Agency Links
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) COVID-19 Homepage
- FAQs on Medicare Fee-for-Service Billing
- FAQs on COVID-19 Testing in Skilled Nursing Facilities
FFIS Publications
June 8, 2020 - Medicare Clawback Update: CY 2020 Savings, CY 2021 Estimates
Agency News and Guidance
January 11, 2021 - CMS Updates Pandemic Plan
CMS redesigned its plan, which provides information on the agency’s pandemic response. Of note, it details utilization of available waivers and flexibilities.
November 23, 2020 - CMS Updates COVID-19 Payment Data for Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments
The data reflect payments made through November 18. To date, CMS has provided $107 billion in loans to Medicare providers.
November 17, 2020 - CMS Releases Nursing Home COVID-19 Training Data
CMS provided a list of nursing at which 50% or more of staff have completed COVID-19 training.
November 13, 2020 - CMS Provides Guidance on Coverage for COVID-19 Antibody Treatment
CMS announced that Medicare beneficiaries can receive treatment with no cost-sharing during the public health emergency. It also notes that Medicaid must cover treatment, without cost sharing, as a condition of the enhanced federal Medicaid match. CMS also issued guidance on administering the antibody treatment.
October 28, 2020 - CMS Releases Interim Final Rule on COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage
The rule establishes that any vaccine, which receives Food and Drug Administration authorization, will be covered under Medicare at no cost to beneficiaries. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) must provide vaccine administration with no cost sharing for most beneficiaries during the public health emergency. Additional information includes a fact sheet, and resources for providers, health plans, and states.
October 28, 2020 - CMS Provides One-Stop Nursing Home Resource Center
The new platform is a centralized hub for the latest information, guidance, and data.
October 19, 2020 - ASPE Report Examines Nursing Home Workforce Challenges
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) report studies the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-standing workforce challenges and identifies new policies that have been implemented in response.
October 16, 2020 - CMS Releases Medicare Survey Data on Forgone Care as a Result of COVID-19
October 15, 2020 - CMS Modifies Medicare Payment to Expedite COVID-19 Test Results
October 14, 2020 - CMS Expands Telehealth During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
CMS expanded the list of services covered by Medicare and provided additional information to help states expand telehealth in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It also released preliminary data on Medicaid and CHIP telehealth utilization.
October 9, 2020 - CMS Notifies States of CY 2021 Medicare Part D Clawbacks
The release covers January to September and includes amounts with and without the temporary 6.2 percentage-point Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) increase.
October 8, 2020 - CMS Announces New Repayment Terms for Medicare Loans to Providers During COVID-19
CMS is delaying repayment until one year after the payment was issued. A fact sheet is available here and FAQs here.
October 6, 2020 - CMS Releases Reporting Guidance on COVID-19 Data Elements for Hospitals
The guidance covers the requirements and enforcement process and is a result of a recent interim final rule.
October 6, 2020 - COVID-19 Healthcare Resilience Working Group Publishes Considerations, Strategies, and Resources for Crisis Standards of Care in Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Facilities
October 5, 2020 - CMS Sends Letters to Residents and State Survey Agency Directors on Nursing Home Residents’ Right to Vote
September 29, 2020 - CMS Updates Document on Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration
September 29, 2020 - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Establishes National Nursing Home COVID Action Network
The network will provide free training and mentorship to nursing homes to increase the implementation of evidence-based infection prevention and safety practices to protect residents and staff.
September 29, 2020 - ASPE Examines the Impact of COVID-19 on Medicare Health Services and Payments
September 29, 2020 - CMS Updates COVID-19 Testing Methodology for Nursing Homes
The changes are intended to address concerns about the previous guidelines in rural areas. CMS also updated FAQs on nursing home visitation considerations.
September 28, 2020 - CMS Releases Guidance on Emergency Preparedness Testing Exercise Requirements During COVID-19
The guidance discusses exemptions during or after an emergency from meeting the revised requirements for emergency preparedness included in a recent final rule.
