- CMS: Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction Model
- CMS: Secretarial Comments on the CBE's (Battelle Memorial Institute) 2024 Activities: Report to Congress and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
- HHS: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Marketplace Integrity and Affordability
- HRSA Announces Action to Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs for Life-Saving Medications at Health Centers Nationwide
- Public Inspection: HHS: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Marketplace Integrity and Affordability
- Increased Risk of Cyber Threats Against Healthcare and Public Health Sector
- Eight Hospitals Selected for First Cohort of Rural Hospital Stabilization Program
- Announcing the 2030 Census Disclosure Avoidance Research Program
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
Concerns Expressed with NTP’s 2019 Monograph
In September 2019, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) released a draft monograph concluding that “fluoride is presumed to be a cognitive neurodevelopmental hazard to humans.” Before finalizing its monograph, NTP asked a committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to review its conclusion and decide whether it is supported by the scientific evidence. In a new report, the Committee finds that NTP’s monograph failed to provide adequate support for its conclusion. The American Fluoridation Society (AFS) released a document reviewing the main points of the Committee’s report.
HRSA Retains Dental Sealant Measure for 2020
The draft dental sealant measure, CMS277, captures the percentage of children age 6-9 years, at moderate to high risk for caries who received a sealant on a first permanent molar during the measurement period. The dental sealant measure will be retained for 2020. Based on feedback received during the public comment period, HRSA will not move forward with adding the fluoride varnish measure (CMS74) for 2020.
Expanded Telehealth Benefits for Medicare Beneficiaries During COVID-19 Outbreak
On March 17, 2020, the Trump Administration today announced expanded Medicare telehealth coverage that will enable beneficiaries to receive a wider range of healthcare services from their doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility. Beginning on March 6, 2020, Medicare—administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)—will temporarily pay clinicians to provide telehealth services for beneficiaries residing across the entire country.
To read the Fact Sheet on this announcement visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet
To read the Frequently Asked Questions on this announcement visit: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-telehealth-frequently-asked-questions-faqs-31720.pdf
This guidance, and earlier CMS actions in response to the COVID-19 virus, are part of the ongoing White House Task Force efforts. To keep up with the important work the Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19 click here www.coronavirus.gov. For information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.
Message from PA Oral Health Coalition about COVID-19
The PA Coalition for Oral Health (PCOH) has releaesd a statement on oral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic:
“As Pennsylvania has been justifiably proactive in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, the PA Coalition for Oral Health supports the state issuing directives to the dental community immediately to initiate ’emergency treatment only’ policies. Stopping the spread of this virus and protecting the health and safety of patients, their family members, and dental professionals is our first priority.”
CDC Update for Rural Communities on the COVID-19 Disease Response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put together a special program for RURAL providers and stakeholders for an update on the COVID-19 response. Registration is required by linking here.
Date: Monday, March 23, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Presenter: Dr. Jay Butler (Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases)
Dr. Butler will share guidance with partners, public health practitioners, healthcare providers, and others working to protect the health of rural communities. He will describe what CDC knows at this point and what CDC is doing in response to this outbreak. We will also have time for questions and answers.
Please email eocevent337@cdc.gov to submit questions in advance and indicate that questions are for the 3/23 call.
This event will be recorded. Questions not answered during it may be sent to ruralhealth@cdc.gov
REGISTER HERE:
zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_etqFB-z0Tjyp-_WGI8jfzw
Need Help with Health Insurance or Benefits in the Midst of the Crisis? PHAN Can Help!
Need help with health insurance or benefits in the midst of the crisis?
Call PHAN’s Helpline at 877-570-3642
The response to COVID-19 is changing rapidly. Many counties in our state are requiring tele-working, closing childcare centers, and more. All K-12 schools are closed, and Governor Wolf recently ordered the closing of all non-essential businesses for the next two weeks.
This means that many Pennsylvania residents will start to worry about things like health insurance, paychecks, utilities, housing, bills, and other things that could affect our families’ health and financial well-being. That’s why PHAN is offering their helpline to make sure folks get connected with appropriate programs:
Call PHAN’S Helpline at 877-570-3642 with questions!
