covid-19
Care Compare Quarterly Refresh for October 2023
The October 2023 quarterly refresh for the Home Health Quality Reporting Program is now available on Care Compare. For this refresh, Home Health (HH) Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) will be based on the standard number of quarters. The HH QRP claims-based measures have been updated for this refresh and, with the exception of PPR, […]
Read MoreDEA Extends COVID-19 Teleprescribing Flexibilities through December 2024
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on October 6, 2023 issued a temporary rule extending COVID-19 telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing of controlled medications through December 31, 2024, which is the current date for expiration of other telemedicine-related flexibilities. Prior to issuance of this temporary rule those flexibilities would have expired for new patients on November 11, […]
Read MoreOIG: Home Health Agencies Did Not Use Telehealth Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic
A new report from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that home health agencies (HHAs) rarely furnished services via telehealth early in the COVID-19 public health emergency. For the few claims in the OIG sample with services furnished via telehealth, HHAs did not fully comply with Medicare […]
Read MoreImpact of Proposed Nursing Home Staffing Requirements
Earlier this month the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed minimum staffing standards for Long-Term Care Facilities (LTC). The proposed rule would establish minimum Registered Nurse (RN) and Nurse Aide (NA) hours per resident day (HPRD). It does not include requirements for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)/Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs). Additionally, the rule […]
Read MoreCMS Issues Guidance Extending HCBS Public Health Emergency Flexibilities
On August 2, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a State Medicaid Director Letter (SMDL) that enables states to extend certain flexibilities granted by “Appendix K” authority, which is a process to make disaster-related changes to a HCBS Medicaid waivers. Previously, Appendix K changes were scheduled to expire 6 months after […]
Read MoreNAHC Analysis: Medicaid Unwinding Impacting Thousands of Older Adults and People with Disabilities
Beginning in April, state Medicaid agencies have begun disenrolling individuals from the program for the first time since 2020 due to the end of COVID-era eligibility requirements. This “unwinding” process represents one of the largest issues in Medicaid policy, with an estimated 15-20 million individuals likely to lose Medicaid coverage over the next 12 months. […]
Read MorePost-Acute Care Quality Reporting Programs: iQIES Update
For this refresh, Home Health (HH) Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) will be based on the standard number of quarters. The HH QRP claims-based measures, with the exception of PPR, have been updated for this refresh and are now based on the standard number of quarters. Due to the COVID-19 reporting exceptions, PPR continues […]
Read MoreProvider Relief Fund Reporting Period 5
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced that the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal is open from Saturday, July 1 to Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Providers who received one or more PRF (General or Targeted) and/or American Rescue Plan Rural payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, from January 1 […]
Read MoreThe DEA Relaxed Online Prescribing Rules During Covid. Now It Wants to Rein Them In.
Arielle Zionts June 27, 2023 Federal regulators want most patients to see a health care provider in person before receiving prescriptions for potentially addictive medicines through telehealth — something that hasn’t been required in more than three years. During the covid-19 public health emergency, the Drug Enforcement Administration allowed doctors and other health care providers […]
Read MoreCMS Ends COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a final rule ending the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health care providers. The decision for CMS to end the vaccination requirements was expected based on information provided in a May 1, 2023 memo from the CMS Quality and Safety Oversight Group. CMS addresses three separate […]
Read MoreQuestions After the End of The PHE: What Do We Do Now?
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) officially ended on May 11 and providers worked to make sure they were handling associated waivers and flexibilities appropriately. As they focused on everyday operations and regulatory requirements, some questions arose about the COVID-19 vaccination requirements and screening guidance, as well as several other topics. Each topic is discussed […]
Read MoreCDC Issues Guidance for Masking in Health Care Settings
The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has issued revised guidance for Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic . The guidance applies to all health care settings and provides a framework to implement select infection prevention and control practices based on their individual circumstances. […]
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