State Health and Value Strategies (SHVS), in partnership with Manatt Health, Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR), State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC), Bailit Health, and GMMB developed this resource page to serve as an accessible “one-stop” source of COVID-19 information for states. This resource is designed to support states seeking to make coverage and essential services available to all of their residents, especially high risk and vulnerable people, during the COVID-19 pandemic. SHVS will update this page frequently with new resources as they become available.
| If you have materials you are willing to share with other states through this page, or if there are topics of particular concern that you would like addressed, please contact SHVS. |
HHS issued a press release detailing recent national trends in COVID-19 testing, indicating that more than 59 million COVID-19 tests have been conducted nationally to-date. In the prior week, over 810,000 tests have been completed per day on average with 56% of tests completed within three days, compared to 45% of lab tests that were completed within three days in July.
CMS and CDC announced that payment is available to physicians and health care providers to counsel patients, at the time of COVID-19 testing, about the importance of self-isolation after they are tested and prior to the onset of symptoms. CMS will use existing evaluation and management (E&M) payment codes to reimburse providers who are eligible to bill CMS for counseling services (regardless of where the test is administered). The agencies also issued:-Provider FAQs, which clarify that payment is available for both Medicare- and Medicaid-enrolled patients, and include instructions for billing E&M visits for Original Medicare patients. -A provider checklist and talking points document about providing counseling to patients with a focus on discussing isolation protocols, encouraging their household to get tested for COVID-19, reviewing the signs and symptoms, and conveying services available to them to aid in isolating at home. -Consumer-facing guidance for patients awaiting COVID-19 test results and for patients that test positive.
The Departments of Health & Human Services, Labor, and Treasury (collectively, the “tri-agencies”) published guidance on April 11 in attempt to clarify some of the testing coverage requirements under FFCRA and the CARES Act. However, as calls have increased for more widespread and frequent testing, particularly of at-risk populations such as health care workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, and people potentially exposed at protests or rallies, insurers have questioned their responsibility to cover all testing in all circumstances.On June 23, the tri-agencies published new guidance that attempts to answer implementation questions from states, plans, and insurers, including the definition of “medically necessary”, surveillance or workplace related testing, coverage of hospital “facility fees”, and protections against provider balance billing.
The DOE, HHS, and VA jointly announced the formation of the COVID-19 Insights Partnership, an initiative to coordinate and share health data to support research and analysis on COVID-19. Specific focus areas of the initiative include the evaluation of vaccine and therapeutics candidates for COVID-19, outcomes data, and virology. HHS and VA will provide additional updates and information on research projects as they become available.
This expert perspective provides a survey of actions that state and local governments have taken to intentionally incorporate equity into their recovery and reopening policies.
This analysis highlights some of the innovative policy changes of states to support children and families during the pandemic.
DC requested public comment on its proposal to collect additional data for the residential care community (RCC) and adult day services center survey components of the National Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Study (NPALS). Specifically, the proposal calls for adding supplemental questions related to: – COVID-19 case incidence among service uses and staff- Hospitalizations and mortality data- Availability of PPE – Shortages of COVID-19 testing- Use of telemedicine/telehealth- Restrictions on visitation policies – General infection control policies and practicesThe proposal will be published on the Federal Register on July 28 and public comment will be open until August 26.
This analysis includes several key considerations intended to help state policymakers identify and overcome common barriers associated with integrating and operationalizing CHWs in Medicaid and other state health programs
Considering both the public health crisis and future patient needs, Families USA has assembled state policy recommendations around three themes: 1) improving telehealth financing and implementation models to increase reach; 2) removing provider barriers to increase access to telehealth; and, 3) bridging the digital divide to improve patient access to telehealth services.
This post presents a framework for understanding health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as provide short-term and long-term solutions to reduce these disparities.
