Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Answer: With no immediate end in sight for the pandemic, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra extended the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) for another 90 days, effective Oct. 13 and running through Jan. 11, 2023.

This is the eleventh PHE extension HHS has made related to the coronavirus since its original declaration on Jan. 27, 2020. The feds have been renewing the PHE in 90-day increments since then. The extension was widely expected, as an HHS official had previously said the administration would provide 60 days’ notice before ending the PHE.

Impact: The current rules and guidelines that have been relaxed during the PHE will remain in effect through most of January. This includes 1,135 waivers and other flexibilities related to a myriad of Medicare policies from telehealth to lab tests to billing.

As HHS keeps pushing back the PHE deadline, various federal agencies keep tweaking their COVID-19 policies and FAQs. The myriad agencies under HHS’ helm continue to alter guidance — sometimes daily — often reversing course and leaving providers with little or no time to get ready for major shifts.

It’s crucial that organizations big and small revisit their policies weekly and put in the extra research online to avoid noncompliance with the latest Medicare billing changes — especially with some claims reviews back in action.

Resource: Find the extension notice at https://aspr.hhs.gov/legal/PHE/Pages/covid19-13Oct2022.aspx.