The American Medical Association (AMA) recently released a checklist to help medical practices that have experienced a shutdown during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency take steps to safely reopen.
In an interim final rule with comment period (IFC) issued April 30, CMS makes financial adjustments to benefit Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) and grants greater flexibility to home health providers for the review and certification of patient care plans.
CMS released a new interim final rule with comment period that grants organizations another round of flexibilities to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 public health emergency, including permitting hospitals to bill for telehealth services and loosening restrictions on COVID-19 testing.
CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) announced on April 21 the delay of the deadline for implementation of the interoperability final rule, citing the need for hospitals to focus entirely on the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a 26-page document published on April 9, CMS outlined dozens of blanket waivers that are retroactively effective March 1. The entire utilization review (UR) condition of participation will be waived, according to CMS.
Under both the 1135 waiver and the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, CMS is increasing access to Medicare’s telehealth services to allow beneficiaries to receive professional healthcare services without having to travel to a healthcare facility.
CMS released updated infection control guidance on April 8 for healthcare facilities aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including new instructions for dialysis facilities on isolating and protecting patients with end-stage renal disease.
As hospitals deal with concerns related to the spread of COVID-19, CMS issued guidance on March 26 regarding the delivery of the Important Message from Medicare (IM), Detailed Noticed of Discharge (DND), Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON), and several other notices.
CMS announced blanket waivers of certain Medicare requirements to prevent gaps in care for beneficiaries affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. The agency released billing instructions and a set of Q&As.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring the rapid spread of a novel 2019 coronavirus, formally named COVID-19, first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. On January 30, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern due to its sustained person-to-person spread within countries and across continental borders.
