Category: Uncategorized

CMS provides exemptions to quality payment program participants amid COVID-19 crisis

CMS provides exemptions to quality payment program participants amid COVID-19 crisis

March 22, 2020 AURORA AGUILAR The CMS on Sunday said it is easing reporting requirements for the 1.2 million clinicians in the Quality Payment Program and for other reporting programs in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Organizations participating in quality payment programs had expressed concern over accountability penalties and the potential of not receiving shared […]

CMS expands Medicare telehealth services to fight COVID-19

CMS expands Medicare telehealth services to fight COVID-19

March 17, 2020 MICHAEL BRADY   The Trump administration on Monday announced that it will expand telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries and cut back on HIPAA enforcement, the latest move to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Medicare will pay doctors and hospitals for a broad range of telehealth services on a temporary basis, effective March 6. The […]

Physician practices modify operations to cope with COVID-19

Physician practices modify operations to cope with COVID-19

March 17, 2020 Maria Castellucci and Harris Meyer   Beginning Tuesday, staff at Indiana University Health Physicians are calling patients with scheduled appointments for routine care to come in at a later date, many being scheduled six weeks out. The decision is one of many IU Health Physicians has made over the last 10 days […]

Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications during the COVID-19 Nationwide Public Health Emergency

Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications during the COVID-19 Nationwide Public Health Emergency

March 17, 2020 We are empowering medical providers to serve patients wherever they are during this national public health emergency. We are especially concerned about reaching those most at risk, including older persons and persons with disabilities. – Roger Severino, OCR Director. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the Department of Health and Human […]

Waiver or Modification of Requirements under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act as the Result of the Consequences of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Waiver or Modification of Requirements under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act as the Result of the Consequences of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

March 16, 2020 What: HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar declared a public health emergency, effective March 15, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. due to the nationwide COVID-19 outbreak. Where:  Nationwide. Why:  President Donald J. Trump’s declaration that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a national emergency. Actions/Follow-Up: View the Waiver or Modification of Requirements under […]

Coronavirus testing expands to 2,000 labs

Coronavirus testing expands to 2,000 labs

March 15, 2020 MATTHEW WEINSTOCK    More than 2,000 labs across the country will start processing tests for COVID-19 early this week, Vice President Mike Pence said during a news briefing late Sunday. The move, the result of a partnership between the federal government and commercial labs, means upward of 1.9 million tests will start […]

High-deductible plans may waive cost-sharing for coronavirus tests

High-deductible plans may waive cost-sharing for coronavirus tests

March 11, 2020 SHELBY LIVINGSTON  The IRS released guidance on Wednesday that confirms employers may waive out-of-pocket costs for coronavirus testing and treatment for workers enrolled in high-deductible health plans. Employers have been hesitant to eliminate cost-sharing for medical tests for COVID-19 for fear of running afoul of the law even as several states and dozens of private […]

Health care provider pays $100,000 settlement to OCR for failing to implement HIPAA Security Rule requirements

Health care provider pays $100,000 settlement to OCR for failing to implement HIPAA Security Rule requirements

March 3, 2020 The practice of Steven A. Porter, M.D., has agreed to pay $100,000 to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to adopt a corrective action plan to settle a potential violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule.  […]

Supreme Court will hear challenge to Affordable Care Act

Supreme Court will hear challenge to Affordable Care Act

March 02, 2020 RACHEL COHRS   The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider a politically charged legal challenge brought by the Trump administration and Republican attorneys general that could take down the Affordable Care Act. The judges will weigh the case in their fall 2020 term, as they previously declined to take the case up […]

CMS plans to crack down on accrediting organization oversight, Verma says

CMS plans to crack down on accrediting organization oversight, Verma says

February 25, 2020 MARIA CASTELLUCCI   The CMS plans to enhance oversight of accrediting organizations in light of conflict of interest concerns and publicized safety issues at provider organizations, according to CMS Administrator Seema Verma. During a speech at the agency’s Quality Conference in Baltimore, Verma told the audience accreditors are failing to protect patients […]