COVID-19
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Trump Administration Unveils Enhanced Enforcement Actions Based on Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspection Results
Content Provided by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Under the leadership of President Trump, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) unveiled enhanced enforcement for nursing homes with violations of longstanding infection control practices. This announcement builds on the previous actions CMS has taken to ensure the safety and security of America’s nursing homes as the nation battles coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and is a key step in the Trump Administration’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again.
Click here to read the full article.
Content Provided by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Under the leadership of President Trump, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) unveiled enhanced enforcement for nursing homes with violations of longstanding infection control practices. This announcement builds on the previous actions CMS has taken to ensure the safety and security of America’s nursing homes as the nation battles coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and is a key step in the Trump Administration’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again.
Click here to read the full article.
AMA addresses immigration issues, urges VP Pence to support international medical graduates during the COVID-19 pandemic to ease burden on frontline physicians
The American Medical Association (AMA) has been involved with several recent efforts to address immigration issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, the AMA sent a letter to Vice President Pence urging the Administration to allow J-1, H-1B, and O-1 International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to be exempt from any future immigration bans or limitations so that these physicians can maintain their lawful non-immigrant status while responding to the urgent COVID-19 pandemic. We also signed onto a coalition letter led by the Association of American Medical Colleges calling on the Administration and Congress to take regulatory or legislative action to maintain work authorization for individuals currently in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status during the COVID-19 national emergency.
Finally, we expressed our support for the Senate bill, the “Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act,” which would recapture a limited number of unused visas from prior years and allocate them to doctors and nurses. Dr. Harris is quoted prominently in the press release by one of the bill’s sponsors:
American Medical Association: “Physicians fighting COVID-19 are eager to hear these words: Reinforcements are on the way. Recapturing 15,000 unused immigrant visas for physicians through the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would ease the burden on frontline physicians who are risking their lives in understaffed hospitals. This bipartisan legislation recognizes the physician shortage that existed before the pandemic and is getting more severe while the need for caregivers is growing daily.” – Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A., President, American Medical Association
The American Medical Association (AMA) has been involved with several recent efforts to address immigration issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, the AMA sent a letter to Vice President Pence urging the Administration to allow J-1, H-1B, and O-1 International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to be exempt from any future immigration bans or limitations so that these physicians can maintain their lawful non-immigrant status while responding to the urgent COVID-19 pandemic. We also signed onto a coalition letter led by the Association of American Medical Colleges calling on the Administration and Congress to take regulatory or legislative action to maintain work authorization for individuals currently in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status during the COVID-19 national emergency.
Finally, we expressed our support for the Senate bill, the “Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act,” which would recapture a limited number of unused visas from prior years and allocate them to doctors and nurses. Dr. Harris is quoted prominently in the press release by one of the bill’s sponsors:
American Medical Association: “Physicians fighting COVID-19 are eager to hear these words: Reinforcements are on the way. Recapturing 15,000 unused immigrant visas for physicians through the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would ease the burden on frontline physicians who are risking their lives in understaffed hospitals. This bipartisan legislation recognizes the physician shortage that existed before the pandemic and is getting more severe while the need for caregivers is growing daily.” – Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A., President, American Medical Association
Need help paying for telehealth? $200 million FCC fund could help
The FCC is taking applications to help physicians pay for telecommunication and information services and devices to connect with patients remotely.
Read more from the AMA
The FCC is taking applications to help physicians pay for telecommunication and information services and devices to connect with patients remotely.
Read more from the AMA
AMA calls for relaxed rules on telemedicine to remain in place after the pandemic
Bloomberg Law (5/5, Alexander, Subscription Publication) reports physicians “relying on eased telehealth rules to treat patients during the pandemic could face familiar obstacles to remote treatment when enforcement of security and privacy requirements return.” Jesse Ehrenfeld, chair of the AMA’s board of trustees, said physicians want the relaxed rules to remain in place to ease adoption of telemedicine post-pandemic. Ehrenfeld said the AMA is also calling for states to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to make it easier for physicians to be licensed to practice in multiple states.
