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COVID-19 INSIGHTS & RESOURCES

National Medical has been actively monitoring the impact of COVID-19.
Our team has compiled these resources to guide you through these uncertain times.

RECENT NEWS

  • COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund Alert - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal will reopen for the completion or submission of reporting for Reporting Period 1 from Dec. 13, 2021 at 9:00 am ET through Dec. 20, 2021 at 11:59 pm ET. Medical groups that already submitted a Reporting Period […]
  • CMS CY 2022 OPPS Final Rule - On November 2nd, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released the CY 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems Final Rule. Key provisions of the proposal include the following: Changes to the ASC Covered Procedures List For CY 2022, CMS is reinstating the criteria for adding procedures to the ASC […]
  • PHE Extended Through January 2022 - On October 15th, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officially extended the National Public Health Emergency (PHE) which was set to expire. The declaration will extend the availability of waivers, including the Hospitals Without Walls initiative, and funding that are available under the Public Health Emergency. By statute, the Public Health Emergency can […]
  • PHE Extended Through October 2021 - July 19, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officially extended the National Public Health Emergency (PHE) which was set to expire. The declaration will extend the availability of waivers, including the Hospitals Without Walls initiative, and funding that are available under the Public Health Emergency. Under federal law, an HHS-declared PHE and […]
  • CMS CY 2022 OPPS Proposed Rule - July 20, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released the CY 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems Proposed Rule. Key provisions of the proposal include the following: Proposal to use CY 2019 claims data to set the CY 2022 OPPS and ASC payment rates due to the CY […]
  • Senate Passes Changes to the Paycheck Protection Program for Small Businesses - On Wednesday evening, June 3, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation that seeks to fix the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses under the CARES Act. This new bill, known as the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act, will ease restrictions of the PPP program and is on its way to President Trump’s desk for signing […]
  • Second Round of Regulatory Changes Further Expand Telehealth Services - On April 30th, CMS announced round two of sweeping regulatory changes including further expansion of Telehealth services. Key Telehealth expansions include: Expand providers approved to deliver telehealth services  In addition to doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, now other practitioners are able to provide telehealth services, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists. […]
  • New Regulatory Waivers Issued by Administration and CMS - Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued another round of sweeping regulatory waivers and rule changes to deliver expanded care to the nation’s seniors and provide flexibility to the healthcare system as America reopens. These changes include making it easier for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to get tested for COVID-19 and continuing CMS’s […]
  • Ambulatory Surgery Centers Must Take Action to Obtain Grants Under $20 Billion Provider Relief Fund – HHS Portal Open - A total of $50 billion of the Provider Relief Fund is allocated for general distribution to Medicare facilities and providers impacted by COVID-19. The initial $30 billion was distributed between April 10 and April 17, and the distribution of the remaining $20 billion began Friday, April 24, 2020.   Last week, HHS announced the release […]
  • CMS Suspends Advance Payment Program for Part B Providers - On April 26th, CMS announced that it is suspending its Advance Payment Program for Part B providers effective immediately and will re-evaluate any pending applications. This change comes as a result of the recently passed Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act which allocated an additional $75 billion in funds for providers. This replenishment […]
  • $484 Billion Stimulus Package Signed Into Law - Today, President Trump signed into law a $484 billion stimulus package that that will replenish the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act along with additional provisions for healthcare funding and Covid testing.   This stimulus has allocated an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Small Business Administration which ran […]
  • HHS to Release Additional Funding Beginning April 24th - A total of $50 billion of the Provider Relief Fund is allocated for general distribution to Medicare facilities and providers impacted by COVID-19. The initial $30 billion was distributed between April 10 and April 17, and the remaining $20 billion is being distributed beginning Friday, April 24. On April 24, a portion of providers will […]
  • Senate Unanimously Passes Additional Economic Relief Package - The US Senate passed a $480 billion economic relief package that will replenish the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act along with additional provisions for healthcare funding and Covid testing. In the unanimous voice vote, the Senate has allocated an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Small Business Administration […]
