President Biden has informed Congress that he will end the twin national emergencies for addressing COVID-19 (known as Public Health Emergencies, or PHEs) on May 11, 2023.
Depending on your specialty (home health, hospice, behavioral health, etc.) the end of the PHEs may have a small impact or a large impact on your operations. Some flexibilities have already been ended or modified by CMS and other agencies, and some have been extended permanently. Broadly speaking, legislators did extend telehealth flexibilities that were introduced as COVID-19 hit for another two years, leading health care systems around the country to regularly deliver care by smartphone or computer.
Providers who are Medicare-certified will also need to be mindful of increasing audits from CMS, HHS’ OIG and others as these agencies return to “business as usual” during the wind-down of the PHEs. OIG has already announced a massive planned audit of Hospice eligibility for this year.
Click here to read more on this developing story from the Associated Press.
Not sure how the end of the COVID-19 PHEs will impact your organization? Give us a call!