Although this may soon change, home health providers remain limited in using telehealth technologies in their day-to-day operations. In March, Congress made it clear through the CARES Act that the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should do everything in its power to promote the use of telehealth tools during the COVID-19 emergency. Many home health […]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICESCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C2-21-16Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850Center for Clinical Standards and Quality/Quality, Safety & Oversight GroupAdmin Info: 20-06-CLIADATE: April 30, 2020TO: State Survey Agency DirectorsFROM: DirectorQuality, Safety & Oversight GroupSUBJECT: CMS SARS-CoV-2 Laboratory Testing ComparisonBackground:CMS is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s […]
COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Tests for whichMedicare Does Not Require a Practitioner Order During the PHE*Updated May 12, 2020CPT/HCPCSCode Laboratory Code Long DescriptorCodeCategoryCOVID-19 Related CodesU0001 CDC 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel COVID-19U00022019-nCoV Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV (COVID-19), any technique, multiple types orsubtypes (includes all targets), non-CDC)COVID-19U0003Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); […]
Medicare 1135 Waivers & Two Interim Final Rules Enabling Health System Expansion Medicare 1135 Waivers & Two Interim Final Rules •CMS has two critical roles: •Ensure Medicare beneficiaries receive safeand effectivecare during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). •Ensure Medicare payment/coverage policies during the COVID-19 PHE do not impedeproviders working to expand capacity to treat […]
Updated: 5/1/2020 COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Billing The FAQs in this document supplement the following previously released FAQs: 1135 Waiver FAQs, available at https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency- Information/Emergency/Downloads/MedicareFFS-EmergencyQsAs1135Waiver.pdf, and Without 1135 Waiver FAQs, available at https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency- Information/Emergency/Downloads/Consolidated_Medicare_FFS_Emergency_QsAs.pdf). We note that in many instances, the general statements of the FAQs referenced above have been […]
During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, HHS has taken steps to make it easier to provide telehealth services. Telehealth — sometimes referred to as telemedicine — describes the use of 2-way communication technology for certain health care services. We encourage health care providers to adopt and use telehealth as a way to safely provide care to […]
On April 2, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released its Report and Order 20-44 outlining how it plans to distribute $200 million appropriated to it by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The COVID-19 Telehealth Program (the “Program”) will allow eligible providers to be reimbursed for “telecommunication services, information services, and […]
On April 2, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the $200 million Coronavirus (COVID-19) Telehealth Program contemplated in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Telehealth Program is distinguishable from the broader Connected Care Pilot Program, which will make an additional $100 million in federal universal service funds available for telehealth over the […]
In light of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has updated its FAQs on Medicare coverage for telehealth services. April 13, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has updated its guidance document on Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services during the Coronavirus pandemic. In its 38-page FAQ update unveiled last week, […]
