On May 8, 2020, CMS published an Interim Rule, one portion of which is focused on new reporting requirements for skilled nursing facilities. The new reporting requirements, effective May 8, 2020, fall into two categories: (a) reporting COVID-19 Information to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC); and (b) reporting COVID-19 information to residents and family members. Details regarding the … Continue Reading

In an effort to meet the increased demand for health care professionals during the current state of emergency and public health emergency, on May 5, 2020, pursuant to DCA Administrative Order No. 2020-05 and DCA Waiver No. W-2020-09, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs announced its Emergency Graduate Licensure Program, established pursuant to a new law signed … Continue Reading

In the continued fight against opioid addiction, Pennsylvania enacted a new law, effective November 27, 2019, that requires prescribers in Pennsylvania to implement additional steps prior to treating a patient’s chronic pain with a controlled substance containing an opioid, including the implementation of an Opioid Treatment Agreement.  The new law can be accessed here: Act 112 of 2019.… Continue Reading

Hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinical labs, pharmacies, medical practices and dental practices may now test employees for COVID-19 prior to them entering the workplace.

Yesterday, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its COVID-19 guidance to provide that under the current circumstances presented by the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic, “an employer may choose to administer COVID-19 testing to … Continue Reading

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has issued revised Guidance effective April 27, 2020, permitting ambulatory surgery facilities (ASFs) to resume the performance of elective procedures, if the ASF makes an affirmative decision that it is able to do so without jeopardizing the safety of patients and staff or the ASF’s ability to respond to the COVID-19 emergency.  

In determining whether … Continue Reading

Early last week, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed sweeping legislation offering civil and criminal immunity to certain health care professionals and health care facilities battling COVID-19, retroactively effective March 9, 2020.

The new law does not apply to health care services or procedures performed by health care professionals that are unrelated to the COVID-19 emergency (including, but not … Continue Reading

Early last week, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed sweeping legislation offering civil and criminal immunity to certain health care professionals and health care facilities battling COVID-19, retroactively effective March 9, 2020.

The new law does not apply to health care services or procedures performed by health care professionals that are unrelated to the COVID-19 emergency (including, but not

… Continue Reading

Shortly after the State of New York relaxed its direct physician supervision requirements in response to the rampant spread of Novel Coronavirus 2019 (“COVID-19”), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published revised standards for its direct physician supervision requirements on March 30, 2020 and April 9, 2020.

March 30, 2020 CMS Guidance

  • The revised standards allow physicians to
… Continue Reading

Shortly after the State of New York relaxed its direct physician supervision requirements in response to the rampant spread of Novel Coronavirus 2019 (“COVID-19”), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published revised standards for its direct physician supervision requirements on March 30, 2020 and April 9, 2020.

March 30, 2020 CMS Guidance

  • The revised standards allow physicians to
… Continue Reading

*UPDATE (4/27/20): Last week, HHS provided that $50 billion of the PHSSEF Relief Funds is allocated for general distribution to Medicare facilities and providers impacted by COVID-19, based on eligible providers’ 2018 net patient revenue. The first $30 billion tranche was automatically distributed in the beginning of April (see below). The second $20 billion tranche of PHSSEF Relief Funds will … Continue Reading