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COVID-19 News & Resources

Published on 

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

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For over thirty years, Medical Management Plus has made it our mission to help healthcare make sense for our clients. This weekly newsletter is one platform we use to provide what we believe to be current and relevant news to our client base. As the potential of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has turned into a reality we are being forced as a nation to come to grips with a new “normal” which includes among other things social distancing, actually washing our hands for a full 20 seconds with soap and water, and for hospitals preparing for the potential onslaught of patients presenting with COVID-19.

There is a wealth of information about COVID-19 and it is being updated and added to on a daily basis. Finding the time to sort through what is available while carrying out your daily responsibilities can be a challenge. To that end, this article is meant to provide our readers with key information and links to additional resources. The entire staff at MMP appreciates all of the dedicated healthcare workers on the front lines of this pandemic and will continue to monitor the situation and share key updates with you our readers.

February 27, 2020: American Heart Association News: What Heart Patients Should Know About Coronavirus

In this article, the American Heart Association highlights reasons why the Coronavirus is more concerning for individuals with a Cardiac history. With a mother, spouse, and friends who are heart patients, it was concerning to me to learn that in people with known fatty buildup of plaque in their arteries, “evidence indicates similar viral illnesses can destabilize these plaques, potentially resulting in the blockage of an artery feeding blood to the heart, putting patients at risk of heart attack.”

March 4th, 2020: MLN Connects Special Edition: CMS Announces Actions to Address Spread of Coronavirus

On March 4, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced several actions aimed at limiting the spread of the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Specifically, CMS issued a call to action to health care providers across the country to ensure they are implementing their infection control procedures, which they are required to maintain at all times. Additionally, CMS announced that, effective immediately and, until further notice, State Survey Agencies and Accrediting Organizations will focus their facility inspections exclusively on issues related to infection control and other serious health and safety threats, like allegations of abuse – beginning with nursing homes and hospitals. The shift in approach allows inspectors to focus their energies on addressing the spread of COVID-19.” This announcement went on to describe memorandums as well as links to each one as follows: To view each memo, please visit:

March 6th, 2020: Defending Against COVID-19 Cyber Scams

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published a notice warning people to remain vigilant for scams related to COVID-19 which included specific precautions that should be taken. For example, avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be wary of email attachments.

March 9th, 2020: Hospital ED Screening for COVID-19 and Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) Requirements and Implications

CMS published a Press Release urging hospitals to screen all patients for Coronavirus and published a related Memorandum to provide information in response to questions from hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) regarding implications of COVID-19 and their compliance with EMTALA. Note, this guidance applies to both Medicare and Medicaid providers. This memorandum specifically addresses EMTALA screening obligation and EMTALA stabilization, transfer and recipient hospital obligations.

March 10th, 2020: Memorandum to MA Organizations related to COVID-19

This Memorandum was issued to Medicare Advantage Organizations and Part D Sponsors to inform them of the obligations and permissible flexibilities related to disasters and emergencies resulting from COVID-19. The flexibilities include:

  • Waiving cost-sharing for COVID-19 tests,
  • Waiving cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatments in doctor’s offices or emergency rooms and services delivered via telehealth,
  • Removing prior authorizations requirements,
  • Waiving prescription refill limits, Relaxing restrictions on home or mail delivery of prescription drugs, and
  • Expanding access to certain telehealth services.

CMS also provided a related Press Release.

March 13, 2020: COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Health Care Providers Fact Sheet

CMS provided a Fact Sheet in response to their announcement about the steps taken through 1135 waivers. One key blanket waiver is for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs). Specifically, “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.” A word of caution, a patient must still have a skilled need.

March 13, 2020: Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of COVID-19 in Nursing Homes Revised

In a Revised Memorandum to State Survey Agency Directors, CMS advised facilities to “restrict visitation of all visitors and non-essential health care personnel, except for certain compassionate care situations, such as end-of-life situation.”

March 16, 2020: Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

As follow-up to the March 13th Emergency Declaration Health Care Providers Fact Sheet, CMS indicated in this Special MLN article (SE20011) that they have issued blanket waivers consistent with those issues for past public health emergencies (PHE) declarations. “These waivers prevent gaps in access to care for beneficiaries impacted by the emergency. You do not need to apply for an individual waiver if a blanket waiver is issued.”

March 16, 2020: FDA Issues Diagnostic Emergency Use Authorization to Hologic and LabCorp

The FDA announced they have issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUAs) to Hologic for its Panther Fusion SARS-COV-2 Assay, and LabCorp for its COVID-19 RT-PCR test.

March 16, 2020: COVID-19 & HIPAA

On March 16th HHS released this Bulletin providing information about a Limited Waiver of HIPAA Sanctions and Penalties during a Nationwide Public Health Emergency.

March 17, 2020: CMS Coronavirus Partner Virtual Toolkit

CMS released a Virtual Toolkit to help you stay up-to-date on CMS materials available on COVID-19. CMS encourages you to bookmark the webpage and check back often. 

