When a natural disaster, extreme weather or emergency occurs that affects providers and the Medicare beneficiaries that they serve, special emergency-related policies and procedures may be implemented. For detailed information on these policies and procedures, please see the following resources:
- For information when an applicable 1135 waiver
(PDF, 346 KB) has been granted - For information on the Medicare Fee-For-Service Emergency-Related Policies and Procedures (PDF, 469 KB) where no 1135 waivers are required
This section provides information regarding the 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). CMS has developed helpful information regarding the 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) .
Coronavirus-Overview
- CMS Current Emergencies : Coronavirus
- CMS Coronavirus Waiver and Flexibilities
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- USA.gov has the latest information about what the U.S. Government is doing in response to COVID-19
- Read CMS’ Coronavirus Press Releases
- COVID-19 Interim Final Rule FAQs
General Information and Updates
- CMS Coronavirus Waivers and Flexibilities
- CMS Coronavirus Partner Virtual Toolkit
- CMS COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Billing (last update 6/25/2020) (PDF, 934 KB)
COVID-19 Vaccines
- COVID-19 Vaccine Policies & Guidance
- COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit
CMS MLN Connects
- MLN Connects – Thursday, August 27, 2020: COVID-19: Training to Strengthen Nursing Home Infection Control Practices
- MLN Connects – Thursday, August 20, 2020: Routine Provider Inspections Resume
- MLN Connects – Thursday, August 13, 2020: COVID-19: CMS/CDC Nursing Home Training Series Webcast – August 13
- MLN Connects – Thursday, August 6, 2020: Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Listening Session: Register Now
- MLN Connects Special Edition – Tuesday, August 4, 2020: PFS, OPPS, and IRF: FY 2021 Payment Rules
- MLN Connects Special Edition – Friday, July 31, 2020: FY 2021 Medicare Payment Policies for IPFs, SNFs, and Hospices
- MLN Connects Special Edition – Thursday, July 30, 2020: Payment for COVID-19 Counseling, Reporting Hospital Therapeutics, Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs
- MLN Connects – Thursday, July 30, 2020: COVID-19 Impacts on Medicare Beneficiaries – Updated Data
- MLN Connects Special Edition – Thursday, July 23, 2020: COVID-19: New Resources to Protect Nursing Home Residents
- MLN Connects for Thursday, July 23, 2020: Telemedicine Hack: 10-Week Learning Community for Ambulatory Providers
- MLN Connects for Thursday, July 16, 2020: Nursing Homes & COVID: Five Things to Know, Additional Resources, Training
- MLN Connects for Thursday, July 9, 2020: ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes: FY 2021
- MLN Connects Special Edition – Monday July 6, 2020: News
- MLN Connects for Thursday, July 2, 2020: Attend Nursing Home Training Series Webcasts
- MLN Connects Special Edition – Friday, June 26, 2020: News
- MLN Connects for Thursday, June 25, 2020: COVID-19: New Data Details Impacts on Medicare Beneficiaries
- MLN Connects Special Edition – Friday, June 19, 2020: COVID-19: Using the CR Modifier and DR Condition Code
- MLN Connects for Thursday, June 18, 2020: COVID-19 Diagnostic Laboratory Tests: Billing for Clinician Services
- MLN Connects for Thursday, June 11, 2020: COVID-19: Reopening Health Care Facilities
- MLN Connects for Thursday, June 4, 2020: MLN Connects for June 4, 2020
- MLN Connects Special Edition – Monday, June 1, 2020: COVID-19: Using the CR Modifier and DR Condition
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Friday, May 29, 2020: New COVID-19 FAQs on Medicare Fee-for-Service Billing
- MLN Connects for Thursday, May 28, 2020: MLN Connects for May 28, 2020
- MLN Connects for Thursday, May 21, 2020: Join Upcoming COVID-19 Calls
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Friday, May 15, 2020: COVID-19 deadlines, new releases, and important calls
- MLN Connects for Thursday, May 14, 2020: IPPS/LTCH PPS: FY 2021 Proposed Rule
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Tuesday, May 12, 2020: COVID-19: Additional Waivers, Price Transparency, and the CMS
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Friday, May 8, 2020: COVID-19: Nursing Home Reporting, Updated Telehealth Video, Pharmacies & Other Suppliers Can Enroll as Labs, IRF Flexibilities
- MLN Connects for April 30, 2020: COVID-19: Lessons from the Front Lines
- Special Edition MLN Connects – April 27, 2020: COVID-19: CMS Reevaluates Accelerated Payment Program and Suspends Advance Payment Program
- MLN Connects for April 23, 2020: Report Clinical Trial Data to Fight COVID-19 & Earn MIPS Credit
- Special Edition MLN Connects – April 20, 2020: COVID-19: Nursing Home Transparency, Recommendations for Areas with Low Incidence of Disease
