WHAT PHYSICIANS NEED TO KNOW

Get information on what you need to know, vaccine resources and guidance, financial resources for your practice, and more.

COVID-19 Omicron Variant
COVID-19 Vaccine
Testing
Treatment 
Practice Viability
What Patients Need to Know
     Get the Facts Get the Vaccine

New!

• CDC Recommends the First Updated COVID-19 Booster (CDC)

COVID-19 -- Omicron Variant

• Omicron variant -- What you need to know (CDC)
• Potential Rapid Increase of Omicron Variant Infections in the United States (CDC)
• Stay up-to-date on COVID-19 cases in Harris County (HCPH)
• Isolation and quarantine guidance for health care providers (CDC)
• Isolation and quarantine guidance for patients (CDC) 
• CDC creates tool to help determine how long you need to isolate, quarantine or take other steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (March 30, 2022)

COVID-19 Vaccine

• CDC recommends additional boosters for certain people
• 2nd COVID-19 booster for older adults: What doctors must know.
• CDC OK's Moderna adult COVID vaccine
• Booster shot FAQs (TMA)
• CDC recommends individuals get the mRNA vaccine over the J&J vaccine
• Houston Health Department offers in-home vaccinations and testing.  Patients can call 832-393-4301 to see if they qualify.
• Are you already a COVID-19 vaccine provider? Check your inventory.
• Texas DSHS updates on vaccine distribution, doses wasted and variants
• Houston area vaccination sites
• CDC expands eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots (CDC)    
• For the latest factsheets, EUAs and news about the COVID-19 vaccines?  (FDA)

Practice Viability in the Wake of COVID-19

• AMA's physician guide to keeping your practice open (AMA)
• TMA Practice Viability Toolkit 
• TMA Practice Viability web page
• Coding Guidelines
  • CPT Coding:
    
    • https://www.ama-assn.org/find-covid-19-vaccine-codes
  • ICD-10 Coding:
    • https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/classification-of-diseases/emergency-use-icd-codes-for-covid-19-disease-outbreak
    • https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd10cm.htm
• Additional Resources
  
  • TMA COVID-19 Resources Page 
  • COVID-19 Healthcare Planning Checklist (HHS)
  • CDC Guidance for Healthcare Professionals
  • Need PPE?
    • TMA's Texas-based PPE vendor guide has contact, ordering, and shipping information to help locate what you need.

  • N95, KN95 masks provide greatest protection from coronavirus infection, CDC data suggest

Testing

• COVID-19 Screening in Schools (TMA)
• At-Home Testing
  • Let your patients and loved ones know you can now order FREE COVID-19 tests at www.covidtests.gov.
  • At-home tests allow you to collect your own sample and test it with a system that gives you results in minutes at home. Additionally, the FDA has authorized some tests that can be purchased online or in a store that allow you to collect your own sample and then send it to a laboratory for analysis.
  • Harris County Public Health is offering free at home testing for county residents living outside of Houston city limits.   
• Testing in Houston and Harris County:

• Harris County Public Health (HCPH) encourages residents to get tested for COVID-19 if they feel they have it or have been in contact with someone who tested positive. To sign up for COVID-19 testing, please visit http://covcheck.hctx.net/ to be screened or call 832-927-7575.
• Getting tested at Houston Health Department-affiliated sites is FREE, and does not require proof of residency, citizenship or insurance. Some testing partners bill insurance. Contact your provider to make sure the testing partner is in network. Go to https://houstonemergency.org/covid-19-testing/ for a list of testing sites.
• Overview of Testing COVID-19 (CDC)

Treatment

• TMA creates chart comparing COVID-19 therapeutics.
• FDA limits use of certain monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19 due to the Omicron Variant
• The State of Texas Infusion hotline is now open as the exclusive means of submitting infusion referrals and order sets. If you have questions, call 1-800-742-5990.
  • The deadline to place a weekly order is Thursdays by 5 p.m. CST
  • To get the weekly Therapeutics Newsletter, please contact therapeutics@dshs.texas.gov.
• Current NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines
• Infectious Disease Society of America treatment guidelines for COVID-19 patient
• Interim Clinical Guidance for Management of Patients with Confirmed COVID-19 (CDC)
• Click here for a full list of FDA approved treatments for COVID-19

WHAT PATIENTS NEED TO KNOW

Get the facts, get the vaccine

What do I need to know about the COVID-19 Vaccine?

• All COVID-19 vaccines currently available are very effective at preventing severe cases of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization.
• All Texans ages 5+ are eligible.

We all play a part in this effort, and you are key. Vaccines supplies are increasing, and tens of thousands of Houstonians are getting vaccinated each and every week. 

There several places where you can register to get the vaccine. Click here to register to get the vaccine.

COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheets

• TMA Booster FAQs for patients
• HCMS Common Vaccine Questions infographic
• Obtenga los Datos, Pangase la vacuna
• HCMS Physician Advocate - July 2021 Advocacy Efforts

Common questions about the vaccine

Additional Videos

• Obtenga los datos, Pongase la vacuna (HD)
• Get the facts get the vaccine -- physicians respond to common questions
  
• Obtenga los datos, Pongase la vacuna -- Un medico resonde preguntas
• Indian Doctor's Association -- Get the facts get the vaccine
• Dr. Gary J. Sheppard speaks to Rev. (Dr.) Marcus. D. Cosby, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church about the vaccine
• Real COVID-19 Stories -- Houston Health Department launched a new video series featuring people with personal experiences with the disease.
  • Real COVID-19 Stories | Overview https://youtu.be/1MGm6JC501I
  • Real COVID-19 Stories | Dr. Tracy Wilson: https://youtu.be/G7MuCnelk8o
  • Real COVID-19 Stories | Tahani Hamdan: https://youtu.be/J7CRc7TS_Kk
  • Real COVID-19 Stories | Frank Ciaccio: https://youtu.be/IkfhHt6578g

Additional Resources to learn more about the vaccines that are available to you

• Houston Health Department toolkits
• CDC Patient Educational Information
• Immigrant Access to COVID-19 Vaccines: Key Issues to Consider -- KFF

What is the difference between the flu and COVID-19?

Influenza (flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses.  COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses.  Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm diagnosis.  For more information on similarities and differences, visit the CDC's website.