September 23, 2020 - CMS Urges Action Following Drastic Decline in Care for Children in Medicaid and CHIP
The data reveal that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, rates for vaccinations and primary and preventive services have steeply declined.
September 22, 2020 - CMS Releases Medicare Clawback Rates
The rates are for the October – December 2020 period and reflect the temporary increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP).
September 18, 2020 - CMS Releases Additional Information on COVID-19 Testing in Nursing Facilities
The chart is designed to help states and nursing facilities better understand the sources of Medicare and Medicaid coverage and payment for COVID-19 testing.
September 17, 2020 - CMS Revises Guidance on Nursing Home Visitation
The revisions provide detailed recommendations on ways nursing homes can safely facilitate visitation.
September 17, 2020 - Independent Nursing Home COVID-19 Commission Releases Final Report
The report identifies best practices related to safety and quality in nursing homes.
August 26, 2020 - CMS Posts Guidance for Implementing New Testing Requirements in Nursing Homes and Labs
August 25, 2020 - CMS Releases Interim Final Rule Requiring Nursing Home Testing, New Reporting Requirements for Hospitals and Labs
A summary of the changes are available here.
August 25, 2020 - CMS Launches National Training Program to Strengthen Nursing Home Infection Control Practices
August 17, 2020 - CMS Resumes Medicare and Medicaid Routine Inspections of Providers and Suppliers
The release includes updated enforcement guidance to states and a toolkit to assist nursing homes.
July 30, 2020 - CMS Provides Information to Providers on Reimbursement for COVID-19 Patient Counseling
The release includes a Q&A, a checklist, and talking points. A press release is available here.
July 28, 2020 - CMS Updates Data on COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations of Medicare Beneficiaries
The data cover the period from January 1 to June 20, 2020.
July 28, 2020 - Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) Examines Medicare Beneficiary Use of Telehealth Visits During Pandemic
The data reflect visits up to early June 2020.
July 27, 2020 - HHS Updates Toolkit for States to Mitigate COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
July 22, 2020 - HHS Announces New Nursing Home Initiatives
HHS will provide $5 billion in Provider Relief Funds to Medicare-certified long term care facilities and state veterans’ homes. The announcement also includes enhanced testing and additional technical assistance.
July 15, 2020 - HHS Updates Toolkit for States to Mitigate COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
June 29, 2020 - CMS Updates State Toolkit to Mitigate COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
June 26, 2020 - CMS Posts Revised CY 2020 Medicare Clawback Rates
The revisions reflect the temporary increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). For more details, see FFIS Issue Brief 20-15.
June 24, 2020 - CMS Releases FAQs on Nursing Home Visitation
June 25, 2020 - CMS Plans to End Medicare Emergency Blanket Waiver for Nursing Homes
Nursing homes must resume submitting staffing data by August 14. The letter also provides updates related to staffing and quality measures.
June 23, 2020 - CMS Posts Medicare COVID-19 Data
The snapshot breaks down COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations by state, race/ethnicity, age, gender, dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid, and urban/rural locations.
June 19, 2020 - CMS Releases Guidance on Medicare Coverage of COVID-19 Testing for Nursing Home Residents and Patients
June 19, 2020 -CMS Announces Membership of Independent Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes
June 11, 2020 - CMS Releases FAQs to Clarify Guidance, Flexibilities for Non Long-Term Care Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities
June 11, 2020 - CMS Addresses Nursing Home Residents’ Right to Retain Federal Stimulus Checks
Nursing homes that fail to comply could be subject to federal enforcement actions, including potential termination from participation in Medicare and Medicaid.
June 4, 2020 - CMS Posts Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspections Results
CMS also released a memorandum to state officials on the data.
June 1, 2020 - CMS Updates Toolkit for States to Mitigate COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
June 1, 2020 - CMS Unveils Enhanced Enforcement Actions for Nursing Homes
The announcement includes new accountability measures based on recent data. It notes that the additional $80 million included in the CARES Act for states to increase surveys will be allocated using performance-based metrics and allocations could be reduced if surveys aren’t performed by certain deadlines.
