CMS – May 6 COVID-19 Response Update

On May 6, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 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 (provided by CMS) 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:

• Clinicians:
  •  Physicians and Other Practitioners (PDF)
• Hospitals and Facilities:
  • Hospitals (PDF)
  • Teaching Hospitals, Teaching Physicians and Medical Residents (PDF)
  • Long Term Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities and/or Nursing Facilities) (PDF)
  • Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) (PDF)
  • Long Term Care Hospitals & Extended Neoplastic Disease Care Hospitals (PDF)
  • Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (PDF)
  • End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Facilities (PDF)
• Service providers:
  • Home Health Agencies (PDF)
  • Hospices (PDF)
  • Durable Medical Equipment (PDF)
  • Laboratories (PDF)
  • Ambulances (PDF)

• Other CMS Programs:
  • Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans (PDF)
  • Medicaid & Basic Health Programs
  • Medicare Shared Savings Program Participants (PDF)
  • Participants in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (PDF)

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.

• Memo to State Survey Agencies
• List of lab test codes for COVID-19, Influenza, RSV (PDF) (4/30/20)

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.

• Slides: COVID-19 Regulations & Waivers To Enable Health System Expansion (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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

• Frequently Asked Questions

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.