CMS Resources for Physician Offices

The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) could mean changes in reimbursement flexibilities related to Medicare telehealth and other types of remote and virtual care. This article explores those potential changes.

The public health emergency (PHE) is expected to end on May 11, 2023. Read the Quality, Safety, & Oversight Memorandum to learn about the expiration of emergency waivers related to minimum health and safety requirements for long-term care and acute and continuing care providers, and timelines for certain regulatory requirements issued during the PHE.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a new overview fact sheet that provides more information about CMS waivers, flexibilities and the transition forward from the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission Long-term Care (LTC) Regulation has published Provider Letter 2023-05, which describes the waivers that are ending, the waivers still in place and the waivers that previously ended in regard to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

A new report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) highlights patients’ experience of Long COVID to better understand its complexities and offers a variety of short-term and longer-term recommendations that come directly from the patient experience.

How can your health care office bill for administering the Novavax booster? Who is eligible to receive the Novavax booster? Read the latest entry in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Medicare Learning Network newsletter for the new CPT codes and list of eligibility.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that people with Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage, private insurance coverage, or no health coverage can get COVID-19 vaccines, including the updated Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, at no cost, for as long as the federal government continues purchasing and distributing these COVID-19 vaccines.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is assessing its response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the health care system is prepared for addressing future emergencies. Visit the CMS website for details of what CMS calls "a cross-cutting initiative" to streamline the process used to reestablish health and safety standards. CMS will identify barriers and opportunities for improvement using a health equity lens.

Read this latest issue of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) MLN Connects newsletter to learn how to bill for the COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy, bebtelovimab, 175 mg, and how much CMS will cover for this product.

View this information in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) MLN Connects newsletter to learn which ICD-10 codes to use for patients who have a current COVID-19 infection or a previous COVID-19 infection. CMS also specifies ICD-10 codes to use for patients experiencing Long COVID-19 symptoms.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued new codes, effective March 29, 2022, for the Moderna vaccine booster and administration.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched a new test-to-treat program to allow anyone who thinks they may have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 to get tested and receive treatment, if appropriate, all in the same location.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that insurance companies and group health plans will be required to cover the cost of over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests beginning Jan. 15, 2022.

Watch and share this video with patients and loved ones who have chronic health conditions to educate them on why getting the COVID-19 vaccine is so important.

Listen to this recording from the week of Aug. 16, 2021, with Russell Kohl, MD, FAAFP, chief medical officer at TMF Health Quality Institute. Dr. Kohl gives an update on what states in the TMF region have experiened with the surge of the delta variant, the status of COVID-19 vaccinations, deaths and a look at vaccination rates among medical personnel in nursing homes.

Listen to this recording from the week of Aug. 16, 2021, with Russell Kohl, MD, FAAFP, chief medical officer at TMF Health Quality Institute, to learn what has changed with the COVID-19 vaccine and why booster shots are now being recommended.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is developing an emergency regulation requiring staff COVID-19 vaccinations within the nation’s more than 15,000 Medicare- and Medicaid-participating nursing homes.

The Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations for both the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to allow for an additional dose in certain immunocompromised people.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, has issued the first Surgeon General's Advisory of this Administration to warn the American public about the urgent threat of health misinformation during the COVID-19 vaccination push.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is increasing the Medicare payment amount for administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Visit the CMS website for more information and to review billing codes.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance removing barriers to COVID-19 diagnostic testing and vaccinations, and strengthening requirements that plans and issuers cover diagnostic testing without cost sharing.

Do you know how to code for administering a COVID-19 vaccine? View this webpage from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for more information.

This PDF provides health care providers valuable COVID-19 vaccine resources and materials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Health care providers can view this webpage from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to learn how to enroll in Medicare to bill for administering COVID-19 vaccines.

This toolkit from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is for providers, states and insurers to help swiftly administer the COVID-19 vaccine, and includes information on enrolling, billing and coding for vaccine administration.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services created this plan to outline its process to prepare for, respond to, and recover from current and future pandemic threats. This plan addresses policy responses related to waivers and flexibilities. It also includes some information specific to rural health care providers, health care facilities and residents.

View this website from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that provides COVID-19 vaccine policies and guidance.

Read this MLN Connects Special Edition newsletter to learn about the PC-ACE software updated health care providers can download in preparation of the release of the vaccine(s) for COVID-19 in order to use the proper codes when administering the vaccines.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released preliminary data on the impact of COVID-19 on the Medicare population. This data was derived from claims between Jan. 1 and May 16, 2020.

View this Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services webpage for resources to assist with managing patient surge due to COVID-19.

This update from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides information on a new COVID-19 Clinical Trials Improvement Activity for eligible clinicians for the Quality Payment Program Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2020 performance period.

Read this letter from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to learn about the COVID-19 Clinical Trials Improvement Activity to the Quality Payment Program.

CMS reevaluates accelerated payment program and suspends advance payment program.

This page holds all Partner Relations Group Podcasts, transcripts and audio recordings. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) makes open door forums and other presentations available as audio podcasts.

