AOTA Shares Important CMS Guidance to Providers about COVID-19

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken action to protect the health and safety of our nation’s patients and providers in the wake of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This includes clear, actionable information on the screening, treatment, and transfer procedures to follow when interacting with patients.

AOTA recommends you review the following CMS actions if you treat Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, many of whom are at high risk for COVID-19:

• Issued COVID-19 FAQs for State Medicaid and CHIP agencies and a press release with further information.
• Issued guidance for hospice and nursing homes to protect staff and vulnerable patients. See hospice guidance, nursing home guidance issued on March 13th, and additional nursing home guidance issued on April 2.
• Supplemented its guidance to Home Health Agencies (HHAs) and dialysis facilities, including Memoranda from FAQs received about interacting with patients amid COVID-19. See HHA guidance and dialysis facility guidance.
• Issued a call to action for hospital emergency departments to screen patients. CMS announced actions to ensure Medicare-participating hospitals continue to implement infection control procedures they are required to maintain under federal regulations. See hospitals with emergency departments guidance.
• Highlighted telehealth benefits in the Medicare program for use by patients and providers. Expanded use of virtual care is an important tool for keeping beneficiaries healthy, while helping to contain the community spread; see the fact sheet (PDF) on coverage and payment related to COVID-19.
• Issued key protective mask guidance for health care workers. Sent a memorandum to State Survey Agencies (SSAs) clarifying the application of policies that expand the types of facemasks health care workers may use in situations involving COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.
• Issued guidance to SSAs suspending non-emergency survey inspections. These FAQs (PDF) ensure surveyors understand the changes in guidance suspending non-emergency survey inspections, allowing them to focus on the most current serious health and safety threats.
• Issued guidance to help Medicare Advantage and Part D plans respond. In the memorandum (PDF), CMS outlines the flexibilities plans have to waive certain requirements.
• Affirmed that Essential Health Benefits (EHB) include coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.

• Workplace, School, and Home Guidance
• A Framework for Mitigation
• Visit the Coronavirus Disease 2019 website for updated information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

AOTA will update resources as they become available.