At 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023, the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declaration will conclude, more than three years after taking effect in January 2020. The PHE declaration has enabled the U.S. Department of...more
On April 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced that the Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration for COVID‑19 will be renewed for another 90 days, beginning on April 21 (the date the PHE...more
On January 11, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new web portal to more easily permit healthcare providers and other stakeholders to submit requests for specific waivers of certain healthcare...more
On Thursday, January 8, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced that the Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration for COVID‑19 will be renewed for another 90 days, beginning on January 21 (the date the...more
As COVID-19 infection rates continue to rise in areas of the country, telehealth continues to play an important role in the delivery of healthcare, especially to those most vulnerable to the virus. The Public Health...more
On Friday, October 2, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced that the Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration for COVID-19 will be renewed for another 90 days, beginning on October 23 (the date the...more
On August 26, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) released an updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guide for questions related to COVID-19 and the public health emergency (PHE). The guide supplements the...more
Over the past five months, Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have dramatically, but temporarily, expanded coverage and reimbursement for telehealth services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic....more
On August 26, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released extensive COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicare Fee-for-Service Billing and certain provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,...more
Four months after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offered state Medicaid programs a new COVID-19 Section 1115 waiver opportunity, five of at least 20 applying states have received approval of their waiver...more
On Thursday, July 23, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced that the Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration for COVID-19 will be renewed for another 90 days through October 22. This update...more
In an announcement welcomed by many healthcare providers, on July 23, 2020, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced that the COVID-19 public health emergency would be extended 90 days, through October 23,...more
In this installment of the Healthcare Enforcement Roundup we cover new and longstanding issues impacting the healthcare enforcement landscape. First, we explore the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the healthcare...more
The first half of 2020 set the tone for an unprecedented year for the healthcare industries. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare organizations are navigating uncharted compliance waters while continuing to face...more
During a live virtual event yesterday with STAT News, CMS Administrator Seema Verma expressed support for permanently expanding access to telehealth services after the COVID-19 public health emergency resolves. As we...more
INTRODUCTION - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its operating and staff divisions (HHS Divisions) have granted an unprecedented amount of regulatory flexibility to aid health care providers in their...more
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued blanket waivers under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act (Section 1135 waivers) on April 30, 2020. Fast on the heels of a more modest waiver announcement on...more
This content was last updated as of Thursday, April 24 at 12:00 p.m. CST- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues its issuance of Section 1135 waivers, waiving or modifying certain Medicare, Medicaid,...more
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to put a strain on the health care system, federal and state governments and enforcement agencies have relaxed telehealth rules. The relaxation of such rules is an effort to increase...more
On March 13, 2020, pursuant to section 1135(b) of the Social Security Act, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) invoked his authority to waive or modify certain requirements as a...more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues its issuance of Section 1135 waivers, waiving or modifying certain Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) requirements to ensure that...more
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 30, 2020, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued blanket waivers of sanctions under Section 1877 of the Social Security Act (the “Stark Law”). The waivers are...more
On March 30, 2020, CMS issued additional Section 1135 blanket waivers to provide the American healthcare system with additional flexibility to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. CMS is authorized under Section 1135 of the...more
On April 2, 2020, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Community Health announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved Georgia's Section 1135 waiver request. The waivers will...more
Updated Thursday, April 2, 2020- CMS 1135 waivers allow the U.S. Dep’t of Health and Human Services Secretary to temporarily waive or modify certain Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Policy (CHIP), and Health...more