This database provides information on privately and publicly funded clinical studies currently being conducted on coronavirus.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing multiple flexibilities for the Quality Payment Program program in response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

CMS Releases Additional Blanket Waivers for Long-Term Care Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Intermediate Care Facilities.

Keep up with the important work the Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19.

Listen to this webinar from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as they answer questions during office hours on April 14, 2020.

See these April 11, 2020, FAQs regarding implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the FFCRA), the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act), and other health coverage issues related to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) official website has the latest resources related to COVID-19. It is updated regularly with clinical and technical announcements for providers and facilities, as well as guidance on billing and codes, coverage, provider enrollment and more.

CMS announced the following blanket waivers are in effect, with a retroactive effective date of March 1, 2020, through the end of the emergency declaration.

Email your COVID-19 questions to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at Covid-19@cms.hhs.gov.

Here are CMS' frequently asked questions (FAQs) on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) billing during COVID-19.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded its current Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to a broader group of Medicare Part A providers and Part B suppliers for the duration of the public health emergency

Listen to this webinar from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as they answer questions during office hours on April 9, 2020.

On April 7, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) experts provided updates on recent actions taken to address the COVID-19 public health emergency.

On April 3, 2020, CMS Administrator Seema Verma, Deborah Birx, MD, White House Coronavirus Task Force, and officials from the FDA, CDC, and FEMA participated in a call on COVID-19 flexibilities.

CMS announced that clinicians can now provide more services to beneficiaries via telehealth so that clinicians can take care of their patients while mitigating the risk of the spread of the virus.

This CMS Medicare Learning Network (MLN) video provides answers to common questions about the Medicare telehealth services benefit.

Read the latest actions the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Read about exceptions and extensions for Quality reporting requirements for acute care hospitals, PPS-exempt cancer hospitals, inpatient psychiatric facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospices, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term care (LTC) hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers (ASC), renal dialysis facilities, and MIPS-eligible clinicians affected by COVID-19.

Here is a list of CMS changes due to COVID-19.

CMS provides guidance to states on how to apply for Section 1135 waivers through the Medicaid Disaster Response Tool Kit.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released new tools to help speed states’ access to emergency flexibilities and resources.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) compiled the best practices and lessons learned that communities have already faced fighting COVID-19

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are issuing new recommendations to state and local governments and long-term care facilities (also known as nursing homes) to help mitigate the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Ensemble Health Partners provides the latest coding updates due to COVID-19.

Here is a list of CMS' new 1135 waivers to respond to COVID-19.

Here is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) list of services payable under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when furnished via telehealt

In order to increase cash flow to providers of services and suppliers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded its current Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to a broader group of Medicare Part A providers and Part B suppliers.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced changes that allow hospitals and health systems to deliver services at other locations to make room for COVID-19 patients needing acute care in their main facility. CMS’s announcement also waives certain requirements to enable and encourage hospitals to hire local physicians and other providers to address potential surges. New rules allow hospitals to support physician practices by transferring critical equipment, including items used for telehealth, as well as providing meals and childcare for their health care workers.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a fact sheet with additional guidance for health care providers and patients about the telehealth benefits in the agency’s Medicare program.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people with Medicare are at higher risk for COVID-19. Here are Medicare's latest resources to keep you up to date.

On March 17, 2020, CMS expanded Medicare telehealth coverage that enables beneficiaries to receive a wider range of health care services from their doctors without having to travel to a health care facility.

CMS prioritized and suspended certain federal and SSA surveys, and delayed revisit surveys, for three weeks beginning March 23, 2020.

Here is a summary of recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) actions taken in response to COVID-19.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a telehealth toolkit for general practitioners.

This page holds all COVID-19 podcasts, transcripts and audio recordings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

On March 18, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that all elective surgeries, non-essential medical, surgical, and dental procedures be delayed during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published this fact sheet.

On March 18, 2020, CMS answered frequently asked questions about catastrophic health coverage and the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) program developed this page to share resources to prevent and treat COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus, as it spreads throughout the United States.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed this toolkit to help you stay informed on CMS and HHS materials available on COVID-19.

This document is intended to assist states in understanding policy options for paying Medicaid providers that use telehealth technology to deliver services.

CMS is authorized to waive certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) program requirements and conditions of participation under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act.

CMS released this memo on May 19, 2020.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the following blanket waivers are in effect, with a retroactive effective date of March 1, 2020, through the end of the emergency declaration.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the following blanket waivers are in effect, with a retroactive effective date of March 1, 2020, through the end of the emergency declaration.

CMS released these frequently asked questions on March 12, 2020.

On March 12, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted frequently asked questions (FAQs) to the Medicaid.gov website to aid state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies in their response to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the following blanket waivers are in effect, with a retroactive effective date of March 1, 2020, through the end of the emergency declaration.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed a second Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code that can be used by laboratories to bill for certain COVID-19 diagnostic tests to help increase testing and track new cases.

CMS calls on all health care providers to activate infection control practices and issues guidance to inspectors as they inspect facilities affected by Coronavirus.