CMS eases regulations for COVID-19 response

Among the actions by CMS is a hospitals without walls concept, where providers can offer services in locations beyond their existing walls to up their capacity and care for COVID-19 patients. Federal requirements say hospitals must provide care within their own buildings, but the temporary rules allow the transfer of patients to inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, hotels and dormitories, and ambulatory service centers. Providers can still receive Medicare hospital payments even if they are taking care of patients at a hotel if they need less intensive care and use its inpatient beds for COVID-19 patients, according to CMS.

Doctor-owned hospitals can also increase their capacity. And ambulances have greater flexibilities and can transport patients to more locations. Medicare will also pay laboratory technicians to travel to and collect specimens for COIVD-19 testing, which reduces the risks of spreading the virus if a person does not travel to a healthcare facility.

Furthermore, healthcare providers can set up testing and screening sites for COVID-19 in other, safer environments, as well as drive-through and off-campus sites.

CMS also aimed to expand the healthcare workforce in its sweeping new rules, issuing a blanket waiver to allow hospitals to give more benefits to their staff. This includes multiple meals, laundry services or child care services. Providers should face an easier enrollment for Medicare, with private practice clinicians being more available as elective procedures are temporarily halted.

Verbal orders are also permitted by hospital doctors rather than written orders. And CMS has waived requirements for a nurse to conduct an onsite visit every two weeks for home health and hospice.

CMS also loosened some paperwork requirements and expanded telehealth benefits and access for people with Medicare. Specifically, the agency added 80 services when conducted via telehealth applicable for reimbursement.