Bloomberg Law (5/5, Alexander, Subscription Publication) reports physicians “relying on eased telehealth rules to treat patients during the pandemic could face familiar obstacles to remote treatment when enforcement of security and privacy requirements return.” Jesse Ehrenfeld, chair of the AMA’s board of trustees, said physicians want the relaxed rules to remain in place to ease adoption of telemedicine post-pandemic. Ehrenfeld said the AMA is also calling for states to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to make it easier for physicians to be licensed to practice in multiple states.
Many small medical practices reportedly struggling to stay afloat amid pandemic
The New York Times (5/5, Abelson) reports many small medical practices are struggling to stay afloat as patients stay home. Across the U.S., only half of primary care physician practices report having enough cash to stay open for another four weeks, according to one study, and many have already laid off or furloughed employees. AMA President Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A., said even though Medicare and private insurers are covering virtual appointments, that change is not making up for revenue lost from tests and procedures that aren’t being performed, adding, “Telehealth is not the panacea and does not make up for all the financial losses.”
The New York Times (5/5, Abelson) reports many small medical practices are struggling to stay afloat as patients stay home. Across the U.S., only half of primary care physician practices report having enough cash to stay open for another four weeks, according to one study, and many have already laid off or furloughed employees. AMA President Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A., said even though Medicare and private insurers are covering virtual appointments, that change is not making up for revenue lost from tests and procedures that aren’t being performed, adding, “Telehealth is not the panacea and does not make up for all the financial losses.”
Most Employers Not Set To Reopen Amid Virus, Report Says
Content Provided by: Health Law360
Nearly three-quarters of employers have yet to finalize their strategies for restarting operations as states slowly begin loosening restrictions intended to curb the spread of COVID-19, and more than half the businesses are still in the early phases of putting a plan together, according to a new survey by Blank Rome LLP.
Read the full article here.
Content Provided by: Health Law360
Nearly three-quarters of employers have yet to finalize their strategies for restarting operations as states slowly begin loosening restrictions intended to curb the spread of COVID-19, and more than half the businesses are still in the early phases of putting a plan together, according to a new survey by Blank Rome LLP.
Read the full article here.
Antibody tests have reportedly “brought more confusion than clarity” amid coronavirus
USA Today (4/30, Alltucker) reported a new type of coronavirus test “expected to offer clarity on how and when to reopen the nation has instead sowed confusion.” Public health experts are “questioning the precision of antibody tests now being deployed in communities nationwide” and are warning “elected officials, business leaders and consumers should be careful about making decisions based on test results.” Officials with the Association of Public Health Laboratories “also have warned antibody tests on the market are unproven and might produce inaccurate results. The group has called for stricter oversight from the Food and Drug Administration.” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn “said the policy allowing antibody tests on the market before the agency has reviewed data aims to balance risks and benefits to meet the ‘urgent public health needs’ of the new virus.”
USA Today (4/30, Alltucker) reported a new type of coronavirus test “expected to offer clarity on how and when to reopen the nation has instead sowed confusion.” Public health experts are “questioning the precision of antibody tests now being deployed in communities nationwide” and are warning “elected officials, business leaders and consumers should be careful about making decisions based on test results.” Officials with the Association of Public Health Laboratories “also have warned antibody tests on the market are unproven and might produce inaccurate results. The group has called for stricter oversight from the Food and Drug Administration.” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn “said the policy allowing antibody tests on the market before the agency has reviewed data aims to balance risks and benefits to meet the ‘urgent public health needs’ of the new virus.”
CMS OKs pay parity for telephone visits during COVID-19 crisis
CMS agreed to raise rates for telephone visits so seniors can receive continuous care without leaving their homes during the pandemic.
Previously, payments for audio-only telephone services for Medicare beneficiaries ranged between $14 and $41. This has been raised to a range between $46 and $110 with the higher rate retroactive to March 1, 2020.
Read more from the AMA.
CMS agreed to raise rates for telephone visits so seniors can receive continuous care without leaving their homes during the pandemic.
