Articles and Blogs

Recognizing that hospitals need additional flexibilities and financial stability to combat COVID‑19, CMS published in a second Interim Final Rule enabling hospitals to temporarily relocate excepted off-campus and on-campus provider-based hospital departments without losing the ability to receive payment for hospital outpatient services paid under the outpatient prospective payment system (“OPPS”). Despite this increased... READ MORE

Wednesday, May 6 Recap Note – ​We believe this is the most up-to-date information available at this time, but it is subject to change ​as circumstances warrant. Also, all finalized resources can be found ​on the COVID-19 ​Resource ​Center page ​of Hall Render’s website.​ CMS Releases Interim Final Rule Updating Reporting Requirements in Nursing Homes CMS... READ MORE

Tuesday, May 5 Recap Note – ​We believe this is the most up-to-date information available at this time, but it is subject to change ​as circumstances warrant. Also, all finalized resources can be found ​on the COVID-19 ​Resource ​Center page ​of Hall Render’s website.​ CMS Uploads New Medicare 1135 Waiver Document CMS issued a new document... READ MORE

On April 30, 2020, CMS published guidance in a second Interim Final Rule (“IFR”) addressing regulatory flexibilities available to hospitals to bill for hospital/critical access hospital outpatient therapeutic services on the UB-04 when such services are furnished in a temporary expansion location (including a beneficiary’s home) during the COVID-19 public health emergency (“PHE”). This... READ MORE

COVID-19 has caused substantial volatility in health care systems’ finances. The suspension of elective procedures has drastically reduced provider revenues, while expenses have generally been reduced only slightly. Government relief programs may help offset lost revenues, but for most providers, the net impact is expected to be negative. For health care systems with outstanding... READ MORE

Monday, May 4 Recap Note – ​We believe this is the most up-to-date information available at this time, but it is subject to change ​as circumstances warrant. Also, all finalized resources can be found ​on the COVID-19 ​Resource ​Center page ​of Hall Render’s website.​ From the FDA The FDA authorized the first serology, or antibody, test where the... READ MORE

Friday, May 1 Recap Note – ​We believe this is the most up-to-date information available at this time, but it is subject to change ​as circumstances warrant. Also, all finalized resources can be found ​on the COVID-19 ​Resource ​Center page ​of Hall Render’s website.​ HHS Begins Distribution of Payments to High COVID-19 Admissions Hospitals and Rural... READ MORE

On April 30, 2020, CMS announced new regulatory waivers and rule changes in order to help providers address the COVID-19 public health emergency. The waivers touch on many different areas of health care and contain many significant telehealth provisions. The changes remain consistent with the agency’s pledge to expand beneficiaries’ access to telehealth services.... READ MORE

“Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines.” As shuttered businesses look for avenues of relief from the COVID-19 crisis, they are being told that the business interruption insurance they’ve paid for, often for many years, won’t help. Insurance companies are routinely denying the claims. Many are responding by racing to the courthouse to ask the... READ MORE

Late last week CMS finally released its anticipated drug acquisition cost survey (“Survey”) to collect pricing data for certain directly reimbursable drugs called “Specified Covered Outpatient Drugs” that are subject to significantly reduced Medicare payment when acquired using a 340B Program discount (“SCODs” or “340B Drugs”). All hospitals enrolled in the 340B Program during... READ MORE