In its August 27, 2020 edition of mlnconnects, CMS announced HCPCS codes to use during the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for Medicare Part B claims that are subject to the cost-sharing waivers (coinsurance and deductible amounts) for COVID-19 testing-related services. Specific HCPCS Cost-Sharing (CS) modifiers must be used on applicable ...
During August, CMS released a compilation of creative COVID-19 plans implemented by state governments and other entities in the form of a Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes. CMS states this is an informational document only and does not constitute guidance from CMS and does not replace CMS requirements.
On August 27, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it has distributed almost $2.5 billion of an allocated $5 billion from the Provider Relief Fund to nursing homes to support increased testing, staffing, and supply needs to combat COVID-19. HHS plans to distribute another $2 billion to nursing homes later this fall ...
On August 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new Interim Final Rule (IFR) that changes existing infection control regulations for nursing homes and mandates weekly reporting of COVID-19 related data.
Testing. CMS states that, in support of national efforts to control the spread of COVID-19, nursing homes ...
On August 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new Interim Final Rule (IFR) that establishes new requirements for laboratories to submit daily reports on COVID-19 test results to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS is to issue further guidance on the form and ...
On August 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new Interim Final Rule (IFR) that establishes new requirements for hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) on tracking the incidence and impact of COVID-19. Specifically, CMS has added new Medicare and Medicaid Conditions of Participation (CoPs ...
On August 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new Interim Final Rule (IFR) that updates the previous Extraordinary Circumstances Exceptions (ECE) granted to ESRD facilities, hospitals, and SNFs to reduce the data collection and reporting burden on these facilities and providers so they could direct their ...
On August 10, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated recommendations for anyone traveling within the United States and internationally by scaling back the previous recommendation that all travelers self-quarantine for two weeks. The CDC cautioned that there is ongoing transmission of COVID-19, that exposure from traveling ...
COVID-19 has demanded every employer’s immediate and on-going attention. Because of the pandemic, employers may not have paid particular attention or evaluated existing policies to ensure they comply with a recent decision by the United States Supreme Court. Specifically, on June 15, 2020, the United States Supreme Court released Bostock ...
On August 17, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) announced that it will resume all routine on-site surveys of Medicare and Medicaid certified providers and suppliers. Inspections had been put on hold in March to assist infection control and prioritize providers’ response to the COVID-19 emergency. CMS instructs state ...
On August 17, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published new guidance stating that effective September 1, 2020, hospitals will be required to document a positive COVID-19 laboratory test to receive a 20% increase in the MS-DRG weighting factor for their inpatients being treated for COVID-19. Positive tests must be ...
On August 19, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it had amended the March 17, 2020 Declaration Under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) concerning the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency to increase accessibility of lifesaving childhood vaccines in order to control preventable ...
By Kathie McDonald-McClure
On August 10, 2020, Governor Andy Beshear extended the mask order for another 30 days. He also announced a new order and revised specific requirements (Version 5.1) effective August 11, 2020 for Kentucky bars and restaurants. Bars were allowed to reopen with 50% capacity and restaurants were allowed to increase ...
On August 7, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that nursing homes and long-term care facilities will receive an additional $5 billion in payments from the Provider Relief Fund. $2.5 billion will support increased testing, staffing, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needs, and establishment of COVID-19 ...
On August 12, 2020, Governor Andy Beshear announced that $6 million in funding from the CARES Act will go to reimburse Kentucky’s fifteen Area Development Districts (ADDs) for costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Each ADD can expect approximately $392,000 to fund regional disaster economic recovery coordinates, develop disaster ...
Cybercriminals are targeting remote workers with fraudulent phishing emails purporting to notify workers that their employment is being terminated. These emails provide clickable links for invitations to teleconference meetings or additional information concerning termination packages in an effort to trick people into downloading ...
It’s hard to believe, but our COVID-19 summer is almost over. We’ve now battled COVID-19 through two seasons … although it seems like it’s been two years. With another batch of schools reopening next week, we’ll quickly be moving into the next “season” of COVID-19. I wish we could predict what that looks like. One thing we can ...
Just when employers thought they understood the FFCRA, a New York federal judge has thrown a curveball by striking down certain Department of Labor (DOL) regulations interpreting the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). If the decision stands, it will have wide-ranging effects for employers and employees nationwide. Let’s go ...
Written by: Meredith L. Eason
Most employers have implemented new policies to comply with OSHA’s requirement to provide a safe workplace and to limit the spread of COVID-19. These new policies typically include enhanced cleaning procedures, facemask and social distancing requirements, and limitations on business travel and in-person ...
On July 31, 2020, in a late Special Edition of the MLN News, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) indicated that claims with dates of service on or after March 1, 2020, for physician telehealth services to Medicare Part A residents in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) had been erroneously denied. The denials resulted from SNF ...