Previously, payments for audio-only telephone services for Medicare beneficiaries ranged between $14 and $41. This has been raised to a range between $46 and $110 with the higher rate retroactive to March 1, 2020.
Read more from the AMA.
AMA Urges HHS to Continue to Enhance National Strategy for Testing
Content Provided by: American Medical Association
Yesterday, the AMA wrote to Admiral Giroir at HHS to make several recommendations regarding COVID-19 diagnostic and serologic tests. We urge HHS to: (1) pursue a national strategy for testing during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) receive consultation from all sectors of the laboratory community, including hospital, academic, and community laboratories; (3) ensure laboratories are adequately resourced to meet ongoing demand; and (4) provide additional guidance and education to physicians and the public regarding serologic testing.
We also wrote to Acting Administrator Dhillon to thank the DEA for its proposal to reduce the administrative burden for narcotic treatment programs (NTPs) that operate mobile components. Under the new DEA proposal, NTP registrants that operate mobile components will be able to dispense controlled substances without obtaining a separate DEA registration for the mobile component. The AMA welcomes this change and urges the DEA to finalize it soon.
Content Provided by: American Medical Association
Yesterday, the AMA wrote to Admiral Giroir at HHS to make several recommendations regarding COVID-19 diagnostic and serologic tests. We urge HHS to: (1) pursue a national strategy for testing during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) receive consultation from all sectors of the laboratory community, including hospital, academic, and community laboratories; (3) ensure laboratories are adequately resourced to meet ongoing demand; and (4) provide additional guidance and education to physicians and the public regarding serologic testing.
We also wrote to Acting Administrator Dhillon to thank the DEA for its proposal to reduce the administrative burden for narcotic treatment programs (NTPs) that operate mobile components. Under the new DEA proposal, NTP registrants that operate mobile components will be able to dispense controlled substances without obtaining a separate DEA registration for the mobile component. The AMA welcomes this change and urges the DEA to finalize it soon.
In early weeks of pandemic, 15,400 excess deaths were reported in U.S., nearly twice as many as those publicly attributed to COVID-19, data indicate
The Washington Post (4/27, A1, Brown, Tran, Reinhard, Ulmanu) reports, “In the early weeks of the coronavirus epidemic, the United States recorded an estimated 15,400 excess deaths, nearly two times as many as were publicly attributed to [COVID-19] at the time, according to an analysis of federal data conducted for The Washington Post by a research team led by the Yale School of Public Health.” These “excess deaths – the number beyond what would normally be expected for that time of year – occurred during March and through April 4, a time when 8,128 coronavirus deaths were reported.” The recent “analysis suggests that the deaths announced in the weeks leading up to April 4, based on reports from state public health departments, failed to capture the full impact of the pandemic.”
The Washington Post (4/27, A1, Brown, Tran, Reinhard, Ulmanu) reports, “In the early weeks of the coronavirus epidemic, the United States recorded an estimated 15,400 excess deaths, nearly two times as many as were publicly attributed to [COVID-19] at the time, according to an analysis of federal data conducted for The Washington Post by a research team led by the Yale School of Public Health.” These “excess deaths – the number beyond what would normally be expected for that time of year – occurred during March and through April 4, a time when 8,128 coronavirus deaths were reported.” The recent “analysis suggests that the deaths announced in the weeks leading up to April 4, based on reports from state public health departments, failed to capture the full impact of the pandemic.”
HHS Releases Frequently Asked Questions Document on Additional CARES Act Funding
Content Provided by: American Medical Association
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has posted new Frequently Asked Questions regarding the second tranche of disbursement of the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. Please note there is conflicting information about whether a provider who hasn’t previously received money from the first round of funding can apply for this round. The AMA is trying to clarify this and other questions with HHS.
You can view the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund FAQs here.
Content Provided by: American Medical Association
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has posted new Frequently Asked Questions regarding the second tranche of disbursement of the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. Please note there is conflicting information about whether a provider who hasn’t previously received money from the first round of funding can apply for this round. The AMA is trying to clarify this and other questions with HHS.
You can view the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund FAQs here.
