response:
If healthcare providers feel that they can meet all the requirements of the well-child codes, virtually, then they can provide these services and bill for them via telehealth. They will have to use place of service -02 when billing. Their website has a lot of great information for providers: https://www.bcbsnd.com/coronavirus/covid-19providers
Medicaid response:
According to the CPT coding guidelines, well child exams are not allowed to be conducted by telehealth. Jodi is not sure how a physical exam (height, weight, temperature could be done by guardian prior) could be done over telehealth, immunizations (if needed), vision screening, hearing screening, dental screening, orthodontia screening (measuring spacing, etc.) or blood work (if needed). With that being said, they have broadened their coverage criteria for telemedicine temporarily policy at http://www.nd.gov/dhs/info/covid-19/docs/policy-medicaid-temporary-telehealth.pdf. This policy applies to Medicaid covered services and also must be an allowed CPT code, in order to be rendered via telehealth.
Released 4/24/20.
BCBSND and Medicaid statements on their rules on well child visits and telehealth:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota response:
If healthcare providers feel that they can meet all the requirements of the well-child codes, virtually, then they can provide these services and bill for them via telehealth. They will have to use place of service -02 when billing. Their website has a lot of great information for providers: https://www.bcbsnd.com/coronavirus/covid-19providers
- Questions? Contact Chelsey Matter, chelsey.matter@BCBSND.com
Medicaid response:
According to the CPT coding guidelines, well child exams are not allowed to be conducted by telehealth. Jodi is not sure how a physical exam (height, weight, temperature could be done by guardian prior) could be done over telehealth, immunizations (if needed), vision screening, hearing screening, dental screening, orthodontia screening (measuring spacing, etc.) or blood work (if needed). With that being said, they have broadened their coverage criteria for telemedicine temporarily policy at http://www.nd.gov/dhs/info/covid-19/docs/policy-medicaid-temporary-telehealth.pdf. This policy applies to Medicaid covered services and also must be an allowed CPT code, in order to be rendered via telehealth.
- Questions? Contact Jodi Hulm, jmhulm@nd.gov
NDAAP Monthly Meetings:
Access COVID-19 information from past NDAAP monthly meetings.
Access COVID-19 information from past NDAAP monthly meetings.
COVID-19 Webinars for Pediatricians
The AAP continues to be in close communication with leaders at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and are committed to providing you with updates and information about practice recommendations and infection-control measures as it is developed.
In addition, AAP experts have developed a series of webinars to help you stay informed. If you have any questions, please feel free to email COVID-19@aap.org.
Click HERE for the latest list of COVID-19 webinars.
The AAP continues to be in close communication with leaders at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and are committed to providing you with updates and information about practice recommendations and infection-control measures as it is developed.
In addition, AAP experts have developed a series of webinars to help you stay informed. If you have any questions, please feel free to email COVID-19@aap.org.
Click HERE for the latest list of COVID-19 webinars.
- Resilience in Stressful Times and Connecting During Times of Trauma: Strategies to support physician resilience while social distancing and caring for patients with COVID-19. (April 9, 2020)
- Coding During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Navigate rapidly evolving ICD-10-CM and CPT coding for telemedicine, telehealth, and COVID-19 diagnoses and procedures during this unprecedented time. (March 27, 2020)
- Telehealth and COVID-19: Offering tips on how to launch telehealth into practice. (March 24, 2020)
- Caring for Children with Complex Medical Conditions During COVID-19: Helping clinicians understand special considerations for children with complex needs, how to prepare your clinic/practice, and how to partner with and support families. (March 20,2020)
- Disaster Management for the Pediatrician in the COVID-19 Response: Utilizing preparedness principles to mobilize pediatricians to adapt protocols, learn new models, and serve as champions for children in a pandemic. (March 18, 2020)
- COVID-19 Pandemic – Clinical Guidance for Pediatric Practices: Strategies for pediatricians to increase infection control practices in their office to protect patients and health care workers. (March 17, 2020)
- Talking to and Supporting Children During a Pandemic: Helping clinicians understand how to talk to and support children during the COVID-19 pandemic, including how to help parents talk to their children. (March 17, 2020)