From CMS: For More Info, Go Here…
ngd- This is a Fact Sheet rather than the full rules and regs doc…
The Trump Administration is taking aggressive actions and exercising regulatory flexibilities to help healthcare providers combat and contain the spread of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID19). In response to COVID-19, CMS is empowered to take proactive steps through 1135 waivers and rapidly expand the Administration’s aggressive efforts against COVID-19.
As a result, the following blanket waivers are available:
• Skilled Nursing Facilities
CMS is waiving the requirement at Section 1812(f) of the Social Security Act for a 3-day prior hospitalization for coverage of a skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay provides temporary emergency coverage of (SNF services without a qualifying hospital stay, for those people who need to be transferred as a result of the effect of a disaster or emergency. In addition, for certain beneficiaries who recently exhausted their SNF benefits, it authorizes renewed SNF coverage without first having to start a new benefit period.
Second, CMS is waiving 42 CFR 483.20 to provides relief to SNFs on the timeframe
requirements for Minimum Data Set assessments and transmission.
• Critical Access Hospitals
CMS is waiving the requirements that Critical Access Hospitals limit the number of beds to 25, and that the length of stay be limited to 96 hours.
• Housing Acute Care Patients In Excluded Distinct Part Units
CMS is waiving requirements to allow acute care hospitals to house acute care inpatients in excluded distinct part units, where the distinct part unit’s beds are appropriate for acute care inpatient. The Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) hospital should bill for the care and annotate the patient’s medical record to indicate the patient is an acute care inpatient being housed in the excluded unit because of capacity issues related to the disaster or emergency.
• Durable Medical Equipment
Where Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) is lost,
destroyed, irreparably damaged, or otherwise rendered unusable, contractors have the
flexibility to waive replacements such that the face-to-face requirement, a new
physician’s order, and new medical necessity documentation are not required. Suppliers
must still include a narrative description on the claim explaining the reason why the
equipment must be replaced and are reminded to maintain documentation indicating that the DMEPOS was lost, destroyed, irreparably damaged or otherwise rendered unusable or unavailable as a result of the emergency.
ngd- And much more…
