Timely insights and legal commentary on various health care issues and developments surrounding regulations, employment, transactions and a range of key industry matters. This blog is maintained by the Health Care Department of Stevens & Lee.
An overview of the process for health care providers to submit claims and be reimbursed for COVID-19 testing, testing-related visits and treatment for the uninsured was announced today.
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health released interim guidelines to help health care professionals, clinics, and facilities triage and provide care during pandemic and disaster situations when patient needs may overwhelm health care resources.
Beginning April 13, 2020, Pennsylvania hospitals are able to apply for up to $10 million in low-interest (0.5%), short-term loans under a new loan program announced by Gov. Tom Wolf.
The Order applies to “private, public, and quasi-public health care providers, as well as suppliers and manufacturers of these essential supplies and equipment."
The Bulletin and Notification should provide more flexibility to covered entities and business associates to use and disclose PHI in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 7, 2020, CMS issued new recommendations for non-emergent elective medical services in response to the ongoing surge of acute care COVID-19 patients.
The expanded use of telehealth services allows the vulnerable Medicare population to maintain access to care without exposure to other patients and providers.
Additional Guidance issued by the OIG on March 24, 2020 clarified that the Policy Statement is not limited to the services governed by 42 C.F.R. § 410.78 and referred to by CMS as “telehealth visits.”
Citing particular provisions of the HIPAA regulations that permit disclosures without HIPAA authorization, the guidance provides a number of scenarios that may be relevant to the current pandemic.
The HHS Secretary issued temporary but broad blanket waivers of certain requirements of the Stark Law in order to allow health care providers additional regulatory flexibility to address the COVID-19 crisis.
This CMS response only covers Section 1135 waivers. Waiver or modification requests requiring approval authority under any section other than 1135 will be addressed separately by CMS.
Among other things, the CARES Act provides emergency appropriations and other relief provisions to the health care industry in responding to the COVID-19 crisis.
CMS has expanded its Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to a broader group of Medicare Part A providers and Part B suppliers during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
With the likelihood of its further proliferation in the coming weeks and months, employers need to be prepared to face myriad issues related to COVID-19.
Prior to the issuance of this Bulletin, only Medicaid-enrolled psychiatrists and licensed psychologists in the Behavioral Health HealthChoices Program were covered to use telehealth technology to provide behavioral health services.
There are various, often incompatible, models from which to choose, and competing incentives that pull you, as the decision-maker, in different directions.
HIPAA covered entities and business associates that fulfill release of information requests on behalf of covered entities should review their current policies and procedures.