Healthcare DIVE March 31, 2020
Dive Brief:
- CMS on Monday announced an “unprecedented range” of temporary regulatory changes aimed at helping providers boost capacity and staff to treat patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes mean hospitals can bill for services provided outside their buildings so that patients can be screened offsite or through virtual encounters.
- Ambulatory surgery centers will be able to contract with local health systems to provide hospital services such as cancer care and necessary surgeries and bill as hospitals. Approved non-hospital spaces like dorm rooms or hotels can be used for patient care and quarantine purposes. Also, physician-owned hospitals will now be able to increase the number of licensed beds and operating rooms during the emergency.
- Also included are a...