CMS announced an additional $5 billion in Provider Relief Fund payments for Medicare-certified long term care facilities and state veterans’ homes (“nursing homes”). Nursing homes must participate in CMS’ Nursing Home COVID-19 Training to be qualified to receive this funding. The training will focus on infection control and best practices and will be available online. CMS also announced it will begin requiring that all nursing homes in states with a 5% positivity rate or greater test all nursing home staff each week. The press release further indicated that federal Task Force Strike Teams have been deployed to provide onsite technical assistance and education to nursing homes experiencing increases in COVID-19 cases among residents. The first deployments took place in 18 nursing homes in Illinois, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas between July 18 and July 20. The White House and CMS will begin releasing a list of nursing homes with an increase in cases that will be made available to states each week.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense (DoD) announced an agreement with U.S.-based Pfizer Inc. for large-scale production and nationwide delivery of 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States following the vaccine’s successful manufacture and approval. The agreement also allows the U.S. government to acquire an additional 500 million doses.
While efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have been difficult in all environments, the conditions for those working in agricultural production raise additional challenges. Migrant and seasonal farmworkers, many of whom travel as crops ripen throughout the spring and summer, live and work under conditions that even before COVID-19 posed risks to their safety and wellbeing. This expert perspective examines approaches to addressing the particular risks of COVID-19 faced by farmworkers, provides a survey of state and local policies and outlines some key themes and recommendations for policymakers as they work to support agricultural workers and stem the spread of COVID-19.
HHS announced a one-time, large-scale procurement of rapid point-of-care diagnostic test instruments and tests to be distributed to nursing homes in COVID-19 hotspots to facilitate on-site testing of nursing home residents and staff. HHS conveyed the distribution will begin the week of July 20 and nursing homes can procure additional tests directly from manufacturers after the initial distribution. HHS further indicated that nursing homes must have the capability to test residents and staff on a weekly basis or according to specific guidance by the state and local health departments.
HHS released May and June COVID-19 testing plans submitted by states, territories, and localities that received COVID-19 testing funding via the CDC Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) cooperative agreement, including the $10.25 billion in Stimulus “3.5” funding distributed specifically for testing purposes. Notably, complete 2020 testing plans, which include states’ testing plans through the end of the year, are due to CDC today, July 10. HHS published updated instructions for completion of these testing plans, noting that a group of experts from the CDC and HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) reviewed the initially-submitted testing plans and provided feedback to states.HHS released May and June COVID-19 testing plans submitted by states, territories, and localities that received COVID-19 testing funding via the CDC Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) cooperative agreement, including the $10.25 billion in Stimulus “3.5” funding distributed specifically for testing purposes. Notably, complete 2020 testing plans, which include states’ testing plans through the end of the year, are due to CDC today, July 10. HHS published updated instructions for completion of these testing plans, noting that a group of experts from the CDC and HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) reviewed the initially-submitted testing plans and provided feedback to states.%MCEPASTEBIN%
HHS announced free COVID-19 testing in select COVID-19 hotspots—Jacksonville, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Edinburg, Texas. Temporary surge testing sites will be set up beginning on July 7 and offer 5,000 tests per day in each of these communities by July 19. Testing will be available to all individuals five years and older regardless if symptoms are present or if individuals are residents of the communities.
Policy makers can help ameliorate disparities by mandating standardized case and fatality reporting requirements and directing public health agencies to investigate why particular populations, including Asian Americans, face a seemingly heightened risk of death from COVID-19.
HHS and DoD jointly announced: – A $1.6 billion agreement with Novavax to demonstrate commercial-scale manufacturing of the company’s COVID-19 investigational vaccine, NVX-CoV2373. The agreement expands upon a June agreement for Novavax to provide 10 million doses for use in Phase 2/3 clinical trials. The July 7 agreement is expected to provide the federal government with 100 million doses of the investigational vaccine.- A $450 million agreement with Regeneron to demonstrate commercial-scale manufacturing of the company’s investigational therapeutic treatment, REGN-COV2. The agreement is expected to produce between 70,000 and 300,000 treatment doses expected by fall. Clinical trials for the investigational therapeutic are currently underway.
