05-01-2020, 05:04 PM
CMS NEWS ALERT: May 1, 2020 (COVID-19)
05/01/2020 12:26 PM EDT
![[Image: medicaid.gov.jpg]](https://public.govdelivery.com/system/images/39825/original/medicaid.gov.jpg)
NEWS ALERT
May 1, 2020
Here is a summary of recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) actions taken
in response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), as part of the ongoing
White House Task Force efforts. To keep up with the important work the Task Force is
doing in response to COVID-19, click here www.coronavirus.gov. For information specific
to CMS, please visit the CMS News Room and Current Emergencies Website. CMS updates
these resources on an ongoing basis throughout the day; the information below is current
as of May 1, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Trump Administration Issues Second Round of Sweeping Changes to
Support U.S. Healthcare System During COVID-19 Pandemic
Building on its recent historic efforts to help the U.S. healthcare system manage
the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS issued another round of sweeping regulatory
waivers and rule changes to deliver expanded care to the nation’s seniors and
provide flexibility to the healthcare system as America reopens. These changes
include making it easier for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to get tested
for COVID-19 and continuing CMS’s efforts to further expand beneficiaries’
access to telehealth services. The temporary changes will apply immediately
for the duration of the Public Health Emergency declaration.
Press Release
Additional Information
CMS Announces Independent Commission to Address Safety and
Quality in Nursing Homes
CMS announced a new independent Commission that will conduct a comprehensive
assessment of the nursing home response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Commission will help inform efforts to safeguard the health and quality
of life of vulnerable Americans as CMS continues to battle COVID-19 as well
as prepare for future threats to resident safety and public health. This
unprecedented effort builds on the agency’s five-part plan unveiled last
April to ensure safety and quality in America’s nursing homes, as well as
recent CMS efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 within these facilities.
Press Release
Fact Sheet
New Frequently Asked Questions on EMTALA
CMS issued Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) clarifying requirements and
considerations for hospitals and other providers related to the
Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) during the
COVID-19 pandemic. The FAQs address questions around patient presentation
to the emergency department, EMTALA applicability across facility types,
qualified medical professionals, medical screening exams, patient transfer
and stabilization, telehealth, and other topics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Guidance Available on Telehealth and HHS-Operated Risk Adjustment
for Individual and Small Group Health Insurance Health Plans
In response to the increased need for providing telehealth due to COVID-19,
CMS has given additional consideration to telehealth services in HHS-operated
risk adjustment for issuers in the individual and small group health insurance
markets inside and outside the Marketplaces. CMS’ new guidance clarifies
which telehealth services are valid for HHS-operated risk adjustment data
submission in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dear Clinician: CMS Adds New COVID-19 Clinical Trials Improvement Activity
to the Quality Payment Program
CMS issued a letter thanking clinicians for their ongoing efforts to treat
patients and combat COVID-19 and shared additional details on the new
Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) improvement activity.
As announced earlier this month, clinicians who participate in a COVID-19
clinical trial and report their findings to a clinical data repository or registry
many now earn credit in MIPS under the Improvement Activities performance
category for the 2020 performance period by attesting to this new activity.
Dear Clinician Letter
CMS Gives States Additional Flexibility to Address Coronavirus Pandemic
CMS has approved 140 requests for state relief in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, including recent approvals for Arkansas, Hawaii,
Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming. These approvals
help to ensure that states have the tools they need to combat COVID-19
through a wide variety of waivers, amendments, and Medicaid state plan
flexibilities, including for programs that care for the elderly and people
with disabilities. CMS developed a toolkit to expedite the application
and review of each request and has approved these requests in record
time. These approved flexibilities support President Trump’s commitment
to a COVID-19 response that is locally executed, state managed, and
federally supported.
Section 1135 Waivers
Section 1115(a) Waivers
1915© Waiver Appendix K Amendments
Medicaid State Plan Amendments
CHIP State Plan Amendments
05/01/2020 12:26 PM EDT
NEWS ALERT
May 1, 2020
Here is a summary of recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) actions taken
in response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), as part of the ongoing
White House Task Force efforts. To keep up with the important work the Task Force is
doing in response to COVID-19, click here www.coronavirus.gov. For information specific
to CMS, please visit the CMS News Room and Current Emergencies Website. CMS updates
these resources on an ongoing basis throughout the day; the information below is current
as of May 1, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Trump Administration Issues Second Round of Sweeping Changes to
Support U.S. Healthcare System During COVID-19 Pandemic
Building on its recent historic efforts to help the U.S. healthcare system manage
the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS issued another round of sweeping regulatory
waivers and rule changes to deliver expanded care to the nation’s seniors and
provide flexibility to the healthcare system as America reopens. These changes
include making it easier for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to get tested
for COVID-19 and continuing CMS’s efforts to further expand beneficiaries’
access to telehealth services. The temporary changes will apply immediately
for the duration of the Public Health Emergency declaration.
Press Release
Additional Information
CMS Announces Independent Commission to Address Safety and
Quality in Nursing Homes
CMS announced a new independent Commission that will conduct a comprehensive
assessment of the nursing home response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Commission will help inform efforts to safeguard the health and quality
of life of vulnerable Americans as CMS continues to battle COVID-19 as well
as prepare for future threats to resident safety and public health. This
unprecedented effort builds on the agency’s five-part plan unveiled last
April to ensure safety and quality in America’s nursing homes, as well as
recent CMS efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 within these facilities.
Press Release
Fact Sheet
New Frequently Asked Questions on EMTALA
CMS issued Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) clarifying requirements and
considerations for hospitals and other providers related to the
Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) during the
COVID-19 pandemic. The FAQs address questions around patient presentation
to the emergency department, EMTALA applicability across facility types,
qualified medical professionals, medical screening exams, patient transfer
and stabilization, telehealth, and other topics.
Frequently Asked Questions
for Individual and Small Group Health Insurance Health Plans
In response to the increased need for providing telehealth due to COVID-19,
CMS has given additional consideration to telehealth services in HHS-operated
risk adjustment for issuers in the individual and small group health insurance
markets inside and outside the Marketplaces. CMS’ new guidance clarifies
which telehealth services are valid for HHS-operated risk adjustment data
submission in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dear Clinician: CMS Adds New COVID-19 Clinical Trials Improvement Activity
to the Quality Payment Program
CMS issued a letter thanking clinicians for their ongoing efforts to treat
patients and combat COVID-19 and shared additional details on the new
Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) improvement activity.
As announced earlier this month, clinicians who participate in a COVID-19
clinical trial and report their findings to a clinical data repository or registry
many now earn credit in MIPS under the Improvement Activities performance
category for the 2020 performance period by attesting to this new activity.
Dear Clinician Letter
CMS Gives States Additional Flexibility to Address Coronavirus Pandemic
CMS has approved 140 requests for state relief in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, including recent approvals for Arkansas, Hawaii,
Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming. These approvals
help to ensure that states have the tools they need to combat COVID-19
through a wide variety of waivers, amendments, and Medicaid state plan
flexibilities, including for programs that care for the elderly and people
with disabilities. CMS developed a toolkit to expedite the application
and review of each request and has approved these requests in record
time. These approved flexibilities support President Trump’s commitment
to a COVID-19 response that is locally executed, state managed, and
federally supported.
Section 1135 Waivers
Section 1115(a) Waivers
1915© Waiver Appendix K Amendments
Medicaid State Plan Amendments
CHIP State Plan Amendments