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NEWS
ALERT
March 18, 2020
Contact: CMS Media
Relations
(202) 690-6145 | CMS Media Inquiries
COVID-19 Response News Alert: CMS Issues Frequently Asked
Questions on Catastrophic Health Coverage and the Coronavirus
Today, the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs) to clarify coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of the Coronavirus
Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by catastrophic health plans. A catastrophic health
plan generally may not provide coverage of an essential health benefit before
an enrollee meets the plan’s deductible. Through these FAQs, CMS is
announcing that the agency will not take enforcement action against any
health issuer that amends its catastrophic plans to provide coverage without
imposing cost-sharing requirements for COVID-19 related services before an
enrollee meets the catastrophic plan's deductible. CMS encourages states to
take a similar enforcement approach.
The purpose of this use of
CMS’ enforcement discretion is to remove barriers and financial disincentives
to COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment. The FAQs issued today align with guidance the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
released last week, which provides flexibility to high deductible health
plans to provide health benefits for diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19
without application of a deductible or cost-sharing.
The link to the related
FAQs can be found here: https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Files/Catastrophic-Coverage-of-COVID-19.pdf
These FAQs, and earlier
CMS actions in response to the COVID-19 virus, are part of the ongoing White
House Task Force efforts. To keep up with the important work the Task Force
is doing in response to COVID-19, click here www.coronavirus.gov. For information
specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.
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Get CMS news at cms.gov/newsroom, sign up for CMS news via email and follow CMS on Twitter CMS
Administrator @SeemaCMS, @CMSgov, and @CMSgovPress.
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Thursday, March 19, 2020
COVID-19 Response News Alert: CMS Issues Frequently Asked Questions on Catastrophic Health Coverage and the Coronavirus
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