Health system leaders and policy makers should take the lead in addressing alarming disparities in COVID-19 deaths.
HHS announced it is extending through August 2020 its partnership with CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, Quest (through services at Walmart) and eTrueNorth (through services at Kroger, Health Mart, and Walmart) as part of the Community-Based Testing Program. The contract utilizes a federal bundled payment program paid directly to retailers that receive a flat fee for each test administered. To participate in the program, partners must ensure the availability of online and telephone registration and appointment scheduling; provide order and notification of result; on-site personnel and security; medical supplies and equipment; and lab testing (on-site or commercial lab) capabilities. This partnership accounts for 600 COVID-19 testing sites in 48 states and the District of Columbia. HHS has also made available an online tool, “Community-Based Testing Sites for COVID-19” (in Column K), for users to search for community-based testing sites in their community.
CDC issued a new and updated list of people at risk of severe COVID-19 illness. CDC has removed its previous age threshold, indicating that those 65 years and older are at elevated risk, to indicate that risk increases steadily with age and elevated risk is not specific to those 65 years and older. CDC also updated its list of conditions that may contribute to elevated risk of severe COVID-19 illness, including:- Chronic kidney disease- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)- Obesity (BMI of 30 or higher)- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant- Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies- Sickle cell disease- Type 2 diabetes
CMS issued dozens of new COVID-19 FAQs for state Medicaid/CHIP agencies addressing questions related to a range of topics (e.g., Presumptive Eligibility, premiums and cost sharing, optional COVID-19 testing group and coding guidance)
The Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) are partnering with CVS Health to offer COVID-19 testing services to skilled nursing facilities statewide, free of charge.
This memo provides a summary of policy approaches to address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color.
The Health Opportunity and Equity (HOPE) Initiative, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, provides an interactive data tool to help the nation and states to move beyond measuring disparities to spur action toward health equity.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced two co-chairs and appointed members to the Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force and several subcommittees.
CMS issued FAQs for clinical labs and other stakeholders regarding conducting surveillance testing using a pooled sampling procedure with non-patient specific reporting. The FAQs clarify:- The circumstances in which facilities must receive a CLIA certificate to perform surveillance testing using a pooled sampling procedure- The risks and considerations of using pooled sampling procedures- CMS does not have oversight authority to ensure quality and safety of result reporting in testing facilities without CLIA certification
CDC released consolidated and updated recommendations for COVID-19 testing, including the following: Updated testing guidelines for nursing homes regarding testing of residents and healthcare personnelGuidance for high-density critical infrastructure workplaces after a COVID-19 case is identified
EEOC updated their technical assistance questions and answers, prohibiting employers from requiring COVID-19 antibody testing before allowing employees to return to the workplace. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), antibody testing constitutes a medical examination; citing the CDC guidance that antibody testing “should not be used to make decisions about returning persons to the workplace,” the EEOC explains antibody testing does not meet the ADA’s “job related and consistent with business necessity” standard for medical examinations or inquiries for current employees. Viral tests, however, are permissible under the ADA.
HHS issued a fact sheet reiterating the composition and objectives of Operation Warp Speed (OWS), a private-public partnership between CDC, FDA, NIH, BARDA, DoD, and private firms to deliver 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021. The fact sheet also provides updates on OWS activities and investments to develop the manufacturing and distribution capacity necessary for accomplishing its objectives. The CARES Act appropriated $10 billion for OWS, including over $6.5 billion for vaccine development through BARDA and $3 billion for NIH research.
CMS hosted an all-state call on June 16th that reviewed key dates for termination of COVID-19 flexibilities and clarified issues related to retaining Meidcaid state plan flexibilities adopted during the public helath emergency once the emergency ends.
