CMS acts quickly on Medicaid waivers

As of March 27,

the CMS had approved Medicaid waivers for 34 states, allowing them to alter requirements and address the COVID-19 pandemic. The states can temporarily suspend their preauthorization requirements and allow Medicaid beneficiaries to seek care in alternative settings, even if the facility isn’t licensed via Medicaid. They can also relax provider enrollment requirements to expedite out-of-state providers’ enrollments and give beneficiaries better access to care. The Section 1135 waivers are effective until the coronavirus public emergency ends.

President Donald Trump

on March 23 signed an executive order prohibiting the hoarding of equipment and supplies necessary to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The administration decided to take action following reports that some people have stocked up on critical equipment and supplies, which can exacerbate shortages.

The president on March 27

ordered General Motors to produce ventilators under the Defense Production Act. The order gives HHS the authority to force GM to "accept, perform, and prioritize federal contracts for ventilators."

The CMS will target infection-control surveys

using a new inspection process developed for the novel coronavirus. Surveyors will focus on “immediate jeopardy” situations that present a pressing danger to patients. The agency will use information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help identify existing and potential hotspots. Nursing homes, hospitals and other providers will also have access to a voluntary self-assessment the CMS created to ensure they’re correctly screening staff members, practicing good hygiene and following other precautions necessary for controlling the spread of COVID-19.

Modern Healthcare is hosting a testing tracker—

ModernHealthcare.com/COVID19TestingTracker—that provides upto-date and accurate information on the regulatory status of assays to detect the COVID-19. It was developed by our sister publication, 360Dx.