CMS Regulations
CMS has taken the following actions since the March 13, 2020 declaration of a national emergency due to COVID-19:
Loosening conditions of participation or other certification requirements:
CMS is waiving the requirement for site visits, background checks, application fee, and fingerprinting for non-certified Part B suppliers, physicians and non-physician practitioners.
CMS is establishing a toll-free hotline for non-certified Part B suppliers, physicians and non-physician practitioners to enroll and receive temporary Medicare billing privileges
CMS will allow licensed providers to be paid to render services outside their state of Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP enrollment.
Temporarily suspended survey inspections: CMS temporarily suspended non-emergency survey inspections, allowing providers to focus on the most current serious health and safety threats . Beginning Aug. 17, 2020, states were permitted to resume surveys.
Expediting Medicare appeals in Fee for Service, Medicare Advantage, and Part D
Allowing states to seek waivers that
Would waive prior authorization requirements in fee-for-service programs
Permit providers located out of state/territory to provide care to another state’ s Medicaid enrollees impacted by the emergency
Temporarily suspend certain provider enrollment and revalidation requirements to increase access to care
Temporarily waive requirements that physicians and other health care professionals be licensed in the state in which they are providing services, so long as they have an equivalent licensing in another state
Announcing ASC reporting program flexibility for 2019 and suspending data collection for the first half of 2020.
For those who participate in the ambulatory surgical center quality reporting program, the deadline for 2019 Q4 data submission is now optional.
Q4 data that is submitted will be used, but if it cannot be submitted, 2019 performance will be calculated on the data from the first three quarters of 2019.
Additionally, CMS will not count data from the first two quarters of 2020 for the ASC program and it does not need to be submitted.
Other regulatory updates
Access information on CMS updates to MIPS and the Quality Payment Program.
Review Academy resources on tax credits available to practices during the CODID-19 pandemic.
Additional COVID-19 clinical guidance resources
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