On Monday March 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published blanket waivers to some of the Stark law requirements. The waivers are detailed and provide many examples of how they will apply. You can view the waivers here, but we think the important takeaways are as follows:
Powers attorneys Rebecca Burke and Megan La Suer hosted a webinar last week that discussed the impact of COVID-19 on Medicare and Medicaid telehealth waivers.
The full PowerPoint presentation can be seen here.*
*Slides are current as of March 31, 2020.
Congress and the Trump Administration have taken several key steps to address the expanding public health crisis caused by the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, while at the same time trying to staunch the negative repercussions currently affecting the nation’s employment and financial markets. To stay up to date on the latest news and insights from the Powers Law Firm, please visit our COVID-19 resource page: https://www.powerslaw.com/covid-19/.
Congress and the Trump Administration have taken several key steps to address the expanding public health crisis caused by the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, while at the same time trying to staunch the negative repercussions currently affecting the nation’s employment and financial markets. To stay up to date on the latest news and insights from the Powers Law Firm, please visit our COVID-19 resource page: https://www.powerslaw.com/covid-19/.
To alleviate cash flow problems, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is allowing Part A providers and Part B suppliers to request accelerated/advance Medicare payments. Read More
The Powers education group released a memorandum today summarizing the higher education provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed on Friday, March 27. The memorandum provides an executive summary and a section-by-section overview of the higher education provisions of the CARES Act.
WHITE HOUSE UPDATE
Wednesday, March 18
Coronavirus: President Signs Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to Support Americans’ Safety and Financial Security amid Coronavirus Crisis
This article has been revised to include additional and updated guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. Please click here to view the most recent version.
The spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) has had an unprecedented impact on higher education institutions across the country. Schools are closing campuses, sending students home, and transitioning their academic programs from brick-and-mortar sites to distance education delivery methods. This article provides links to, and briefly summarizes, recent guidance issued by federal agencies and potential legislation designed to ease the burden on higher education institutions. All affected schools should remember to document any changes to their programs and to communicate the changes to their accreditors. Institutions should also promptly alert students to any changes in programs, the academic calendar, or method of instruction.
The Powers legislative practice released a memorandum today summarizing the second emergency bill pass to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19), known as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Click here to read the full memo.
As the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues, nonprofit organizations are facing a number of difficult decisions regarding their upcoming conferences and events and their workplace policies. In most cases, organizations are choosing to cancel or postpone their events, and many are developing unprecedented workplace policies to protect the health of their employees, attendees, and members.
Powers Senior Director of Government Affairs Jeremy Scott presented last week at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacists Association’s (HOPA) 16th Annual conference—HOPA AHEAD 2020.
The Powers legislative practice group released a memorandum today that summarizes the emergency spending bill enacted by the Trump Administration to combat the coronavirus, as well as the series of waivers issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which grant health care providers greater flexibility in treating patients. Click here to read the full memo.
In guidance released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on March 17, 2020, the Administration greatly expanded Medicare coverage of telehealth services to cope with the national public health emergency posed by COVID-19 describing broadened access to telehealth services under Medicare. This guidance and an accompanying set of FAQs implements legislation enacted on March 6, 2020 which, among other things, gave the Secretary of HHS discretion to waive statutory rural and site of service coverage restrictions on services provided via telehealth.
The emergency supplemental appropriations bill enacted on March 6 deemed the coronavirus a “disaster” such that amounts included in the Small Business Administration (SBA)’s Disaster Assistance Loan Program, supported by $1 billion in loan subsidies, may now be utilized by small businesses and private non-profit organizations to obtain loans to cover financial losses incurred as a result of the ongoing emergency. Information on how SBA will implement this provision and grant loans of up to $2 million is provided here.
Powers is monitoring the situation involving the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As our firm navigates this complicated challenge and remains open for business, we are taking measures to protect our attorneys, staff, and clients.
On Friday, the President declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act. This declaration allows the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Azar to waive certain requirements of the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children’s Health Insurance programs and of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule throughout the duration of this emergency under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act.
Powers Education Group professionals Sharon Bob, Nick Michiels and Dan Brozovic will present at the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) annual National Conference on Allied Health Education. Sharon will participate in the conference’s Regulatory Panel on Friday March 6, and Nick and Dan will present “Surviving (or Even Thriving In) a Program Review or Audit,” on Thursday, March 5.
