Resources update: Where to find relevant information during the Covid-19 global pandemic

There is a lot of information coming at us daily. We took a stab at organizing some of it here for state Medicaid, CHIP, and health IT programs. We will continue to update this page as we continue to receive updates. 

 

In the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) have put out relevant guidance over the past week. Also, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a new aggregation of state data and state policy related to the pandemic. 

 

Telehealth flexibilities 

• CMS issued a compendium of Medicare and Medicaid guidance on telehealth authority and reimbursement. 
• HHS announced that the Office of Civil Rights would suspend certain related HIPAA enforcement.
• SAMHSA issued related guidance regarding 42 CFR Part 2 and stated that there is a “medical emergency exception” and “providers may make their own determinations … for providing needed treatment to patients.”

 

Medicaid and CHIP guidance

• The Medicaid and CHIP guidance is aggregated here.
• CMS has issued guidance in the form of Frequently Asked Questions for Medicaid and CHIP. The guidance addresses telehealth, emergency financing, drug shortages, managed care, waiver authority, stakeholder notifications, long-term care and support services, eligibility and enrollment, benefits, cost-sharing flexibility, program financing and provider reimbursement, workforce issues, etc. 
• The declaration of a National Emergency, opened up the section 1135 waiver options for states. Here are some examples of what can be waived. CMS is tracking approvals here.  
• CMS also has a Disaster Preparedness Toolkit. 
• CMS is conducting biweekly Medicaid all-state calls. 

 

ONC guidance 

• ONC guidance, updated here, addresses a number of topics related to supporting state and provider efforts to address the pandemic

 

SAMHSA guidance 

• Ongoing updated SAMHSA guidance, including opioid treatment program guidance, privacy issues, and telehealth.