May 18, 2020 - CMS Issues Guidance to States on Reopening Nursing Homes
May 13, 2020 - CMS Issues Nursing Homes Best Practices Toolkit to Combat COVID-19
May 6, 2020 - CMS Releases Guidance and FAQs on New COVID-19 Reporting Requirements for Nursing Homes and Long-term Care Facilities
April 30, 2020 - CMS Releases Details on CARES Act Financial Guidance to State Survey Agencies
Of the $100 million appropriated in the CARES Act, CMS expects to provide states with $81 million for spending through September 30, 2023.
April 30, 2020 - CMS Updates Quality Payment Program Flexibility Guide
April 24, 2020 - CMS Reevaluates Accelerated Payment Program and Suspends Advance Payment Program
April 24, 2020 - CMS Releases Nursing Home Rating System Updates, Staff Counts, and FAQs
April 21, 2020 - CMS Allows Independent Freestanding Emergency Departments to Provide Care to Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries During COVID-10
April 21, 2020 - CMS Releases Updated Guidance for Plan Issuers on Prior Authorization, CARES Act Implementation
April 15, 2020 - Medicare Increases Payment for High-Production COVID-19 Lab Tests
April 15, 2020 - CMS Implements CARES Act Hospital Payment and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Waivers
April 14, 2020 - CMS Posts FAQs on Programs of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly (PACE)
April 14, 2020 - CMS Providers Additional Information on Long-Term Care Facility Transfer Scenarios
April 6, 2020 - CMS Publishes Interim Final Rule on Medicare Provider Flexibility
The interim final rule modifies payment rules and makes programmatic changes during the public health emergency.
April 3, 2020 - CMS Provides Guidance on Temporarily Enrolling Ambulatory Surgical Centers as Hospitals
April 3, 2020 - CMS Releases Video on Medicare Telehealth FAQs
April 2, 2020 - CMS Provides COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Guidance
The guidance includes recommendations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
March 30, 2020 - CMS Announces Several Regulatory Changes for Healthcare System to Address Patient Surge
March 30, 2020 - CMS Will Make Up-Front Medicare Reimbursements to Providers, Expedite Payments
March 27, 2020 - CMS Releases Telehealth Toolkits for Nursing Homes
March 27, 2020 - CMS Provides Additional Guidance Regarding Flexibility for Deadlines and Exceptions for Medicare Quality Reporting Programs
March 23, 2020 - CMS Releases Telehealth Toolkits for General Practitioners and End-Stage Renal Disease Providers
March 23, 2020 - CMS Updates Nursing Home Guidance
CMS provided details to State Survey Agency Directors on a new inspection process that focuses only on complaint inspections, targeted control inspections, and self-assessments.
March 23, 2020 - CMS Releases Medicare Provider Enrollment Relief FAQs
March 22, 2020 - CMS Provides Flexibility for Deadlines and Exceptions for Medicare Quality Reporting Programs
March 17, 2020 - CMS Expands Telehealth Access
CMS expanded Medicare coverage for telehealth visits, the Office for Civil Rights announced it will waive potential Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act penalties for good-faith use of telehealth during the emergency, and the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) provided flexibility to reduce or waive cost-sharing.
March 17, 2020 - CMS Sends Guidance to PACE Organizations
The guidance provides information on policies and standard procedures for PACE organizations.
March 10, 2020 - CMS Suspends Non-Emergency State Survey Inspections
March 9, 2020 - CMS Releases Fact Sheet on Telehealth Benefits
CMS provided additional guidance for health care providers and patients about Medicare telehealth benefits during the coronavirus outbreak.
March 9, 2020 - CMS Releases Guidance on Coronavirus Testing
The memorandum provides guidance on patient screening, treatment, and transfer requirements to hospitals with emergency departments. A fact sheet is available here.
March 5, 2020 - CMS Releases Fact Sheet on Medicare Coverage and Benefits Related to Coronavirus
Updated February 4, 2021