  • White House Releases Phased Re-Opening of the Country- Elective Surgeries May Resume - In the April 16th Covid-19 Task Force press briefing, President Trump along with White House medical advisors announced a phased approach to re-opening the American economy. These guidelines will allow Governors to begin re-opening their individual states after meeting important gate criteria; most significantly a 14 day decline in Covid-19 cases. Phase one of the […]
  • IRS Allows Payroll Tax Deferral for Companies with PPP Loans - As all Americans and, in particular, small business owners continue to understand the evolving CARES Act, the IRS released clarifications regarding the terms of payroll tax deferrals within the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). It was previously believed that taxpayers who were taking a covered loan under the PPP/CARES Act were not eligible for deferral of […]
  • US to Suspend Funding to WHO - President Trump announced that his administration is suspending funding the World Health Organization (WHO) due to concerns related to their handling of the Corona virus Pandemic and perceived favoritism to China, citing lack of proper notice in December of 2019 about the transmission of the Corona virus. The United States produces the most funding for […]
  • The White House Talks Re-Opening of Economy - The White House has announced there are over 20 states that are currently trending appropriately to re-open their economies prior to the May 1st deadline but note that the Federal government will continue to monitor these states. Read More:  https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/coronavirus-government-response-updates-trump-council-reopening-country/story?id=70139021
  • CMS to Provide $30 Billion in Grants through The CARES Act to All Medicare Providers - CMS Administrator Seema Verma announced an additional $30 billion dollars in grant funding for healthcare providers under the CARES Act in the Covid-19 Task Force press briefing on April 7, 2020.   According to Administrator Verma, President Trump has asked CMS to do more to support healthcare providers under the CARES Act $100 billion dollar […]
  • New Medicare Policies that Temporarily Boost Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursement - The CARES Act attempts to alleviate some of the financial strain on hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers through a series of new Medicare policies that temporarily boost Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement and allow for added flexibility. Policy updates include: During the period beginning on May 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2020, […]
  • CARES Act Signed Into Law - President Trump signed into law a historic $2 trillion coronavirus relief package, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act); the biggest fiscal stimulus in US history. Of the many key provisions, this legislation allows for $349 billion in small business relief and additional healthcare provisions for hospitals and providers directly impacted by […]
  • Executive Orders on Elective Surgery - After CMS issued guidance on elective procedures during the Covid-19 crisis, many state Governors began to issue executive orders. These mandates vary by state, but for those addressing elective surgeries, there may be exceptions to postponement. Ambulatory Surgery Centers should monitor their states specific orders and evaluate their planned surgical cases for applicability. Each states […]
  • CMS Issues Section 1135 Waivers to States - As of March 25th, CMS has approved 23 states 1135 Medicaid waivers, giving the state more flexibility with its Medicaid program suspending pre-authorizations and allowing Medicaid beneficiaries to seek care in alternative settings, including settings that are not licensed via Medicaid. These waivers are effective until the official withdrawal of the public emergency. States can […]
  • CMS Approving Section 1135 Medicaid Waivers for States - During the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services press conference in which they announced the approval of blanket waivers, expanding telehealth services to all Medicare beneficiaries, they also called upon private payers to make clear to their beneficiaries what Covid-related services and telehealth options are and are not covered under their plans. Now, many private […]

WEBINARS

CMS Hospitals Without Walls

National Medical Billing Services presents a webinar to provide direct insight on how ambulatory surgery centers can temporarily enroll as hospitals.

VIEW WEBINAR RECORDING

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The CARES Act Q&A With National Medical

Nader Samii, CEO of National Medical Billing Services, and Kylie Kaczor,MSN-RN, CASC, CMPE, CPHRM, ACHE, CPCO, CLSSBB, Senior VicePresident Clinical & Regulatory Affairs, answer questions on The Cares Act and CMS Advance Payments.

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CARES Act QandA Webinar icon@2x

How Your ASC Can Access Significant Cash Under The
Economic Stimulus Program (CARES ACT)

Join Nader Samii, CEO of National Medical Billing Services, and Kylie Kaczor, MSN-RN,
CASC, CMPE, CPHRM, ACHE, CPCO, CLSSBB, Senior Vice President Clinical &
Regulatory Affairs, as they present a webinar to provide you with direct insight on how
ambulatory surgery centers can apply this relief to their business operations.

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How ASC can access cash under CARES webinar@2x

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