Services

3D Mammography

Munson Healthcare is proud to announce 3D mammography will be available in all 11 locations, including Indian River and Prudenville, as of Spring 2023.

3D mammography is covered for breast cancer screening (without medical necessity requirements) by all major payers, including Medicare, Medicaid, BCBSM, Priority Health, Aetna, Cigna, Tricare, and UHC. MHC does offer a discount for self-pay.

3D mammography is an option for any patient. It is also the preferred choice for both patients and radiologists. Annual 3D screening mammography is recommended for all women who meet the guidelines.

To give your patients' the best option, make sure to update your electronic health records to have 3D as the default mammography option. 

Reminder: only a screening diagnosis code is required when scheduling a 3D mammogram. A second diagnosis is not required. 

Learn more about when to order a diagnostic vs. screening mammogram from MHC.

Virtual Spine Center

Starting Monday, February 20, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation at Munson Healthcare clinicians will launch a new spine rehab program at the Cadillac Spine Center located within the Munson Healthcare Cadillac Rehabilitation clinic, 704 Oak Street. 

The Cadillac Spine Center's new rehabilitation program has a physiatrist and physical therapist partner to provide care so patients receive only one history and physical examination. The program offers consultation and services for patients with acute, recurrent, or chronic neck and back pain by our team who specializes in spinal conditions and rehabilitation. Therapy sessions will take place in Cadillac with physiatry follow-ups being conducted virtually. 

This pilot spine rehabilitation program will be Munson Healthcare's model of care and will eventually expand to other communities. 

For details and how to refer, read the Cadillac Spine Center at MHC Cadillac Rehab referral guide.

For more on this new spine program, join us for the March 15 Provider Forum with physiatrist Dr. Paul Olejniczak, physical therapist Gerald Frappier, and rehab physician liaison Steve Clifford.

Outpatient Behavioral Health

MHC’s Outpatient Behavioral Health offers the following services, virtually or in-person:

• Psychiatry: accepting referrals
• Partial Hospitalization Program: accepting referrals
• Medication Assisted Treatment
  • Accepting referrals related to medications for Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
  • Medications available include Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, and Vivitrol
• Outpatient Counseling
  • Individual and group therapy: View List Here
• Recovery Coaching and Support Group: accepting referrals
• Additional Resources: For more provider resources, check out the Controlled Substances & Opioids Toolkit on our website.
• For Substance Use Disorder questions and support, contact SUDsupport@mhc.net.

Updates / Reminders

Informed Consent Forms | New Process Starts March 1

To improve patient safety and in compliance with new regulatory standards, MHC is changing the informed consent process and form effective March 1, 2023.

Prior to performing an invasive procedure at MHC, the patient and the provider must both sign the informed consent form at the time of the informed consent discussion. The form should be faxed to the hospital with the other pre-operative paperwork. 

This new procedure will support patients in medical decision making by having a clear understanding of the risks, benefits, and alternatives prior to a procedure while also protecting providers from concerns regarding informed consent by providing clear documentation of agreement between the provider and the patient. Consents will be valid for 90 days. For more information, read please read Informed Consent Best Practice.

An email will be sent closer to the start date with the new form. It will also be updated on the forms website. 

Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Treatment

As of Jan. 12, 2023, prescriptions for buprenorphine only require a standard DEA registration number. The x-waiver is no longer required for any prescriber to treat patients with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. READ MORE

COVID CORNER

FDA Withdraws Evusheld Authorization

On Jan. 26, the FDA announced it no longer authorizes Evusheld for the prevention of COVID-19 as Evusheld is not expected to neutralize the currently dominant Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5.

In response, Munson Healthcare is no longer offering Evusheld as a pre-exposure prophylaxis for the treatment of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Ending in May

January 31 marked the 3-year anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a national Public Health Emergency (PHE). On January 30, President Joe Biden announced he intends to end the COVID-19 PHE on May 11, 2023. When the PHE ends, patients may be asked to pay out-of-pocket for COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccinations. 

Telehealth waivers created to deliver care during the pandemic were separated from the PHE and included in omnibus spending bill which will extend regulations and reimbursement related to video visits to 2024. 

For more information on this change, watch the Feb. 15 Provider Forum.

MDHHS Long COVID Support Group

Since MHC launched its monthly Long COVID Support Group in Sept. 2021, we’ve offered 17 sessions and supported nearly 120 attendees — providing an environment of support and camaraderie.

MHC staff and other regional experts shared the latest COVID-19 information and provided practical guidance for addressing their Long COVID symptoms. We are thankful to those who dedicated their time and expertise to this community service.

However, due to low attendance, we are now directing patients with long COVID to the MDHHS Long COVID support group as it is more frequent (weekly) and will have improved access to patient resources. The February 2 support group was the last hosted by MHC.

MHC's long COVID webpage is now a resource hub for patients.

COMMUNITY HEALTH

Advance Care Planning | Education Materials

Advance Care Planning education materials are available through Munson Healthcare. If you have access to McKesson e-Requisition please order documents there. If you do not have access, complete this form and fax to 231-947-2436, ATTN: NMSA.

Documents include:

• Advance Directive/Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
• Advance Care Planning Workbook
• Advance Care Planning tri-fold brochure
• ACPdecisions- Guide to CPR pamphlet
• Advance Directive/Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare – Spanish
• Physician Order for Scope of Treatment (MI-POST) order

Encourage your providers to attend the Munson Healthcare Advance Care Planning for Healthcare Professionals webinar on Mon., April 10 from 11 am - 1 pm. 

RESOURCES

Radiology Compendium Updated

Munson Healthcare’s Radiology Compendium has been updated and is available on our website.

Provider Moves

The Provider Moves webpage that lists provider moves across the MHC system has been updated for January, including new providers, location changes, retirees, providers no longer on staff (or practicing), and other updates (e.g., name changes, practice moves, new phone and fax numbers). For a complete directory of MHC-credentialed providers, go to Find A Doctor.

Please join us in welcoming the following employed providers who are new to the MHC system:

• Christy Baginski, CRNA | Anesthesiology, MHC Anesthesia
• April Butler, NP | Family Medicine, Prudenville Community Health Center
• Ashleigh Catton, NP | Family Medicine, MHC Flex Team (practicing at multiple locations)
• Tyler Clack, CRNA | Anesthesiology, MHC Anesthesia
• Emily Dryer, DO | Nephrology, MHC Kidney & Hypertension Specialists
• Kevin Harris, MD | General Surgery, MHC Traverse General Surgery and Trauma Care
• Karie Llewellyn, NP | Hematology & Oncology, MHC Grayling Cancer and Infusion Center
• Stephanie McCarthy, NP | Family Medicine, MHC Flex Team (practicing at multiple locations)
• Heather Montgomery-Kanitz, CRNA | Anesthesiology, MHC Anesthesia

EDUCATION / EVENTS

MSMS Care Management Billing Services
Wednesday, March 8 | 1-2 pm

Care Management Services are management and support services provided by clinical staff under the direction of or provided personally by a physician or other qualified health care professional.

There are three general categories of these services: Chronic Care Management, Complex Chronic Care Management, and Principal Care Management. Learning which services can be performed by whom is an important step in helping your practice get paid for the work they are doing with these patients. Additionally, the new “G” code that Medicare has released for Chronic Pain Management and Treatment is a new service for your practice to look at utilizing. Jill Young, CPC, CEDC, CIMC, Young Medical Consulting, will break this down for you so you and your practice get paid for the services provided. 

Register for this free virtual webinar hosted by MSMS.

To read past issues of Practice Pro, visit our website.