Health Care Providers & Privacy

CMS Updates:

• CMS Releases Updated COVID-19 FAQs

• CMS Issues Proposed Rule on “Reasonable and Necessary” Determinations and Immediate National Coverage of Breakthrough Devices

• CMS Extends Timeline for Finalizing Changes to Stark Law Regulations to August 2021

• CMS Final Rule Aims to Update Payment Policies Under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) for Calendar Year 2021

• CMS Directs Additional Resources to Nursing Homes in COVID-19 Hotspot Areas

• CMS Issues Guidance on Providing Mental Health Resources During COVID-19

• CMS Releases Guidance on the Allowance of Telehealth Encounters in eCQMs
  • 2021 Quality Reporting

• CMS Unveils Major Organizational Change to Reduce Provider and Clinician Burden and Improve Patient Outcomes

• CMS Announces Membership of Independent COVID-19 Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes

• Top CMS Administrator Seema Verma Calls for Permanent Expansion of Telehealth Access Following COVID-19

• CMS Issues FAQs for Nursing Home COVID-19 Data Release

• CMS Issues COVID-19 Survey Activities, CARES Act Funding, Enhanced

• Enforcement for Infection Control Deficiencies, and Quality Improvement Activities in Nursing Homes
  

HHS Updates:

• HHS Announces Additional $10B for Hospitals in High-Impact COVID-19 Areas

• HHS Announces Over $4 Billion in Additional Relief Payments to Healthcare Providers Impacted by the Coronavirus Pandemic

• DOL, HHS and Treasury Release Joint FAQs Regarding FFCRA and CARES Act Implementation

• HHS Awards $107.2 Million to Grow and Train Health Workforce

• HHS Issues Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications During COVID-19 Pandemic

• HHS Finalizes Rule on Section 1557 of the ACA Protecting Civil Rights in Healthcare

• HHS Announces Additional Funding for Eligible Providers

• HHS Provides an Additional $250 Million to Help U.S. Health Care Systems Respond to COVID-19

• HHS Announces Nearly $4.9 billion Distribution to Nursing Facilities Impacted by COVID-19

FDA Updates:

• FDA Takes Action to Warn, Protect Consumers Against Dangerous Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol

• FDA Publishes New Web Page for COVID-19 Emergency Use Authorizations for Medical Devices

• FDA Posts Guidance on Adverse Event Reporting for Medical Devices Under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or Discussed in COVID-19-Related Guidance Documents

• FDA Issues Guidance on the Effects of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on Formal Meetings and User Fee Applications

HIPAA Updates:

• HIPAA Covered Entities and Business Associates Need an IT Asset Inventory List

Telehealth Updates:

• Governor Lamont Signs Bill Extending Telehealth Flexibility

• Massachusetts Adopts Permanent Telehealth Policy

General Health Care Updates:

• OCR Issues Guidance on Federal Financial Assistance Recipients’ Compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

• Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Issues Order Temporarily Suspending the Requirements for Licensure, Certification, or Registration for the Duration of the COVID-19 public Health and Civil Preparedness Emergency

• New COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Long Term Care Facilities

• OIG Approves Discount Medical Plan Referral Arrangement
  

• AARP and FBI Warn of COVID-19 Business Email Compromises, Cybercriminals Estimated to Have Stolen Billions during COVID-19

• COVID-19 Executive Orders Affecting Health and Human Services

• Exposure Notification Privacy Act: A Bipartisan Bill Aimed at Regulating COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps

• Trump Administration Unveils Enhanced Enforcement Action Based on Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspection Results

• NIH-Funded Study to Evaluate Drugs Prescribed to Children with COVID-19
  

• Trump Administration Announces Changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D to Provide Better Coverage and Increase Access for Medicare Beneficiaries