HRSA’s Health Center Program released updated COVID-19 FAQs for health centers. The updated FAQs include guidance:• Reminding health centers of their responsibility to seek reimbursement for their costs from third-party payors , and apply their sliding fee discount programs. Third-party payors may have cost-sharing which allows health centers to charge patients for co-payments or coinsurance;• Clarifying that health centers are permitted to request reimbursement through the HRSA COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement for Testing and Treatment of the Uninsured Program but are prohibited from “balance billing” patients for any cost-sharing payments if they do so;• Noting the expectations for health centers to develop and maintain an emergency preparedness communication plan as well as annual training and testing programs.
The Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) issued guidance to sponsors of non-federal governmental plans clarifying the following policies:- Requirement to cover COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing and Certain Related Items and Services without Cost Sharing or Medical Management. T- Temporary Period of Relaxed Enforcement of Certain Timeframes Related to Group Market Requirements under the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act).- Expanding and Promoting Access to Telehealth Options and Prescription Drugs during the COVID-19 Outbreak.
HHS launched a COVID-19 testing website that collates testing background information, HHS guidance related to the availability of COVID-19 tests (e.g., emergency use authorizations), guidance for providers and public health providers about who should be tested for COVID-19 (issued by CDC), and other guidance.
The White House issued an addendum to its Testing Blueprint, outlining a prioritization approach for COVID-19 diagnostic and surveillance testing. The guidance includes the following “areas of focus”:1) Diagnosing active infection in individuals. 2) Using testing for proactive surveillance. 3) Developing innovative approaches to support the reopening of colleges and universities
The short-term bump in federal funding granted to states are welcome fiscal relief, but as the depth of the economic crisis becomes clearer, so does the need for additional and more-targeted support.
The CARES Act requires that every lab that performs or analyzes a COVID-19 test report the results from each test to the Secretary of HHS. On June 4, HHS issued guidance and FAQs clarifying these requirements.
The New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub addresses privacy concerns around contact tracing, including around public charge, in their FAQ page.
In an effort to address health disparities, the Governor of North Carolina signed an executive order directing resources to historically underutilized businesses, ensuring equitable distribution of pandemic relief funds, and supporting mass testing of migrant farm workers and food processing plant workers.
The Governor of New Jersey signed legislation requiring hospitals to report demographic data to the Department of Health, including age, ethnicity, gender, and race of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19, who have died from COVID-19, and who have tried to get testing but have been turned away.
In his vision to restart the state economy, Governor Murphy outlined six key principles to guide the process for restoring New Jersey’s economic health by ensuring public health, which included creating the Governor’s Restart and Recovery Commission to advise on the process and recommend responsible and equitable decisions.
Based on recommendations of the Health Disparity Task Force, Governor Tom Wolf announced the state is now collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data as part of the state’s COVID-19 data collection effort.
The Ohio Department of Health created a new position that will build on existing efforts to respond to health inequity by working directly with local communities on their specific long-term health needs and Ohio’s response to COVID-19.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced $10 million in funding for health care providers serving the state’s most underserved populations, including rural health clinics, tribal health clinics, community health centers, and free and low cost clinics.
The city of Los Angeles’ reopening plan incorporates testing rates by poverty levels and race/ethnicity into its Effectiveness Indicators, which guide future decisions about loosening or tightening social distancing restrictions.
The city of Chicago’s reopening plan monitors cases over time by zip code, age, sex, race, and ethnicity to determine movement into different phases.
The city of New York hired over 1,700 contact tracers to join their Test & Trace Corp, with 700 of the new hires being from the neighborhoods that have been the hardest hit by COVID-19.
In a letter to the state’s Patient Protection Commission, the Governor of Nevada requested that the Commission develop long-term policy recommendations that address COVID-19 and broader health equity concerns.
In addition to helping New Yorkers safely separate, the city will also support those who are separating at home by designating Resource Navigators, who work with community-based organizations across the city, to help New Yorkers overcome logistical issues such as accessing medicine or clean laundry.
