JIC RELEASE NO. 82 - Profiles of Earlier Confirmed Cases; DPHSS Updates

Preliminary profiles of the 136 COVID-19 cases include three probable cases (formerly known as clinically diagnosed), reports of 11 confirmed positive cases received from the U.S. Naval Hospital that were tested by the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) in San Diego, and five confirmed positive cases through Diagnostic Laboratory Services (DLS).

To date, there are 136 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 112 recoveries and 5 deaths. As this is an evolving situation, information is subject to change with little to no notice.

For updated information on COVID-19 cases on Guam, including residential villages of confirmed cases, visit the COVID-19 Dashboard at http://dphss.guam.gov/covid-19/.

New Way to Enroll in Medicare Part B: 
Social Security Administration (SSA) offices are closed to the public for in-person service. Due to current circumstances, beneficiaries may have difficulties submitting their Medicare enrollment forms by mail. To assist beneficiaries who have stopped working and are seeking immediate enrollment into Medicare Part B, SSA has developed a method for beneficiaries to fax their enrollment forms.

Medicare beneficiaries can fax Medicare Part B form, CMS-40B and CMS L564- Request for Employment Information, along with proof of employment, Group Health Plan (GHP), or Large Group Health Plan (LGHP) to 1(833)914-2016. Forms can also be mailed to the local SSA office:

Social Security Administration
Suite 155, 770 East Sunset Blvd.

Barrigada, Guam, 96913

For more information, contact the DPHSS Division of Senior Citizens, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at (671) 735-7421/7415 or send an email to chad.palomo@dphss.guam.gov. You can also contact Social Security’s national toll-free number at 1(800)772-1213.

Medicare Information is Available Online

 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has set up a webpage via Medicare.gov with information for Medicare beneficiaries related to the Coronavirus at https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus

Medicare Covers Related Needs: 
Medicare covers the lab tests for COVID-19 with no out-of-pocket costs. Medicare covers all medically necessary hospitalizations, including if you were diagnosed with COVID-19 and might otherwise have been discharged from the hospital after an inpatient stay but instead you need to stay in the hospital under quarantine. You pay your usual Medicare coinsurance and deductible for these services.

Telehealth & Related Services: Medicare pays for “virtual check-ins”—brief, virtual services with your physician or certain practitioners where the communication isn't related to a medical visit within the previous 7 days and doesn’t lead to a medical visit within the next 24 hours (or soonest appointment available).

You need to consent verbally to using virtual check-ins and your doctor must document that consent in your medical record before you use this service. You pay your usual Medicare coinsurance and deductible for these services.

Medicare also pays for you to communicate with your doctors using online patient portals. Like the virtual check-ins, you must initiate these individual communications with your primary medical provider.

Beware of Scammers
Scammers may use the coronavirus national emergency to take advantage of people. As always, guard your Medicare card like a credit card, check Medicare claims summary forms for errors, and if someone calls asking for your Medicare number, hang up!

For more information, contact the DPHSS Division of Senior Citizens, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at (671) 735-7421/7415 or send an email to chad.palomo@dphss.guam.gov.

For inquiries on COVID-19, contact 311 through a local number, or call the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.