Governor's Office

MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday, January14, 2021 issued her twenty-second supplemental emergency proclamation extending the Safer at Home Order that includes a statewide mask requirement. Individuals will be required to wear a mask or other facial covering when in public and in close contact with other people, as described in the order. This order extends until Friday, March 5, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) announced Friday starting February 8, ADPH will extend eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations to include people 65 or older, and additional groups of frontline workers.

Click Here to read the Latest Extended Safer at Home Order  Issued by the Governor

To schedule an appointment for the free COVID-19 vaccination at a county health department, individuals may call the ADPH toll-free phone number at 1-855-566-5333. Telephone calls are answered from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days a week. Vaccination locations can be viewed at this link, https://go.usa.gov/xARKpand additional specific information, such as what to bring and what to wear, will be provided when appointments are made.

If wanting to be vaccinated at sites other than a county health department, such as a private provider, individuals should contact those sites directly.
For information about COVID-19 vaccine, visit https://go.usa.gov/xARKE. 

ALDA encourages dentists and their staff to try and secure their vaccine as soon as possible prior to January 18 as the population of patients 75 years and older will be eligible for the vaccine in Alabama beginning January 18 according to the Governor’s press release on January 8.

To schedule an appointment for the free COVID-19 vaccination at a county health department, individuals may call the ADPH toll-free phone number at 1-855-566-5333. Telephone calls are answered from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days a week. Vaccination locations can be viewed at this link, https://go.usa.gov/xARKpand additional specific information, such as what to bring and what to wear, will be provided when appointments are made.

If wanting to be vaccinated at sites other than a county health department, such as a private provider, individuals should contact those sites directly.
For information about COVID-19 vaccine, visit https://go.usa.gov/xARKE. 

Mobile District COVID-19 Vaccination Update

Mobile County Health Department is currently working out logistics for providing COVID vaccination under guidance from ADPH. Please provide the following information to KStembridge@mchd.org: 
 
For Agencies:
Agency Name
Type of Agency
Agency Point of Contact Name:
Agency Point of Contact Telephone Number:
Agency Point of Contact Email:
Number of workers confirmed as wanting COVID vaccination:
An Excel spreadsheet containing the Name, Email, and Phone number of employees.
 
For Individuals:
Name:
Telephone Number:
Email:
Age:
Occupation:

Infirmary Health has also been offering vaccines to community health care providers on certain days based on availability of vaccines. Call (251) 341-2819 - choose option 2 to schedule an appointment for a vaccine.  

Infirmary Health is also providing the vaccine at their Baldwin County locations as well.
USA Health is offering the vaccine via a drive-thru clinic. You can schedule an appointment via the link provided here: https://consumer.scheduling.athena.io/?departmentId=16253-120&practitionerId=16253-163 . If you should have any issues scheduling an appointment, please send an email with your concerns to: c19vaccine@health.southalabama.edu 

Springhill Medical Center is also on the list to provide vaccines to community providers, however, at this time, they do not have vaccines or appointments available for this calendar year. They will be available for appointments and vaccines starting in January. Please contact Scott at (251) 340-7962.

Providence Hospital has vaccines. Call (251) 633-1000. 

Second District Covid-19 Vaccination Update

For Selma, Alabama and surrounding area call (334) 418-4100 - Vaughan Regional Medical Center for a vaccine appointment. All healthcare workers can make appointments to be vaccinated – Moderna vaccine. Vaughan Regional Medical Center, 1015 Medical Center Pkwy
Selma, AL 36701.

Baptist Health is offering COVID vaccines to healthcare workers. Call (334) 747-2822 for an appointment. 
 
Jackson Hospital is offering COVID vaccines to healthcare workers. Call (334) 261-3030 for an appointment.

Montgomery County Health Department is giving COVID vaccines today, December 31, 2020. Call (334) 293-6448.

Third District Covid-19 Vaccination Update

Southeast Health has vaccines. Call (334) 793-8111.

County Health Departments in this area are receiving vaccines. In addition to communicating with your primary care physician, we recommend all providers contact your county health department to determine when you and your staff may be able receive your COVID-19 vaccine. County health departments were given up to 500 doses of the vaccine and will provide it to dental staff at high priority. 

Flowers Hospital will also provide the vaccine to dental providers and their staff at this time. Please contact them to set up an appointment via the following link:

https://www.flowershospital.com/vaccine

Fourth District Covid-19 Vaccination Update

Jackson Medical Center is said to be receiving vaccination. Call (251) 246-9021. 
 
Wilcox County Health Department will have vaccinations in January. Call (334) 682-4515.

Thomasville Hospital has vaccinations. Call (334) 636-2525.

Fifth District Covid-19 Vaccination Update

Vaccines are available for dentists in the Anniston area at the Tyler center today, December 31, before 3:30 pm. Go to the first floor of the Tyler Center in Anniston and there is a sign in table in the lobby. December 31 is the last day until they get another shipment. Call (256) 231-8666.

Marshall Medical Centers in Guntersville and Boaz have the vaccine available for dentists and clinical staff. Currently they are making appointments for Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 256-753-8008 is the administration office number for more information.