Considerations for Resumption of Elective Procedures
As States and communities consider the resumption of elective procedures, there are a number of considerations for medical practices and facilities. The following is a list of some resources that maybe helpful as you address how to safely and efficiently resume performance of elective procedures.
Federal Guidelines on Opening Up America
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service Reopening Facilities to Provide Non-Emergent Healthcare
FDA Webpage on the Availability of Testing
American College of Surgeons Joint Statement on Resuming Elective Procedures
American College of Surgeons Local Resumption of Elective Surgery Guidance
CDC Guidance on Strategies for Optimizing Supply of PPE
As States and communities consider the resumption of elective procedures, there are a number of considerations for medical practices and facilities. The following is a list of some resources that maybe helpful as you address how to safely and efficiently resume performance of elective procedures.
Federal Guidelines on Opening Up America
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service Reopening Facilities to Provide Non-Emergent Healthcare
FDA Webpage on the Availability of Testing
American College of Surgeons Joint Statement on Resuming Elective Procedures
American College of Surgeons Local Resumption of Elective Surgery Guidance
CDC Guidance on Strategies for Optimizing Supply of PPE
Senate OKs $480B More Virus Relief For Small Biz, Hospitals
Content Provided by: Law 360
The nation's political leaders on Tuesday broke a two-week stalemate and reached a nearly half-trillion-dollar deal for an "interim" pandemic relief package that includes another $310 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses, $75 billion for health care and $25 billion to boost testing capacity.
Read the full article here.
Content Provided by: Law 360
The nation's political leaders on Tuesday broke a two-week stalemate and reached a nearly half-trillion-dollar deal for an "interim" pandemic relief package that includes another $310 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses, $75 billion for health care and $25 billion to boost testing capacity.
Read the full article here.
Some hospitals move toward restarting elective surgeries, procedures
The Washington Post (4/20, Sellers, Goldstein, Bernstein) reports, “Some hospitals in communities less affected by coronavirus moved cautiously Monday toward resuming non-emergency surgeries and procedures – a hopeful sign for patients awaiting that care and a medical system badly in need of the revenue those services provide.” Acting on guidance released Sunday night by federal officials, “medical centers with relatively few [COVID-19] patients readied some cancer, heart and other care that has been postponed by a nationwide call to halt such procedures.”
The guidance released by CMS on Sunday evening which is referenced in the article above, can be read here.
The Washington Post (4/20, Sellers, Goldstein, Bernstein) reports, “Some hospitals in communities less affected by coronavirus moved cautiously Monday toward resuming non-emergency surgeries and procedures – a hopeful sign for patients awaiting that care and a medical system badly in need of the revenue those services provide.” Acting on guidance released Sunday night by federal officials, “medical centers with relatively few [COVID-19] patients readied some cancer, heart and other care that has been postponed by a nationwide call to halt such procedures.”
The guidance released by CMS on Sunday evening which is referenced in the article above, can be read here.
FDA authorizes saliva test for COVID-19
The AP (4/13, Perrone) reports Rutgers University researchers “have received U.S. government clearance for the first saliva test to help diagnose COVID-19, a new approach that could help expand testing options and reduce risks of infection for health care workers.” The FDA “authorized the test under its emergency powers to quickly clear new tests and therapies to fight the outbreak.” The university “tested the accuracy of its method by taking both saliva and swab samples from 60 patients” and found “patients’ saliva samples had a 100% match with results from the swabs.” In its authorization letter, the FDA “said the test should only be performed ‘in a health care setting under the supervision of a trained health care provider."
The Hill (4/13, Coleman) reports that with this test, patients “will spit in a tube several times and give it to the health professional for testing, making it less risky for them to get infected, Andrew Brooks, the chief operating officer and director of technology development at the Rutgers’ lab, said in the university’s release.” Brooks said, “Saliva testing will help with the global shortage of swabs for sampling and increase testing of patients, and it will not require health care professionals to be put at risk to collect samples. ... Saliva testing will also be important for people who are in quarantine because they don’t know how long it will be until they are no longer infectious.”
