Reaching Out to Our Community

Dear Alaskan Community,

We know that during this time of uncertainty, many in our community are under strain and stress.  We are incredibly grateful to see how out community has come together in strength and resilience.  Please continue to connect and reach out to each other in fellowship and with resources.  On behalf of our AK-PA Board of Directors, we also want to reach out to our community to offer additional helpful resources for dealing with the impact of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Resources for Practice

Telebehavioral Health Resources

• APA is offering FREE telehealth webinars about telebehavioral health.  Access these resources here: https://www.apa.org/ed/ce/telehealth
• American Psychiatric Association has resources for telepsychiatry here: https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/telepsychiatry/blog/apa-resources-on-telepsychiatry-and-covid-19?utm_source=Internal-Link&utm_medium=Side-Hero&utm_campaign=Covid-19
• PESI is offering a webinar about telehealth: https://catalog.pesi.com/item/52191/?fbclid=IwAR1_v-4iFSXdcDB1bkenxka5OwURfcdO8eVseGXZ2LINgdzwn2vM17RENrc
• Person Centered Tech is offering practice resources related to telehealth here: https://personcenteredtech.com
• Information on the telemedicine Business Registry, which is required to offer telehealth in Alaska https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/TelemedicineBusinessRegistry.aspx
• Information on state laws and reimbursement for telehealth from the Center for Connected Health Policy https://www.cchpca.org/telehealth-policy/state-telehealth-laws-and-reimbursement-policies-report

Distance Learning Resources for Students and Faculty

• The APA is offering distance resources for Students and Faculty during the campus shut down periods https://www.apa.org/education/distance-learning

COVID-19 Specific Concerns

• APA provides recommendations to address loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2020/03/covid-19-danger-physical-health
• Information about addressing social isolation and loneliness can be seen here: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation

Disaster Relief Loans

• Read this article about how Economic Injury Disaster Loan is open in Alaska. Read here: https://aksbdc.org/2020/03/alaska-sbdc-updates-regarding-sba-disaster-relief-loans/

Guidance on HIPPA and 42 CFR During COVID-19 Pandemic

• Understanding 42 CFR during Pandemic https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/covid-19-42-cfr-part-2-guidance-03192020.pdf
• Understanding HIPPA discretion for telehealth temporary recommendations https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html

Guidance on Reimbursement with Medicare

• Telehealth During COVID-10 Pandemic with Telehealth Reimbursement with Medicare https://www.apaservices.org/practice/reimbursement/government/medicare-telehealth-temporary-changes and https://www.apaservices.org/practice/legal/technology/covid-19-telehealth-waiver

Direction for Health Care Professionals during COVID-19 Pandemic

• Direction from State of Alaska DHSS http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/COVID-19/healthcare.aspx

Community Resources

Resources for Those in Need

• ASD is providing free breakfasts and lunches for kids 18 and younger each weekday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find more information here: https://www.asdk12.org/COVID-19
• Alaska 2-1-1: Callers can find COVID-19-related information and can learn about resources in the community.  This service can be reached by telephone at 2-1-1- and 1-800-478-222 or online at http://www.211.org/services/covid19
• Learn what is being done in Anchorage to help now by reading this AND article: https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2020/03/17/whats-being-done-to-help-anchorage-residents-feeling-a-financial-hit-from-coronavirus/
•  Reserved grocery shopping hours: Carrs stores will be reserving hours for vulnerable individuals to shop. Read more here: https://www.safeway.com/content/minisite/albertsonscompanies/en/newsroom/shopping-hours-for-vulnerable-customers.html

Resources for Households during COVID-19 Pandemic

• Learn about how to keep prepare homes for COVID-19 including how to clean and disinfect, preparing homes, and what to do should you get sick. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/index.html

Resources for Families

• The Anchorage Library has opened its virtual doors for our community and has resources for kids and caregivers and more.  See the Public Library website here: http://www.anchoragelibrary.org/about/about-apl/library-news/coronaviruscovid-19-library-information-center/

Stay Informed

• Subscribe to the Anchorage Health Department’s Nixle alerts by texting ANCHEALTH to 888-777
• Subscribe to the State of Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services Health Alert Network here: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/AKDHSS/subscriber/new?topic_id=AKDHSS_17

COVID-19 Information

As we know, the situation with the COVID-19 Pandemic is dynamic and resources will be evolving.  Please continue to connect with reliable and up-to-date information from these sources:

• The State of Alaska’s COVID-19 page http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/COVID-19/default.aspx
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 page https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• American Psychological Association Pandemics page https://www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/research-information/pandemics
• SAMHSA resources related to COVID-19 https://www.samhsa.gov/coronavirus

Please reach out to us with questions or ways your Board can support our community during this time.

Stay healthy and safe,

Alaska Psychological Association Board of Directors