National Rural Health Association Announces Resources
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is here to be responsive to the needs of their members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their commitment is to provide their members with the latest information and resources available to help them provide care for the patients of rural America. Additionally, NRHA’s advocacy team continues to fight to make sure that members have the resources and abilities needed to control and manage this pandemic. NRHA will continue to:
- Provide access to the latest COVID-19 federal information fact sheets, and resources. They have launched a COVID 19 Resource page linked here;
- Continue their advocacy fight with the Administration and Congress to ensure rural providers have the resources needed to both provide patient care and protect their workforce. Here is what NRHA is fighting for (also attached via Connect);
- Provide an open-forum on NRHA Connect to allow real-time discussions of best practices, open concerns and shared information; and
- Be the rural voice. NRHA continues to work with federal leadership, as well as national, state and local media to outline the needs of their members, in this unprecedented time.
NRHA’s online Grassroots Forum has generated quite a bit of feedback on issues relevant theiro you, our members. In summary, the thread included these topics:
- Section 1135 waiver process
- Waiver of the 72-hour rule (does it apply to Swing Beds?)
- Rural Health Clinics (RHC) as an originating site for virtual E&M visits and billing for same?
- Emergency licensure of physicians and other health care professionals to meet workforce needs for a growing demand for services
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) availability, stock outs of essential supplies
National Extension System Provides COVID-19 Resources for Ag Community
Before you share information about COVID19, make sure you are getting your information from reliable sources. For information about the disease, symptoms and resources, the best source is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their website is located at https:// www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.
eXtension is providing the Extension Response to COVID19 and Resources for Extension Professionals Working Online. The purpose of this website is to provide a means through which Extension educators and administrators can share with their Cooperative Extension colleagues various resources and guides about teaching and working virtually, and provide a listing of current institutional responses to COVID-19. The current list of resources is just a beginning; it needs your additional contributions and expertise. Visit their website at https://virtual.extension.org/?utm_source=eXtension%20People%20Directory%20List&utm_campaign=0e60f19b34-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_10_8_2018_16_31_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ce656dc9a5-0e60f19b34-53497099.
Webinar: What Ag Producers Need to Know about COVID19
Coronavirus has gained attention worldwide as an emerging infectious disease. This webinar is intended to share evidence-based information about COVID19 and to help agricultural producers identify strategies for responding on their farm. Thursday, April 2nd at 12:00 PM—1:00 PM CDT. Click HERE to register.
Most Aggressive States Against the Coronavirus – WalletHub Study
With states taking actions such as closing bars and restaurants or banning large gatherings to fight the spread of the coronavirus, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the Most Aggressive States Against the Coronavirus as well as accompanying videos.
To identify which states are taking the largest actions to combat coronavirus, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 35 key metrics. The data set ranges from tested cases of COVID-19 per capita and state legislation on the pandemic to the uninsured population and share of the workforce in affected industries. Below, you can see highlights from WalletHub’s report, along with a Q&A with WalletHub analysts.
|
States with Most Aggressive Measures |
States with Least Aggressive Measures |
| 1. Rhode Island | 42. Indiana |
| 2. Connecticut | 43. Tennessee |
| 3. Maryland | 44. Kansas |
| 4. New York | 45. Hawaii |
| 5. Washington | 46. Missouri |
| 6. Massachusetts | 47. Oklahoma |
| 7. New Jersey | 48. Nevada |
| 8. Minnesota | 49. Texas |
| 9. Vermont | 50. Mississippi |
| 10. District of Columbia | 51. Wyoming |
Note: Rankings reflect data available as of 5 p.m. ET on March 16, 2020.
To view the full report and your state or the District’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/most-aggressive-states-against-coronavirus/72307/
Medicare FFS Response to COVID-19
The HHS Secretary declared a public health emergency, which allows for CMS programmatic waivers based on Section 1135 of the Social Security Act. An MLN Matters Special Edition Article SE20011 on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus is available. Learn about blanket waivers issued by CMS. These waivers prevent gaps in access to care for beneficiaries impacted by the emergency.
See the press release outlining our announcement.