The state of Rhode Island submitted a waiver to CMS to use Medicaid funds to provide food, housing, and mobile phone minutes for people who are housing insecure.
West Virginia is increasing COVID-19 testing access for marginalized populations and those in medically underserved counties, making testing free and available to all residents in the targeted localities.
The state of Virginia is partnering with the City of Richmond to expand access to personal protective equipment in underserved communities.
The Virginia Department of Health and the Health Equity Task Force partnered with a local media outlet to provide information about the next phases of the recovery process and its implications for health equity.
To contain the spread of COVID-19, states are rapidly ramping up their contact tracing efforts.
FDA approved three emergency use authorizations (EUAs) including two for antibody test kits and one for a serology test.
HRSA issued updated FAQs about claims reimbursement for COVID-19 care for the uninsured, indicating that: • Providers are not required to confirm immigration of status for any uninsured patients• Providers may submit claims for the balance not covered by a hospital charity care program• Providers may submit claims for testing performed by a lab with which the provider has a client bill arrangement provided that the provider pays the lab under their billing arrangement• Claims for certain screening activities conducted via telehealth may be submitted for reimbursement
Ohio’s Minority Health Strike Force recommended the hiring of public health workers who reflect the makeup of their own community to expand exposure notification capacity.
The state of New York is expanding access to testing for communities of color and low-income neighborhoods by establishing an initial 24 testing sites at churches in predominantly minority communities in downstate New York.
HRSA awarded $15 million to 52 Tribes, Tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, and other health services providers to Tribes across 20 states. HRSA made these CARES Act awards in response to applications submitted through the Rural Tribal COVID-19 Response (RTCR) program. Applicants could request up to $300,000 in funding and were assessed based on their needs and capacity to implement COVID-19 related activities in their rural communities
Recommendations developed by the Connecticut Health Foundation aimed at ensuring the state’s COVID-19 response reaches those who are most at risk.
This report outlines three guiding principles for state policymakers in their equity efforts.
Medicaid agencies can leverage existing and new authorities, enabled through recent COVID-19 federal regulatory flexibilities, to develop a broad plan for addressing disparities in the near-and long-term.
The Washington State Department of Health’s reopening plan relies on distinct data-driven categories to determine the state’s readiness for safely reopening.
This brief describes health equity principles for states as they design and implement their responses.
This resource highlights solutions to ensure more equitable enforcement of public health laws.
Synopsis from GAO on the development of COVID-19 vaccine, including how the typical vaccine development process may be accelerated due to the severity of the COVID-19 crisis.
The state of Virginia has formed a Health Equity Work Group that is intentionally embedded into the state’s Uniform Command center addressing COVID-19. Both the Work Group and the Taskforce meet on a regular basis and work to apply a health equity lens to each phase of the state’s response, ranging from preparedness to mitigation to recovery.
HHS submitted its initial report to Congress detailing the national approach to testing and the testing ecosystem. The report includes key components of a state’s testing plan and actual and recommended targets for states’ and territories’ COVID-19 test rates. HHS is required to submit this report to Congress every 90 days until funds are expended.
This analysis examines the interplay between the Provider Relief Funds and its impact on balance/surprise billing.
New York’s Department of Health issued a directive determining that COVID-19 testing of nursing home and adult care facility personnel is medically necessary and twice weekly testing is essential. The health directive was accompanied by a concurrent New York Department of Financial Services directive to insurers requiring coverage of twice weekly testing of all nursing home and adult facility personnel without cost sharing.
This Health Affairs blog post highlights states’ policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their proactive approaches to addressing a wide range of health concerns.
New York’s Department of Financial Services released a directive to insurers requiring coverage of twice weekly testing of all nursing home and adult facility personnel without cost sharing. The directive applies broadly to insuers, including Medicaid and Marketplace plans. The insurance directive was accompanied by a concurrent New York’s Department of Health directive determining that COVID-19 testing of nursing home and adult care facility personnel is medically necessary and twice weekly testing is essential.
