Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Context: With a national public health emergency (PHE) called on Jan. 31 by HHS Secretary Alex Azar and a national emergency declared by the president on March 13, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can offer flexibilities under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act (SSA).

According to a new FAQ, CMS is using its 1135 waiver authority to waive certain Medicare provider enrollment requirements. Some of the flexibilities include provider screenings, application fees, site visits, and revalidations.

In addition, the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) in each jurisdiction will offer toll-free hotlines “for physicians and non-physician practitioners (NPPs) to initiate temporary Medicare billing privileges,” the FAQ notes.

Clinicians can also call the hotlines with other 1135 waiver flexibility questions and report practice location changes, CMS advises.

Find more Medicare provider enrollment information in the time of COVID-19 at www.cms.gov/files/document/provider-enrollment-relief-faqs-covid-19.pdf.