Temporary Waivers and New Rules Issued by CMS to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic
Susan L. St. John, Esq.
Medicare Auditor turned Attorney at Garfunkel Wild, P.C. | DME Law | Home Health | LLM in Tax | Health Law | Mergers & Acquisitions | Business Transactions
CMS has issued temporary waivers and new rules to help the American health care system address the increased need for health care services caused by COVID-19. Among the waivers, CMS is allowing hospitals to set up services in alternative sites to accommodate increased patient census. Hospitals may be allowed to use ASCs, inpatient rehab hospitals, hotels and dormitories for non-COVID-19 patients or patients not requiring critical inpatient services. Hospitals are also being encouraged to increase staffing, allowing hospitals to increase staff through hiring of local and non-local providers/practitioners as long as they are appropriately licensed in the same state as the hospital or another state. However, even though CMS has created flexibility for rendering services during this pandemic, use of alternative “hospital” sites and expansion of hiring staff must comport with a state’s emergency preparedness or pandemic response plan.
During the public health emergency, CMS is encouraging hospitals to temporarily employ local or non-local clinicians as long as the clinicians are licensed in the same state as the hospital or licensed in another state. While CMS is encouraging temporary employment of clinicians, such temporary employment must be in accordance with a state’s laws under its emergency preparedness or pandemic response plan.
Further, providers, including practitioners, may be able to temporarily enroll in Medicare to be able to assist with the current health care crisis.
CMS is also allowing hospitals to provide benefits to medical staff without running afoul of anti-kickback laws. Such benefits included, providing meals, temporary housing, childcare, or other benefits necessary to light the stress on medical staff caused by increased need for services.
Access to testing for COVID-19 has also been expanded to allow hospitals, labs, and other entities to test patients at home or other community-based settings besides hospitals. Florida has set up many “drive through” testing sites through the state, allowing more people to get tested without the risk of presenting at a hospital.