CARES Act Provider Relief Fund General Distribution FAQs
CDC issued a compilation of guidance on its COVID-19 surveillance activities and a framework of indicators for state and local jurisdictions to assess the feasibility of re-opening
IHS announced its allocations of the $750 million Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for Tribal Organizations authorized through the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.
On May 18, the CDC announced $10.25 billion in awards for states, localities, and territories to spend on: the development, purchase, administration, processing, and analysis of COVID-19 tests; surveillance; contact tracing; and related activities. States are required to submit COVID-19 testing projections for May and June 2020 to the CDC by May 30, 2020 and projections for July through December 2020 by June 15, 2020
The guidance document outlines COVID-19 emergency declaration “blanket waivers” for healthcare providers and is regularly updated by CMS. Recent updates include: – Revising the existing “”physical environment”” waivers for hospitals to support activities related to both surge capacity and appropriate quarantining and to clarify that it does not modify hospitals’ obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), to “avoid subjecting persons with disabilities to unjustified institutionalization or segregation
HHS announced that the Indian Health Service (IHS) will administer the $750 million allocation for Tribal organizations of the $11 billion authorized by the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (PPPHCEA) for Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for COVID-19 testing and tracing. HHS conveyed that a more detailed announcement for this funding opportunity is expected in the coming days.The remaining $10.25 billion will be administered by the CDC as part of the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Cooperative Agreement for states, localities, and territories to spend on COVID-19 testing and tracing.
HRSA announced $225 million in awards to 4,549 Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) for COVID-19 testing, as authorized through the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. Each RHC received a flat amount of just under $50,000, which may be used for a wide range COVID-19 testing and related expenses.
Price Transparency: Requirements for Providers to Make Public Cash Prices for COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing
CMS issued an interim final rule with comment period (IFC) that provides additional flexibilities for Medicare, Medicaid, and Exchange coverage programs as a result of COVID-19 and also implements regulations in response to recently enacted stimulus legislation.
In April, the state of Ohio formed the Minority Health Strike Force, which is tasked with responding to the disproportionate impact of the Coronavirus on African Americans. The state is now focused on implementing recommendations from the Strike Force.
The Pathways to Coverage for COVID-19 Testing and Treatment for Adults toolkit provides an overview for states of various coverage pathways for individuals, including those who are uninsured, in need of COVID-19 testing and treatment. The toolkit provides varying pathways for Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states.
CMS issued an interim final rule with comment period (IFC) that provides additional flexibilities for Medicare, Medicaid, Basic Health Program, and Exchange coverage programs as a result of COVID-19 and also implements regulations in response to recently enacted stimulus legislation. The IFC is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on May 8. Public comments will be accepted for 60 days following posting to the Federal Register.
HRSA awarded nearly $583 million to 1,385 HRSA-funded health centers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and eight U.S. territories to expand COVID-19 testing.
The Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network (SIREN) at the University of California San Francisco, is a research organization focused on the intersection of medical and social services. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, SIREN has developed a resource center of sites aggregating data about health equity, policy, and social risk related to the coronavirus and related financial crisis.
Webinar recording and slide deck from webinar hosted on March 18, 2020.
HRSA announced an upcoming funding opportunity to make $15 million in awards available to tribal organizations. The funding opportunity announcement is expected on 4/21/2020 and the estimated application due date is 5/12/2020.
On Thursday, April 16 State Health and Value Strategies hosted a webinar, Implications of Health Care Provisions for States in the CARES Act, on the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law on March 27. The CARES Act contains a number of health care related provisions and federal funding sources to support states as they continue to work tirelessly to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. During the webinar experts from Manatt Health and Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms highlighted funding opportunities and conducted a deep dive on key provisions relevant to states included in the CARES Act.