March 17, 2020: CMS Expands Medicare Telehealth Coverage & the OIG Releases Waiving Telehealth Cost-Sharing Policy Statement

Expanded Medicare telehealth coverage was announced that will “enable beneficiaries to receive a wider range of healthcare services from their doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility.

At the same time, the OIG released a Policy Statement regarding Physicians and Other Practitioners that reduce or waive amounts owed by the beneficiary during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Office of Civil Rights published a related Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth in which they indicated the following:

  • They “will exercise its enforcement discretion and will not impose penalties for noncompliance with the regulatory requirements under the HIPAA Rules against covered health care providers in connection with the good faith provision of telehealth during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency.  This notification is effective immediately.”
  • They are “exercising its enforcement discretion to not impose penalties for noncompliance with the HIPAA Rules in connection with the good faith provision of telehealth using such non-public facing audio or video communication products during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency.  This exercise of discretion applies to telehealth provided for any reason, regardless of whether the telehealth service is related to the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions related to COVID-19.
  • Under this Notice, covered health care providers may use popular applications that allow for video chats, including Apple FaceTime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangouts video, or Skype, to provide telehealth without risk that OCR might seek to impose a penalty for noncompliance with the HIPAA Rules related to the good faith provision of telehealth during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency. 
  • Providers are encouraged to notify patients that these third-party applications potentially introduce privacy risks, and providers should enable all available encryption and privacy modes when using such applications. 
  • Under this Notice, however, Facebook Live, Twitch, TikTok, and similar video communication applications are public facing, and should not be used in the provision of telehealth by covered health care providers.

March 17, 2020: Medicaid Telehealth

As a companion piece to the Medicare Telehealth Guidance, CMS released a Medicaid Telehealth Guidance to states document. Additionally, Medicaid.gov has a webpage dedicated to Telemedicine.

March 18, 2020: CMS Releases Recommendations on Surgeries & Procedures during COVID-19 Response

CMS announced in a Press Release that all elective surgeries, non-essential medical, surgical, and dental procedures be delayed during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This CMS Press Release includes a link to specific tiered recommendations. For example, Tier 1a has an action to Postpone procedure or surgery and provides specific examples of carpal tunnel release, EGD, colonoscopy and cataracts.

March 18, 2020: Updated COVID-19 FAQs for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies

In an effort to protect the health and safety of providers and patients, including those covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), CMS provided an updated FAQ Document.

March 18, 2020: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) New COVID-19 Tool:

KFF has developed a New Tool providing the Latest State-Level Data on COVID-19 Cases and Deaths, Provider Capacity and the various policy actions that states have taken to combat the crisis. Information will be updated regularly.

March 18, 2020: Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) MLN Article Revised

March 22, 2020: CMS Press Release Relief for Quality Reporting Programs

CMS announced “unprecedented relief for clinicians, providers, and facilities participating in Medicare quality reporting programs…Specifically, CMS announces it is granting exceptions from reporting requirements and extensions for clinicians and providers….with respect to upcoming measure reporting and data submission for those programs.” This action is in response to 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVDI-19). This Press Release includes a table detailing the specific extensions being granted.

March 23, 2020 OIG Releases Fraud Alert

The OIG has released “a COVID-19 Fraud Alert to warn about several health care fraud scams that harm patients and the federal programs designed to serve them.  This alert has general information about these schemes and how to protect yourself and your community against bad actors.”

Alabama Public Health: COVID-19 Webpage

The Alabama Public Health Department has created a COVID-19 webpage which includes guidance for healthcare providers, what to do if you suspect you have COVID-19, a current “Situation Summary,” and lists several resources available from the Alabama Department of Public Health, the CDC, CMS and additional resources such as the World Health Organization and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

CDC Handouts & Posters

The CDC has made available Handouts and Posters in English, Spanish and simplified Chinese. Topics available includes:

  • Share Facts About COVID-19,
  • What You Need to Know,
  • What to do if you are sick,
  • Stop the spread of germs poster, and
  • Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 poster.

A Wash Your Hands poster is also available in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Portuguese, and Urdu.

World Health Organization (WHO): COVID-19 Advice for the Public: Myth Busters

The WHO has posted several Facts about the Coronavirus that can be downloaded and shared as a graphic. A few of the facts available are:

  • Taking a hot bath does not prevent the new coronavirus,
  • Vaccines against pneumonia do not provide protection against the new coronavirus, and
  • There is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline has protected people from infection with the new coronavirus.

Additional Websites Providing COVID-19 Resources:

Article Author: Beth Cobb, RN, BSN, ACM, CCDS
Beth Cobb, RN, BSN, ACM, CCDS, is the Manager of Clinical Analytics at Medical Management Plus, Inc. Beth has over twenty-five years of experience in healthcare including eleven years in Case Management at a large multi-facility health system. In her current position, Beth is a principle writer for MMP’s Wednesday@One weekly e-newsletter, an active member of our HIPAA Compliance Committee, MMP’s Education Department Program Director and co-developer of MMP’s proprietary Compliance Protection Assessment Tool.

This material was compiled to share information.  MMP, Inc. is not offering legal advice. Every reasonable effort has been taken to ensure the information is accurate and useful.