Congress is working on Phase 5 of coronavirus relief using the budget reconciliation process. As described by the House Committee on the Budget, “Budget reconciliation provides a fast-track process for consideration of bills to implement the policy choices embodied in the annual congressional budget resolution.”[1] Just like with the budget resolution, reconciliation bills are not [...] Read More
In addition to a second interim final rule to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also updated the current blanket waivers that are aimed at helping providers respond to the declared public health emergency (PHE). Below are the new waiver items updated by CMS after April 21, 2020. Telehealth [...] Read More
On April 30th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a second interim final rule (IFC) aimed at addressing the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The rule has not yet been submitted to the Federal Register. The rule include flexibilities for a variety of areas including infection control in long-term care facilities, [...] Read More
On the afternoon of April 30th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it submitted a second interim final rule (IFC) to the Federal Register and that it released an additional set of blanket waivers under section 1135 of the Social Security Act aimed at addressing the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Below are many of the new flexibilities and capabilities included in the waivers and rule: Interim Final [...] Read More
Senate leaders have recently announced that Congress has reached a deal on an additional COVID-19-driven funding package, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. This recent funding package replenishes a loan program for small businesses impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, but also includes funding related to COVID-19 testing. Dubbed CARES 3.5, this deal [...] Read More
On the evening of March 30th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a series of additional blanket waivers under section 1877(g) and section 1135 of the Social Security Act and an interim final rule (IFC) aimed at addressing the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency. Below are many of the new flexibilities and capabilities included in the waivers and rule: Increasing Hospital Capacity Allow ambulatory [...] Read More
Congress has been working on Phase III of coronavirus relief and a vote on the package is expected to occur the week of Mar 23-27, 2020. Provisions in the legislation include human resources, hospital payment, patient cost-sharing, coverage of diagnostics and vaccines, and supply shortages. For many of the provisions, HHS is directed to implement [...] Read More
An Act making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes. All amounts appropriated or made available under this Act are in addition to the amounts already appropriated for the relevant fiscal year. The House passed the bill in the early morning hours of March 14, 2020 (363-40-1). The [...] Read More
All amounts appropriated or made available under this Act are in addition to the amounts already appropriated for the relevant fiscal year. HHS AGENCIES RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE This Act includes appropriations for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) which is part [...] Read More