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CMS NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: CMS Media Relations CMS
Offers Comprehensive Support to the State of Texas to Combat Winter Storm The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) announced today that efforts are underway to support Texas in
response to severe winter storms that have affected the state over the past
several days. On February 17, 2021, Health and Human Services Acting
Secretary Norris Cochran declared a public health emergency (PHE) for Texas
retroactive to February 11, 2021. CMS is working to ensure hospitals and
other facilities can continue operations and provide access to care despite
the effects of the storm. Below are key administrative actions CMS is
taking in response to the PHE declared in Texas: Waivers and Flexibilities for
Hospitals and other Healthcare Facilities: CMS has already waived many
Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP requirements for facilities because of the
pandemic. The CMS Dallas Survey & Enforcement
Division, under the Survey Operations Group, will consider other
provider-specific requests for healthcare facilities in Texas. These waivers
work to provide continued access to care for beneficiaries. CMS announced
last month a new web-based tool that streamlines access for providers in
documenting and submitting waiver requests and PHE-related inquiries.
Access to that web-based tool can be found at https://cmsqualitysupport.servicenowservices.com/cms_1135 Dialysis Care:
CMS is helping patients obtain access to critical life-saving services. The
Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) program has been activated and is
working with the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network: Network 14 –Texas to
assess the status of dialysis facilities in potentially impacted areas. The
program will assess issues such as generators, alternate water supplies,
education and materials for patients, and more. Patients are educated
to have an emergency supply kit on hand including important personal,
medical, and insurance information; contact information for their facility,
the ESRD NW hotline number, and contact information of those with whom they may
stay or for out-of-state contacts in a waterproof bag. They have also been
instructed to have on hand supplies to follow a three-day emergency diet. The
ESRD NW 14 (TX) toll free hotline is 877-886-4435, and the KCER hotline is
866-901-3773. Additional information about the ESRD Network 14 Texas
Emergency can be found here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=eca242fb15b94692b0cf29f55e67130a Ensuring Access to Care in Medicare
Advantage and Part D: During a PHE, Medicare
Advantage Organizations must take steps to maintain access to covered
benefits for beneficiaries in affected areas. These steps include allowing
Parts A and B and supplemental Part C plan benefits to be furnished at
specified non-contracted facilities and waiving, in full, requirements for
gatekeeper referrals where applicable. Part D plan sponsors are allowed to
take certain actions to ensure pharmacy access during a disaster or state of
emergency. Special Enrollment
Opportunities: CMS encourages people who are seeking health
insurance coverage to take advantage of the Federal Health Insurance Exchange
special enrollment period currently available now through May 15 on
HealthCare.gov. See the following link for more
information: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2021-special-enrollment-period-response-covid-19-emergency. Additionally, individuals who were eligible
for another special enrollment period during the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA)-declared emergency period may also qualify for another SEP to
gain coverage based on when their coverage could have started if they had
been able to enroll sooner.
Medicare regulations provide a special
enrollment period for certain Medicare beneficiaries who reside in the area
where an emergency/disaster declaration has been made (or rely on help making
health care decisions from someone who lives in the affected area).
Medicare beneficiaries who were eligible for another enrollment period, but
did not make an election as a result of the emergency, will be able to make the
missed enrollment election during the declared emergency/disaster or up to
two months after the end of the emergency/disaster. Medical equipment and supplies
replacements: Under the COVID-19 waivers, CMS suspended certain requirements
necessary for Medicare beneficiaries who have lost or had damage to their
durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies because of the
PHE. This will help to make sure that beneficiaries can continue to access
the medical equipment and supplies they rely on each day. Medicare
beneficiaries can contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for assistance. Current COVID-19 Waivers:
CMS has compiled a list of current Waivers already available
for health care providers to use during the COVID-19 PHE. These
waivers remain available to providers in the State of Texas who have been
affected by the consequences of the winter storm. The New 1135
Emergency Waiver and Public Health Emergency (PHE)-related Inquiries Web Tool
launched on the CMS Waiver and Flexibilities webpage: https://www.cms.gov/about-cms/emergency-preparedness-response-operations/current-emergencies/coronavirus-waivers Disaster Preparedness Toolkit for
State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies: CMS
developed an inventory of Medicaid and CHIP flexibilities and authorities
available to states in the event of a disaster. CMS will provide technical
assistance to the state upon request in accessing any needed
flexibilities. The Toolkit also includes resources for Medicaid
beneficiaries to assist them connect to helpful resources during the
emergency. For more information and to access the toolkit please visit:
https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/disaster-response-toolkit/index.html.
CMS is working closely with the Texas state Medicaid agency to ensure the
Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries have access to care and their needs are being
met during these winter storms. Nursing home reporting to the
National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN): CMS
expects that nursing home providers will continue to accurately report
COVID-19 cases to the NHSN. However, in light of the public health
emergency in Texas, CMS will not impose civil money penalties for
non-reporting through March 4, 2021, as residents continue to be displaced
amid power and water concerns. Any facility that requires extended
repairs or arrangements should contact its State Survey Agency to ensure
proper coordination with CMS. 3-Day Prior
Hospitalization: Using the authority under Section
1812(f) of the Act, CMS is issuing a separate waiver of the statutory
requirement for a 3-day prior inpatient hospitalization for coverage of a
Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) Part A stay, which provides temporary
emergency coverage of SNF services without a qualifying inpatient hospital
stay, for those people who experience dislocations, or are otherwise affected
by the public health emergency. Emergency Preparedness
Requirements: Providers and suppliers are expected to have emergency
preparedness programs based on an all-hazards approach. CMS has prepared
webinars on emergency preparedness requirements, including topics such as
emergency power supply; 1135 waiver process; Best Practices & Lessons
Learned from past disasters; Helpful Resources; and more. The webinars are
available at https://qsep.cms.gov/welcome.aspx. CMS also compiled a list of Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) and useful national emergency preparedness resources to
assist State Survey Agencies (SAs), their State, Tribal, Regional, local
emergency management partners, and health care providers develop effective
and robust emergency plans and tool kits to assure compliance with the EP
rules. The tools can be located at: Additional information on the emergency
preparedness requirements can be found here: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_z_emergprep.pdf CMS will continue to work with all geographic
areas impacted by the winter storm. We encourage beneficiaries and providers
of healthcare services that have been impacted to seek help by visiting CMS’
emergency webpage (www.cms.gov/emergency). ### |
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Monday, February 22, 2021
CMS NEWS: CMS Offers Comprehensive Support to the State of Texas to Combat Winter Storm
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