In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have compiled relevant information for employers and provided guidance on equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws applicable to people with disabilities and COVID-19. Those resources can be found at the links below.
On April 27, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opened the COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal, where providers can sign up for reimbursement for testing and treating uninsured patients who had COVID-19 diagnoses on or after February 4, 2020. The funding is part of the legislative responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and will provide Medicare rates for COVID treatment. Providers may now enroll through the Program Portal at https://coviduninsuredclaim.linkhealth.com/.
On April 27, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it is suspending its Advance Payment Program to Part B suppliers and reevaluating the amounts that will be provided under its Accelerated Payment Program. Beginning on April 26, 2020, CMS will no longer accept any new applications for the Advance Payment Program, and CMS will reevaluate all pending and new applications for Accelerated Payments.
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On April 2, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education (“Department”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) that proposed regulatory edits on a number of topics, and predominantly distance education and direct assessment (including subscription-based) programs. The NPRM, which can be found here, is the product of negotiated rulemaking surrounding a number of accreditation-related issues that occurred in 2019 and resulted in consensus on the Department’s proposed regulations. The NPRM invites the public to submit comments on the proposed regulatory revisions, and any such comments must be received on or before May 4, 2020. Comments may be in support of the NPRM or can suggest revisions. Please contact Powers if you would like any assistance in preparing comments.
To stay up to date on the latest news and insights from the Powers Law Firm, please visit our COVID-19 resource page here.
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Over the last month, 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. This memo summarizes Congress’ actions to date with a focus on its most recent activity, today’s enactment of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.
Click here to visit our COVID-19 resource center.
WHITE HOUSE UPDATE
Coronavirus: President Trump Announces Guidelines for Re-Opening Nation in Next Chapter of COVID-19 Recovery
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Powers is pleased to announce that attorneys Mark Fitzgerald, Rob Portman, Ron Connelly, Mary Susan Philp and Kathleen Hatfield have been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers 2020.
As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has announced $30 billion in immediate relief funding to providers in support of the national response to COVID-19.
On April 14, 2020, CMS held another call in a series of “Office Hours” on COVID-19 payment questions. CMS Office Hours provides an opportunity for providers on the frontline to ask questions to agency officials regarding CMS temporary actions related to COVID-19. Pre-submitted questions are accepted at covid-19@cms.hhs.gov. During its “Office Hours” on April 14, CMS fielded questions on a wide range of issues, with an emphasis on hospital billing for remote services provided by physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other non-physician clinical staff and on COVID-19-specific coding and billing issues, especially those related to the use of code “modifiers.” A transcript of the Office Hours session, with questions and answers grouped by subject, follows. If you have any questions, please contact Diane Millman (Diane.Millman@PowersLaw.com), Leela Baggett (Leela.Bagett@PowersLaw.com), or your regular Powers attorney.
On April 9, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) focused part of its “Office Hours on COVID 19” on answering providers’ questions on a wide range of changes in otherwise applicable CMS requirements, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are CMS’ responses on a number of the pressing concerns raised by providers during the call. ‘Questions and Answers’ have been rearranged to group similar questions and responses together.
On April 9, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) focused part of its “Office Hours on COVID 19” on answering providers’ questions on coding and payment challenges arising from new coverage of telehealth services during the pandemic. Below are CMS’ responses on a number of the pressing concerns raised by providers during the call. ‘Questions and Answers’ have been rearranged to group similar questions and responses together.
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.
This updated article provides links to, and briefly summarizes, legislation and federal agency guidance designed to ease the burden on higher education institutions.
Powers Principal Barbara Straub Williams was quoted in the April 7th 340B Report, a subscription-based news service that provides breaking news and analysis about the 340B program. Read More
As of early April 2020, the United States Congress has passed three major pieces of legislation to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and bolster the American economy. Together, these bills inject more than $2 trillion into the economy; provide greatly expanded supplemental funding for federal, state, and local governments to combat the crisis; expand authorities for health care providers to treat patients; and much more. In the coming months, Congress is expected to consider a fourth and potentially fifth major package on COVID-19, bills that may include additional economic stimulus, infrastructure spending, and wider health care provisions.
Click here to visit our COVID-19 resource center.
WHITE HOUSE UPDATE
Monday, March 23
Coronavirus: President Trump Signs $2.2 Trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
Medical Supplies: President Issues Executive Order to Prevent Hoarding of Health and Medical Resources during COVID-19 Crisis
Powers attorneys Bill von Oehsen, Barbara Straub Williams, Peggy Tighe and Rebecca Burke hosted a webinar on telehealth issues, with a focus on recent changes as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the addition of several new CPT codes for billing and payment of telehealth services and, in some circumstances, phone calls.
The full PowerPoint presentation can be seen here.*
*Current as of 4/3/2020
As of Friday, April 3, 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is accepting loan applications from lenders under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), enacted March 27th. APPLY TODAY (or as soon as possible) if you are eligible and wish to participate in this first-come, first-served $349 billion program. Once these dollars are exhausted, the program will not accept additional applications. PPP loans do not have to be paid back if borrowers use at least 75% of the loan to retain employees and cover other specified expenses over an eight-week period. For more information on the PPP, please consult our detailed memo here, visit the SBA’s dedicated website here, and review the Interim Final Regulations, the most recent and detailed guidance published April 2, 2020, here.Read More
To support providers and suppliers during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a nationwide expansion of the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program (AAPP). Providers and suppliers will be able to access expedited and advanced payments in order to fund their operations and increase cash flow during the crisis and accompanying disruptions in claims submissions and processing. CMS’ fact sheet detailing eligibility and the application process can be found here.Read More
