
“In lieu of face-to-face contact, providers may utilize telephonic or telehealth following applicable NYS Telehealth Guidance.”
Criteria for screening members prior to conducting a Face-to-Face Visit
While some HCBS can be delivered effective via telehealth, in certain instances, face-to-face contact may still be clinically indicated. Before face-to-face activities, the provider should ask the member and/or their parent, guardian, legally authorized representative the following questions:
- Ask whether the child/youth has a fever, cough or shortness of breath.
- Ask the member, “Have you, or has someone with whom you have had close physical contact, traveled out of the United States within the last 14 days?”
- (If yes) “To which countries did you/your contact, travel?” For updated information on affected countries, visit this link.
- Ask the member, “Within the last 14 days, have you had contact with any person(s) under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19, OR with any person(s) known to have COVID19?”
If the member screens positive in response to any of these questions, the HCBS staff should ensure that the member has been referred to the appropriate health care provider and coordinate next steps with the child/youth, their parent, guardian or legally authorized representative, and their public health/primary care provider.
View the recent COVID-19 Guidance Updates for Health Homes and HCBS from NYS DOH:
- Health Homes: NYS DOH guidance to NYS Medicaid providers identified as Health Homes Serving Adults, Health Homes Serving Children/Youth, and Care Coordination Organization/Health Homes (CCO/HH), pertaining to the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
- HCBS: NYS DOH guidance to New York State Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) providers serving children/youth under the 1915(c) Children’s Waiver, pertaining to the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
SAE will be providing continuing updates and insights as the country and the state responds to preventive and invention needs.