CMS NEWS ALERT – May 6, 2020

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released an Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (IFC) building on the agency’s efforts to give the American healthcare system maximum flexibility to respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Below is a summary of resources and information available on the rule. View the full rule here.

For more information on the White House Task Force response to COVID-19, visit www.coronavirus.gov. Additional information specific to CMS is available at the CMS News Room and Current Emergencies Website.

Press Release: Trump Administration Issues Second Round of Sweeping Changes to Support U.S. Healthcare System During COVID-19 Pandemic

The IFC outlines actions CMS is taking to ensure states and localities have the flexibilities they need to ramp up diagnostic testing and access to medical care, key precursors to ensuring a phased, safe, and gradual reopening of America. Read the press release and fact sheet for more details.

Fact Sheets

CMS has updated multiple fact sheets that summarize changes made through regulatory actions in response to COVID-19. View more resources available on CMS waivers and flexibilities here.

A full list of emergency declaration blanket waivers for health care providers implemented to date is available here. Additional fact sheets include:

Laboratory and Testing and Resources

CMS is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s clinical laboratories can respond to the threat of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses to ensure patient health and safety.

CMS Hospitals without Walls Initiative

CMS is allowing healthcare systems and hospitals to provide services in locations beyond their existing walls to help address the urgent need to expand care capacity and to develop sites dedicated to COVID-19 treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Several changes in the IFC allow additional Medicare payment; CMS has issued FAQs addressing Medicare Fee-for-Service Billing issues.

Additional Resources for Stakeholders

CMS has developed a toolkit for stakeholder partners to help you stay informed on CMS and HHS materials available on COVID-19. Check back often for the most up-to-date information; please refresh your browser often to see the most up-to-date information.

Upcoming COVID-19 Stakeholder Calls

Conference lines are limited, so we highly encourage you to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser. You are welcome to share this invitation with your colleagues and membership.

To listen to the audio files and read the transcripts for the COVID-19 Stakeholder calls, visit the Podcast and Transcripts page.

CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Call – Thursday, May 7th at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern

Audio Webcast Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=2ccba159-709ea889-2ccb9066- 0cc47a6a52de-80625c0cb20a4e86&u=https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=1a9e6b45-46cb6295-1a9e5a7a-0cc47a6a52de-5b1b993b40c7e8b0&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2097

Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 1181167

Lessons from the Front Lines – Friday, May 8th at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern

Web Link: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=0ffb90f8-53ae99eb-0ffba1c7-0cc47adb5650- 044bb37a61085446&u=https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=93cd454b-cf984c9b-93cd7474-0cc47a6a52de-05fb34f3eed54d63&u=https://engage.vevent.com/rt/cms2/index.jsp?seid=2039

Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 877-251-0301; Access Code: 9146779