Vaccines will also be offered next Wednesday (1/6) and Thursday (1/7), 7 am - 3 pm, at the Anniston Meeting Center. 

Vaccine is available at DCH for dentists and dental office team members. Call (205) 759-7278 and leave a message with your name and phone number and let them know you are a dentist or dental office team member. They will return your call and schedule your vaccination appointment.

Birmingham District Covid-19 Vaccination Update

The Jefferson County Emergency Management agency just launched an online tool to register for your vaccine.

Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency, Alabama (jeffcoema.org)

UAB Employee Health has vaccines. Call (205) 934-3675. Other Medical Facilities in the Birmingham District that may have vaccine available.

Grandview Medical Center
Brookwood Medical Center
Medical West Hospital
Children's of Alabama
Jefferson County Department of Health
 
Eighth District Covid 19-Vaccination Update

Keller Hospital is calling Dental offices and setting up vaccines for next week, starting in January. (256) 386-4196
 
Huntsville Hospital has vaccines for dentists. Call (256) 817-1919.
 
Athens Limestone Hospital has vaccines for dentists. Call (256) 233-9292.
 
Cullman Regional Medical Center has vaccines. Call (256) 737-2000.
 
Ninth District Covid-19 Vaccination Update

East Alabama Medical Center is the point of contact for Lee County - Michael Barlow. Call (334) 528-1652 to ask for a registration link for your office.

Russell County or Phenix City dentists should contact the health department to get an appointment for vaccination. 

Lake Martin Hospital has vaccines. Call (256) 825-7821.

What Do I do if my staff or I test positive for Covid -19 or has been exposed to someone who has?

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs for Practice_Owners

Covid-19 Coding and Billing Guidance

The Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid) is pleased to inform you that Medicaid will increase fees reimbursed to dental providers beginning January 1, 2021. The increase is projected to be approximately 12% on commonly-utilized dental treatments. 

The primary goal of Alabama Medicaid with this reimbursement increase is to not only reward and retain present dental providers in Medicaid’s dental program, but to encourage more dental providers to participate in Medicaid’s dental program.  Alabama Medicaid is collaborating with the Alabama Dental Association (ALDA) and other stakeholders to ensure Medicaid children have access to dental providers.  

Details about the fee increase and specific provider codes will be released from the Agency by close of business November 19, 2020. A Provider ALERT will be posted to the Agency’s website at https://medicaid.alabama.gov/alerts.aspx.  Dentists with any

questions about the Alabama Medicaid Dental Program may email Dr. Danny Rush at danny.rush@medicaid.alabama.gov.

Click here to complete your Compliance Form

Dental Amalgam Rule

EPA finalized technology-based pretreatment standards under the Clean Water Act in 2017 to reduce discharges of mercury and other metals from dental offices into municipal sewage treatment plants known as publically owned treatment works (POTWs). Dental offices, which discharge mercury and other metals present in amalgam used for fillings, are the main source of mercury discharges to POTWs; these metals are subsequently released to the environment. The rule (codified at 40 CFR Part 441) requires dental offices to comply with requirements based on practices recommended by the American Dental Association, including the use of amalgam separators. Once captured by the separator, dental amalgam can be recycled. Removing mercury when it is concentrated and easy to manage, such as through low-cost amalgam separators at dental offices is a common sense solution to managing mercury that would otherwise be released to air, land, and water. Dental offices that discharge to POTWs that do not place or remove amalgam need only submit a one-time certification.
Dental offices that place or remove amalgam must operate and maintain an amalgam separator and must not discharge scrap amalgam or use certain kinds of line cleaners. They must also submit a One-time Compliance Report.

ADEM has developed a template for the ADEM One-time Compliance Report for Dental Dischargers that will satisfy the requirements of the one-time certification or One-time Compliance Report. You may also access EPA’s Dental Effluent Guidelines webpage for more information about the Dental Amalgam Rule.

American Dental Association
National ADPAC 

"Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act Signed Into Law"

A bill that repeals the McCarran-Ferguson antitrust exemption for health insurance companies became law on January 13. The Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act is the "culmination of a multi-year effort by several organizations, including the American Dental Association, to persuade Congress that health care insurance, including dental plans, should no longer be protected from some of the federal antitrust laws," according to an ADA news release.   The ADA said it hopes this will lead the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to investigate alleged anticompetitive practices and activities of health care insurers, the release said. 
 
The new law is aimed to improve transparency and competition in the health, dental and vision insurance marketplaces. It should also open up opportunities for long-term innovation and other improved features that will benefit both consumers and providers by expanding choices for offering better and more coverage options. See how we expect to see these changes over time through these resources:

• FAQ document about how the repeal may affect ADA members

• One-page overview explaining the repeal and its impact on the profession

The ADA has also issued a media statement and ADA News Story.

For more information about the history of the multi-year effort, please visit: https://www.ada.org/en/advocacy/advocacy-issues/mccarran-ferguson

Is it safe to go to the dentist during COVID-19?

Mouthwashes, oral rinses may inactivate human coronaviruses - Penn State Health News