Webinar slides and recording that explores the key health care provisions in the second COVID-19 stimulus bill.
New joint guidance from the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury that addresses questions on the Families First and CARES Acts requirements on coverage of COVID-19 related testing services, including, for example, the requirement to cover (without cost sharing) diagnostic tests to rule out other conditions such as influenza.
Federal Guidance on the Families First and CARES Act Legislation
CMCS issued new Medicaid FAQs regarding the new optional COVID-19 testing Medicaid eligibility group, benefits and cost-sharing for COVID-19-related testing and diagnostic services, the increased FMAP available under Section 6008 of the FFCRA, and other FAQs
This expert perspective, written by experts at Manatt Health, discusses strategies state Medicaid and CHIP agencies can pursue as part of their response to COVID-19.
CMS releases an FAQ in support of communicating key changes outlined in the Medicare Interim Final Rule issued on 3/31/2020. Topics in the FAQ include payment for specimen collection, hospital services, ambulance services, RHCs, FQHCs, telehealth, and physician services.
This resource center for health departments includes FAQ, guidance and other tools related to evaluating/reporting persons under investigation, risk assessment, risk management, and emergency preparedness.
This page includes guidance and templates for the Medicaid State Plan Disaster Relief SPA and CHIP Disaster Relief SPA.
CMS issues guidance for clinicians on flexibilities related to accelerated/advance payments, telehealth services, COVID-19 testing, and claims process modifications during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
California guidance to providers to prevent discrimination related to screening and treatment for COVID-19
Infographic detailing funding to key health agencies and programs in the second COVID-19 bill, Families First Coronavirus Response Act—including the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Administration for Community Living, the Indian Health Service and Department of Veterans Affairs—as well as the amounts of the funding, the uses and the recipients
This page includes federal background information on Section 1135 waivers and a CMS-developed template for states and territories.
Infographic describing diversion scenarios for COVID-19 screening under the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA).
This guidance allows practitioners further flexibility in prescribing and dispensing buprenorphine to new and existing patients with opioid use disorder via telephone without examination in person or via telemedicine.
In light of the growing number and diversity of approved 1135 waivers, this Q&A document provides a general primer on Section 1135 to help healthcare stakeholders understand the scope of what HHS and CMS can and cannot do under this emergency authority.
IRS Notice allowing HDHPs to waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing & treatment.
Plain-Language Information about Coverage Options, Eligibility, and COVID-Related Benefits
CCIIO guidance on COVID-19 coverage and catastrophic plans
Compilation of COVID-19 FAQs on private insurance issues.
Recordings and transcripts of CMS calls on COVID-19 with states and other stakeholders
Compilation of resources for state on Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, including transcripts and recordings of all-state calls
This letter requests that hospitals report testing data to HHS and bed capacity and supplies to CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network on a daily basis.
Resources on waivers and flexibilities available to states and providers
MA developed a managed care plan bulletin that outlines requirement’s for coverage and billing related to COVID-19.
Second COVID-19 response / stimulus bill.
A state-by-state compendium of actions related to COVID-19 coverage.
Summary of Key Healthcare Provisions in the Second COVID-19 Stimulus Bill.
Interactive 50-state map on state DOI actions re: COVID-19
NY allowed out-of-state providers and providers in New York that are not currently registered to provide telehealth services.
This page catalogs CMS’s approved COVID-19 State Section 1135 waivers.
NY waived cost-sharing for telehealth visits with in-network providers.
In MA, through executive order, Governor Baker expanded access to telehealth services in all commercial insurers and MassHealth programs, waived all cost-sharing for any medically necessary treatment delivered via telehealth related to COVID-19 at in-network providers, waived any prior authorization barriers needed to obtain medically necessary telehealth services, and established a 24-hour process to allow medical professionals to receive a license to practice in Massachusetts
This page includes guidance and a template for COVID-19 1115 waiver demonstrations.