While existing statute and regulation do not permit an exception to accepting information from applicants and beneficiaries through any of the required modalities

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, one of the nation’s largest investor-owned hospital operators, is furloughing staff, delaying benefits such as 401(k) matches, bolstering its cash and deferring $250 million in Social Security payroll tax payments to weather the coronavirus pandemic.

Tenet CEO Ron Rittenmeyer said Thursday that the moves were "done consciously, thoughfully ... to ensure we were focused on maximizing our cash position."

"We’re comfortable that we have this in control as much as possible," he said in an conference call with analysts.