Wilentz Health Law Check Up
3.18.2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
On January 31, 2020, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has provided information and updates about the coronavirus, including
- general information & updates,
- coverage and payment related to COVID-19,
- clinical & technical guidance,
- billing & coding guidance, and
- survey & certification guidance.
In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has published a COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Health Care Providers Fact Sheet and an FAQs sheet with guidance and considerations for Patient Triage, Placement and Hospital Discharge concerning Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Medicaid
The Medicaid.gov has released information on Medicaid and CHIP Resources for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published a fact sheet on the coverage and benefits related to COVID-19 Medicaid and CHIP.
New York State Department of Health has published a special edition of their Medicaid Update covering New York State Medicaid coverage and reimbursement policy for services related to Coronavirus Disease 2019.
Medicare Advantage Plans
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a memo to Medicare Advantage Organizations and Part D Sponsors to inform them of the obligations and permissible flexibilities related to disasters and emergencies resulting from COVID-19. To view the memo, visit https://www.cms.gov/files/document/hpms-memo-covid-information-plans.pdf
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing guidance for exposures and testing as well as an FAQ from healthcare providers. Information from CDC on COVID-19 updates across the world can be found here https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html.
The CDC website contains numerous resources for health care professionals containing the current guidance on treating and responding to COVID-19 patients. Recordings of the weekly healthcare provider COVID-19 calls will be posted within a few days of the initial presentation.
The CDC also outlines ways to prepare and act in light of COVID-19 to protect health care services and providers. These include: separation of patients who have respiratory symptoms from those without, ensure proper use of personal protection equipment, and assigning or creating an emergency plan. View the all the steps health care facilities can take now to protect both their patients and staff: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/steps-to-prepare.html.
If you are a health care provider with any questions regarding this COVID-19 outbreak, please contact Grace Mack or any member of the Health Law Team.
Tags: Coronavirus (COVID-19) • Medicare • Medicaid
