ForwardHealth recognizes that increased demand on the direct care services provided by physicians during the COVID-19 public health emergency could cause a delay in the availability of physicians to prescribe, refer, or order home health services in the normal timeframe. Therefore, during the COVID-19 public health emergency, ForwardHealth will allow Medicaid-enrolled nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe, refer, or order the following:

• Home health nursing and aide services
• Medical supplies and equipment
• Physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech pathology and audiology services

Billing policy and other requirements for these service areas as described in the Claims for Services Prescribed, Referred, or Ordered topic (#15737) of the ForwardHealth Online Handbook have not changed. Prescribers should note that they cannot have any affiliation, such as personal or financial affiliations, with the member or agency they are prescribing services for.