Teleheath Webinar on COVID-19 Now Available, Coronavirus' Effect on MS Patients, New Mind Moments Podcast

This week, Neurology News Network is dedicating our coverage to the COVID-19 pandemic, including an informative webinar on updates to outpatient teleneurology billing and coding, implications for patients with neuroimmune disorders, and special episode of the Mind Moments Podcast, featuring interviews from neurologists on the ground who share insights on changes to their practice.

Marco Meglio: Welcome to this special edition of Neurology News Network. I’m Marco Meglio. Please excuse our appearance this week as a majority of the US workforce, including the NeurologyLive team, moves to working remote as we come together to help reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In an effort to help neurologists who are transitioning from in-office visits to telemedicine, NeurologyLive partnered with the Women Neurologists Group on an informative webinar on outpatient teleneurology billing and coding in the age of COVID-19. The webinar, which is available for viewing now on NeurologyLive.com, includes up-to-date information on telehealth codes, including COVID-19-related changes to CMS reimbursement.

As we work to better understand the virus and its unique risk profile, we spoke to Cleveland Clinic’s Robert Fox to learn more about the risk posed to patients with Multiple Sclerosis and other neuro-immune disorders. Fox told NeurologyLive that at this time, it is not advised for patients to cancel, interrupt, or delay scheduled doses of their MS treatments. According to the MS International Federation, certain DMTs, including ocrelizumab, alemtuzumab, and fingolimod may be associated with an increased risk of being susceptible to the virus, so patients should self-quarantine and consult with their health care provider to discuss risks and benefits of postponing treatment.

Our latest episode of the Mind Moments Podcast further touches on the specific risks to the MS community. Barry Singer, an MS specialist based in St. Louis, provides insights on DMT considerations in light of COVID-19. The podcast also features UCSF’s Nina Riggins, a headache specialist who has since taken her practice online since the COVID-19 outbreak. Riggins shares her experience and advice with transitioning to telemedicine, and also provides recommendations for therapy adjustments for headache patients who may be accustomed to receiving their therapy in a clinic.

For more direct access to expert insight, head to NeurologyLive.com, and for the latest updates on COVID-19, visit our sister site ContagionLive.com.

This has been Neurology News Network. Thanks for watching.