Government Affairs Regulatory Changes & Guidance Updates

 

Regulatory Changes & Guidance Updates -

August 22, 2022

MaineHealth Government Affairs’ Regulatory Changes & Guidance Updates is an internal

newsletter that will be distributed weekly including highlights, policy changes, and other

pertinent announcements from the state and federal governments. Please note that any formal

submissions to the state or federal government on behalf of MaineHealth are coordinated by the

Government Affairs Team. If you would like to submit comments or respond to any of the

announcements shared through these weekly updates, please email

emily.kovalesky@mainehealth.org for guidance.

COVID-19 Regulatory Weekly Highlights

Federal 

  • AHA is hosting a webinar “New FEMA COVID-19 Public Assistance Reimbursement Approach for Hospitals and Health Systems: What You Need to Know” on 8/30/22 from 2-3pm for members-only with experts from FEMA to discuss a proposed new approach to reimburse hospitals for COVID-19 Public Assistance projects involving patient care revenue. The voluntary approach aims to identify and eliminate duplication of benefits in hospital and health system FEMA PA projects. Register here.. 
  • In mid-December, hospitals will transition to reporting COVID-19 data via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network, which will assume responsibility for collecting the data when the Department of Health and Human Services’ contract with TeleTracking expires Dec. 31. CDC will host a series of training webinars on the transition beginning Aug. 23. For more information and to register for the webinars, visit the CDC webpage on the transition, which the agency will continue to update with guidance and information. 
  • AHA released special bulletin on Hospital COVID-19 Data reporting transition to CDC, starting in December 2022. -         
  • CMS released a roadmap for the end of the COVID-19 PHE.
  • " CMS has developed a roadmap for the eventual end of the Medicare PHE waivers and flexibilities, and is sharing information on what health care facilities and providers can do to prepare for future events. Similar to the guidance CMS has made available to states, CMS is releasing fact sheets that will help the health care sector transition to operations once the PHE ends, whenever that may occur.”
  •  “The fact sheets we are releasing today summarize the current status of Medicare Blanket waivers and flexibilities by provider type as well as flexibilities applicable to the Medicaid community. We will continue updating these resources as needed to make sure they can be relied upon for accurate information.”
  • CMS updated FAQs to assist Medicare providers.

State & Federal Rulemaking

  • The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury issued a final rule updating several key regulations pertaining to the No Surprises Act, including the information that certified independent dispute resolution entities must consider when making payment determinations under the federal arbitration process.
  • CMS released a proposed rule to improve Medicaid & CHIP quality reporting across states. 


To comment on any proposed rules, please contact Emily.Kovalesky@mainehealth.org.

State Programs & Announcements

  • The Office of MaineCare Services sent an update for providers billing UB-04 or 837I claims.
  • The Office of MaineCare Services sent an announcement updating the EVV implementation date for hospice providers. 
  • The Office of MaineCare Services sent an announcement about the use of letrozole for treatment of infertility. 

Federal Programs & Announcements

  • CMS issued an informational bulletin detailing actions that states can take using existing Medicaid authorities to drive better health outcomes for nursing home residents and improve staff pay, training, and retention efforts.
  • CMS launched a new webpage with resources and guidance related to the dispute resolution process under the No Surprises Act, including guidance for disputing parties and a walk-through of the federal portal.

Know someone who would like to be added to this distribution list?

Email Emily Kovalesky at emily.kovalesky@mainehealth.org

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!

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