In order to ensure the safety and health of its workforce and regulated industry, on March 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it was suspending routine domestic facility inspections in order to limit potential exposure to COVID-19 for investigators and workers at facilities. FDA had previously announced that it was suspending

On March 17, the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) announced the issuance of a new emergency regulation requiring insurance companies in the state to waive cost-sharing, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, for in-network telehealth visits, whether or not related to coronavirus. The new regulation will “encourage New Yorkers to seek medical attention

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, on March 16 New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an Emergency Executive Order ordering the closing of restaurants, bars, gyms, and entertainment venues, and suspending numerous regulations and laws that require public meetings and hearings within the City. The Order also includes a direction to

In an effort to limit the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on March 17 announced the expansion of Medicare coverage for telehealth nationwide, effective immediately. CMS will temporarily pay clinicians to provide telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries residing anywhere in the U.S. so that those who

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has created a “Current Emergencies” page on its website that compiles links to the agency’s recent press releases and guidance regarding coronavirus in one place. CMS has already issued more than 30 press releases and guidance documents in March alone and there are too many to summarize,

As it has previously done for specific geographic areas affected by hurricanes, on March 15, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a HIPAA Bulletin providing for a limited waiver of HIPAA sanctions and penalties for covered entities during the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) public health emergency.

Such waiver is primarily intended to

On March 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued joint Warning Letters to seven companies calling for them to cease marketing products appearing to violate federal law by making deceptive or scientifically unsupported claims about their ability to treat Coronavirus (COVID-19). The companies targeted, (1) Vital Silver, (2) Quinessence

Over the past week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a flurry of guidance documents and FAQs regarding COVID-19 for healthcare providers in private practice, hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and dialysis facilities, and for Medicare Advantage and Part D insurance plans. The guidance includes how to bill and collect for coronavirus

The “Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020,” signed into law by the President on March 6, includes provisions waiving Medicare’s geographic restrictions on telehealth during a public health emergency. This will enable healthcare providers to provide care via telehealth in urban and rural areas as well as in patients’ homes within the “emergency

On March 2, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced new regulations on New York health insurers regarding coverage for coronavirus testing and related matters. The State Department of Financial Services (DFS) directive requires insurers to waive cost sharing for COVID-19 testing at emergency room, urgent care and office visits. In addition, Medicaid patients will not