CMS Issues Guidance for Some Facilities to Re-Start Non-Essential Services

On April 19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance for facilities in areas with a low, or relatively low and stable incidence of COVID-19, to resume providing non-emergent, non-COVID-19 healthcare services. Many non-essential surgeries and procedures have been curtailed since March 18 when the agency recommended that facilities limit non-essential care to preserve personal protective equipment (PPE) and prepare for potential surge areas.

The CMS guidance references the White House plan for Opening Up America, released on Friday, April 17. The agency's guidance titled, Opening Up America Again, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Recommendations Re-opening Facilities to Provide Non-emergent Non-COVID-19 Healthcare: Phase I, notes that "if states or regions have passed the Gating Criteria (symptoms, cases, and hospitals) announced on April 16, 2020, then they may proceed to Phase I."

Access the CMS guidance.

Posted 4/20/2020