CMS released a second Interim Final Rule with comment period (IFC) on Thursday, April 30, 2020, titled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs, Basic Health Program, and Exchanges; Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Delay of Certain Reporting Requirements for the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program.” CMS also released additional blanket waivers on April 30 and updated numerous resource documents on the Coronavirus Waivers & Flexibilities webpage.
Included in this round of regulatory updates and flexibilities is the long-awaited announcement that PTs, OTs and SLPs (in private practice) are now eligible providers of telehealth under Medicare Part B for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. In addition, the rule implements the regulatory changes outlined in the CARES Act regarding non-physician practitioners and the home health benefit, and describes new mandatory reporting requirements regarding COVID-19 for long-term care facilities.
For more information, access Casamba’s Summary document.
