Essential Case Management Practices Amidst the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Crisis: Part 1

Abstract

The Administration is taking aggressive actions and exercising regulatory flexibilities to help healthcare providers contain the spread of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). CMS is empowered to take proactive steps through 1135 waivers as well as, where applicable, authority granted under section 1812(f) of the Social Security Act (the Act) and rapidly expand the Administration's aggressive efforts against COVID-19. As a result, the following blanket waivers are in effect, with a retroactive effective date of March 1, 2020 through the end of the emergency declaration. For general information about waivers, see Attachment A to this document. These waivers DO NOT require a request to be sent to the 1135waiver@cms.hhs.gov mailbox or that notification be made to any of CMS's regional offices. Flexibility for Medicare Telehealth Services • Eligible Practitioners. Pursuant to authority granted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) that broadens the waiver authority under section 1135 of the Social Security Act, the Secretary has authorized additional telehealth waivers. CMS is waiving the requirements of section 1834(m)(4)(E) of the Act and 42 CFR § 410.78 (b)(2) which specify the types of practitioners that may bill for their services when furnished as Medicare telehealth services from the distant site. The waiver of these requirements expands the types of health care professionals that can furnish distant site telehealth services to include all those that are eligible to bill Medicare for their professional services. This allows health care professionals who were previously ineligible to furnish and bill for Medicare telehealth services, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, and others, to receive payment for Medicare telehealth services. • Audio-Only Telehealth for Certain Services. Pursuant to authority granted under the CARES Act, CMS is waiving the requirements of section 1834(m)(1) of the ACT and 42 CFR § 410.78(a)(3) for use of interactive telecommunications systems to furnish telehealth services, to the extent they require use of video technology, for certain services. This waiver allows the use of audio-only equipment to furnish services described by the codes for audio-only telephone evaluation and management services, and behavioral health counseling and educational services (see designated codes https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-General-Information/Telehealth/Telehealth-Codes). Unless provided otherwise, other services included on the Medicare telehealth services list must be furnished using, at a minimum, audio and video equipment permitting two-way, real-time interactive communication between the patient and distant site physician or practitioner.

Associations between remote patient monitoring programme responsiveness and clinical outcomes for patients with COVID-19

“… 7 Older adults as well as racial and ethnic minorities have been two groups most severely affected by COVID-19, highlighting the importance of effective remote monitoring in populations historically disadvantaged with RPM advances. 8 …”

A bibliometric analysis of COVID-19 research published in nursing journals

“…Background/rationale: The current situation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is unprecedented [1]. Shortly after COVID-19 was identified, it rapidly spread around the world; the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020 [2], and the COV-ID-19 pandemic has now become a major international concern.…”

The Demand for Elective Neurosurgery at a German University Hospital during the First Wave of COVID-19

“…Regular follow-up visits for patients with incidentalomas, optimized treatment plans for patients eligible to receive functional neurosurgery [ 17 ], and early initiation of measures to promote timely discharge of patients, such as individualized discharge planning, and transitional care interventions [ 18 ], may become increasingly relevant as the pandemic proceeds. In particular, timely discharge of patients may help to have more beds available for COVID-19 patients during the pandemic [ 19 ].…”