- Special Edition MLN Connects – April 17, 2020: COVID-19: RHC & FQHC Flexibilities, Increased Payment for Lab Tests, Hospital Waivers, Call Audio and Transcript
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Wednesday, April 15, 2020: COVID-19: Reprocessing Hospital Claims, Essential Diagnostic Services, Non-Invasive Ventilators
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Friday, April 10, 2020: COVID-19: Infection Control, Maximizing Workforce, Updated Q&A, CS Modifier for Cost-Sharing, Payment Adjustment Suspended
- MLN Connects for Thursday, April 9, 2020: Important COVID-19 Updates
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Tuesday, April 7, 2020: COVID-19: Telehealth Video, Coinsurance and Deductible Waived, ASC Attestations, Ambulance Modifiers, Lessons From Front Lines, MLN Call Today
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Friday, April 3, 2020: COVID-19: Telehealth Billing Correction, Nursing Home Recommendations, Billing for Multi-Function Ventilators, New ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code
- MLN Connects Special Edition – Tuesday, March 31, 2020: COVID-19: Regulatory Changes, Telehealth Billing, and Specimen Collection Codes
- MLN Connects Special Edition – Monday, March 30, 2020: COVID-19: Financial Relief, Nursing Home Telehealth, Quality Reporting, Clinical Laboratories, Hospital Data Sharing
- MLN Connects for Thursday, March 26, 2020: COVID-19: New Targeted Plan for Health Care Facility Inspections
- MLN Connects Special Edition – Thursday, March 26, 2020: COVID-19: Enrollment Relief, Open Payments, Beneficiary Notices
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Monday, March 23, 2020: COVID-19: Relief for Quality Reporting Programs and Provider Enrollment
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Friday, March 20, 2020: COVID-19: Telehealth and Non-Essential Procedures
- MLN Connects for Thursday, March 19, 2020: Medicare FFS Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Tuesday, March 17, 2020: COVID-19: President Trump Expands Telehealth Benefits for Medicare Beneficiaries During COVID-19 Outbreak
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Monday, March 16, 2020: COVID-19: FFS Response and Nursing Home Visitor Guidance
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Friday, March 13, 2020: COVID-19: Test Pricing, Diagnostic Lab Tests, Pricing & Codes, and EHB Coverage
- MLN Connects for Thursday, March 12, 2020: 2019 Novel Coronavirus Guidance
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Monday, March 9, 2020: COVID-19 Response: CMS Issues FAQs to Assist Medicare Providers
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Friday, March 6, 2020: CMS Develops Additional Code for Coronavirus Lab Tests
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Wednesday, March 4, 2020: CMS Announces Actions to Address Spread of Coronavirus
- MLN Connects for Thursday, February 27, 2020: COVID-19 Coding Guidance
- MLN Connects for Thursday, February 20, 2020: Bill Correctly for Medicare Telehealth Services
Home Health and Hospice Guidance
- Credit Balance Reporting Extension Information for Quarter Ending March 31, 2020
- Medical Review Administrative Relief Related to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
- Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) (SE20011 [PDF, 226 KB])
- Medicare IFC: Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (CMS-1744-IFC ) (PDF, 860 KB)
Home Health Guidance
- Home Health Agencies: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19 on the CMS website (PDF, 229 KB)
- Extension of the Auto-Cancellation Date of Requests for Anticipated Payment (RAPs)
- Update to the Home Health Grouper for New Diagnosis Codes for Vaping Related Disorder and COVID-19 (MM11656 [PDF, 150 KB])
Hospice Guidance
- Hospice: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19 on the CMS website (PDF, 217 KB)
- Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by Hospice Agencies on the CMS website (PDF, 159 KB)
Home Health Review Choice Demonstration Guidance
- 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Provider Burden Relief on the CMS website (PDF, 53 KB)
- COVID-19 Questions and Answers
- RCD COVID-19 UTN Clarification
- Review Choice Demonstration for Home Health Services
Finance
- Repayment of Coronavirus Accelerated and Advance Payments
- COVID-19 Accelerated/Advance Payment (AAP) Repayment FAQ
- CMS Reevaluates Accelerated Payment Program and Suspends Advance Payment Program
- Accelerated/Advance Payments Related to COVID-19
- Accelerated/Advance Payment Request Form
- COVID-19 Accelerated/Advance Payment Request
- April 2020 Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (I/OCE) Specifications Version 21.1 (MM11680 [PDF, 178 KB])
Palmetto GBA COVID-19 Education