The AP (4/13, Perrone) reports Rutgers University researchers “have received U.S. government clearance for the first saliva test to help diagnose COVID-19, a new approach that could help expand testing options and reduce risks of infection for health care workers.” The FDA “authorized the test under its emergency powers to quickly clear new tests and therapies to fight the outbreak.” The university “tested the accuracy of its method by taking both saliva and swab samples from 60 patients” and found “patients’ saliva samples had a 100% match with results from the swabs.” In its authorization letter, the FDA “said the test should only be performed ‘in a health care setting under the supervision of a trained health care provider."
The Hill (4/13, Coleman) reports that with this test, patients “will spit in a tube several times and give it to the health professional for testing, making it less risky for them to get infected, Andrew Brooks, the chief operating officer and director of technology development at the Rutgers’ lab, said in the university’s release.” Brooks said, “Saliva testing will help with the global shortage of swabs for sampling and increase testing of patients, and it will not require health care professionals to be put at risk to collect samples. ... Saliva testing will also be important for people who are in quarantine because they don’t know how long it will be until they are no longer infectious.”
Private insurers required to provide free COVID-19 antibody tests
Politico (4/11, Ravindranath) reported that the Administration said “it will require health insurers to provide free antibody tests that could provide better insight into the scale of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak.” Congress has “required that all Americans, including people without health insurance, receive free diagnostic tests to determine whether they are sick with coronavirus.” The Administration “said it had authority from recent emergency rescue packages to mandate private insurers also provide antibody testing without out-of-pocket costs.”
Politico (4/11, Ravindranath) reported that the Administration said “it will require health insurers to provide free antibody tests that could provide better insight into the scale of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak.” Congress has “required that all Americans, including people without health insurance, receive free diagnostic tests to determine whether they are sick with coronavirus.” The Administration “said it had authority from recent emergency rescue packages to mandate private insurers also provide antibody testing without out-of-pocket costs.”
Billions Going To Hospitals Based On Medicare Billings, Not COVID-19
Content Provided by: Health News Florida
Probably few hospital systems need the emergency federal grants announced this week to handle the coronavirus crisis as badly as Florida’s Jackson Health does.
Miami, its base of operations, is the worst COVID-19 hot spot in one of the most severely hit states. Even in normal years, the system sometimes barely makes money. At least two of its staff members have died of the virus.
But in a scathing letter to policymakers, system CEO Carlos Migoya said the way Washington has handled the bailout “could jeopardize the very existence” of Jackson, one of the nation’s largest public health systems, and similar hospital groups.
“We are here for you right now,” Migoya, who has tested positive for COVID-19 himself, said in a Thursday letter to Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services. “Please, be here for us right now.”
Migoya and executives at other beleaguered systems are blasting the government’s decision to take a one-size-fits-all approach to distributing the first $30 billion in emergency grants. HHS confirmed Friday it would give hospitals and doctors money according to their historical share of revenue from the Medicare program for seniors — not according to their coronavirus burden.
That method is “woefully insufficient to address the financial challenges facing hospitals at this time, especially those located in ‘hot spot’ areas such as the New York City region,” Kenneth Raske, CEO of the Greater New York Hospital Association, said in a memo to association members.
Read more here.
Content Provided by: Health News Florida
Probably few hospital systems need the emergency federal grants announced this week to handle the coronavirus crisis as badly as Florida’s Jackson Health does.
Miami, its base of operations, is the worst COVID-19 hot spot in one of the most severely hit states. Even in normal years, the system sometimes barely makes money. At least two of its staff members have died of the virus.
But in a scathing letter to policymakers, system CEO Carlos Migoya said the way Washington has handled the bailout “could jeopardize the very existence” of Jackson, one of the nation’s largest public health systems, and similar hospital groups.
“We are here for you right now,” Migoya, who has tested positive for COVID-19 himself, said in a Thursday letter to Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services. “Please, be here for us right now.”
