Update: August 1, 2022
Governor Newsom declares state of emergency in California. Read the proclamation here.
As the number of monkeypox cases rise across the country, and a state of emergency is declared in San Francisco, CAFP is capturing resources and information for you.
AAFP resources on monkeypox: https://www.aafp.org/family-
CDPH Date on Monkeypox Cases in California: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/
CDPH letter to providers: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/
Latest CDC Monkeypox information for clinicians on testing and treatment: https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/
Will California, Los Angeles declare monkeypox a public health emergency? (Los Angeles Times)
Monkeypox Risk for Kids: What Parents Should Know (Healthline)
(From the California Department of Health Care Services)
On July 26, 2022, the American Medical Association Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel created and released CPT codes to streamline the reporting of orthopoxvirus and monkeypox testing currently available in the United States, including a code for laboratory testing:
This new code is currently not programmed for billing in FFS Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal will announce when the claims adjudication system is ready, and release additional instructions providers should use when billing for a monkeypox testing code. Until then, providers are advised to administer the test when medically indicated and hold the Medi-Cal claim submission until further notice.
Testing is becoming more available, with several large commercial laboratories, including Labcorp, Quest, Aegis, Mayo Clinic Labs, and Sonic Healthcare, offering testing. Testing is also available by some local public health laboratories. There is no fee for public health testing, and commercial testing should be billed as indicated above. At this time, the federal government has allocated a limited number of monkeypox vaccine doses to California, and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is working with local health departments to make available these doses.
DHCS will continue to update and inform all Medi-Cal providers about testing and vaccinations related to monkeypox as guidance becomes available.
Both the CDPH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites provide further guidance on monkeypox symptoms, testing, treatment, and vaccination.