Migoya and executives at other beleaguered systems are blasting the government’s decision to take a one-size-fits-all approach to distributing the first $30 billion in emergency grants. HHS confirmed Friday it would give hospitals and doctors money according to their historical share of revenue from the Medicare program for seniors — not according to their coronavirus burden.
That method is “woefully insufficient to address the financial challenges facing hospitals at this time, especially those located in ‘hot spot’ areas such as the New York City region,” Kenneth Raske, CEO of the Greater New York Hospital Association, said in a memo to association members.
Read more here.
How doctors can keep their families safe after providing COVID-19 care
One of the nation’s most distinguished infection-control experts advises physicians on how to minimize the risk for their loved ones.
The rise in COVID-19 cases creates anxiety among physicians and other health professionals who worry they might carry the virus home to their families. This remains top of mind for many people in the medical field, leaving them wondering: How do I keep my family safe after caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Read more from the AMA.
One of the nation’s most distinguished infection-control experts advises physicians on how to minimize the risk for their loved ones.
The rise in COVID-19 cases creates anxiety among physicians and other health professionals who worry they might carry the virus home to their families. This remains top of mind for many people in the medical field, leaving them wondering: How do I keep my family safe after caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Read more from the AMA.
Lasting Impacts on Health Insurance Market Projected Due to the Coronavirus Crisis
More than seven million Americans expected to lose insurance during coronavirus pandemic, study predicts
Large Hikes in Health Insurance Premiums Projected: Will Self Funded Insurance Plans Become More Attractive as Costs of Covid Crisis Wash Through the Fully Insured Market
More than seven million Americans expected to lose insurance during coronavirus pandemic, study predicts
- Newsweek (4/8, Lemon) reports “more than 7 million Americans are expected to lose their health insurance during the coronavirus pandemic, while more than 1.5 million are already estimated to have lost coverage, according to a new study.” The study authors wrote, “Coverage losses are likely to be steepest in states that have turned down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion. In expansion states, the share of persons who have lost or left a job who lacked coverage was 22.1% versus 8.3% for employed persons – a difference of 13.8 percentage points.” The analysis was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Read more here.
Large Hikes in Health Insurance Premiums Projected: Will Self Funded Insurance Plans Become More Attractive as Costs of Covid Crisis Wash Through the Fully Insured Market
- Over the past year our organizations launched a Self-Funded Captive Health Insurance Program through our partners with FBMC and Danna-Gracey. We have leaned on our partners to track the impact of the crisis on employee health insurance programs to see if evidence emerges to assist our members in dealing with future crisis. We will periodically share information they discover through this forum. Below is an article that discusses projections of 40% increases in premiums due to the crisis unless the government provides assistance to stabilize premiums. Could your business budget for and sustain such an increase in your employee benefits? Will this drive more to consider a captive program or something like it as an essential component of their business plan? Read more here.
CMS Approves Approximately $34 Billion for Providers with the Accelerated/Advance Payment Program for Medicare Providers in One Week
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has delivered near $34 billion in the past week to the healthcare providers on the frontlines battling the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The funds have been provided through the expansion of the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to ensure providers and suppliers have the resources needed to combat the pandemic.
“Healthcare providers are making massive financial sacrifices to care for the influx of coronavirus patients,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “Many are rightly complying with federal recommendations to delay non-essential elective surgeries to preserve capacity and personal protective equipment. They shouldn’t be penalized for doing the right thing. Amid a public health storm of unprecedented fury, these payments are helping providers and suppliers – so critical to defeating this terrible virus – stay afloat.”
Read the full article here.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has delivered near $34 billion in the past week to the healthcare providers on the frontlines battling the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The funds have been provided through the expansion of the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to ensure providers and suppliers have the resources needed to combat the pandemic.
“Healthcare providers are making massive financial sacrifices to care for the influx of coronavirus patients,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “Many are rightly complying with federal recommendations to delay non-essential elective surgeries to preserve capacity and personal protective equipment. They shouldn’t be penalized for doing the right thing. Amid a public health storm of unprecedented fury, these payments are helping providers and suppliers – so critical to defeating this terrible virus – stay afloat.”
Read the full article here.