Updated: November 9, 2021
The global COVID-19 crisis has led to many changes in health care rules, including in the Medicare program. Most of the Medicare changes are slated to be temporary, but advocates will need to watch which provisions do and do not remain after the crisis. While a many of the changes affect health care providers, including payment and waivers of certain requirements, our Advocates Guide focuses on Medicare COVID changes that relate to beneficiaries and their access to covered care. Note: This Advocates Guide describes, but does not analyze or critique these changes.
- INTRODUCTION
- OVERVIEW OF MEDICARE-RELATED COVID CHANGES
- SPECIFIC MEDICARE CHANGES
- MEDICARE PART A
- Acute Care Hospitals
- Critical Access Hospitals (CAH)
- Long-Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs)
- Extended Neoplastic Disease Care Hospitals (ENDCH)
- Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)
- Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs, also known as Inpatient Rehab. Hospitals/IRHs)
- Psychiatric Hospitals
- All Hospitals
- Home Health
- Hospice
- MEDICARE PART B
- COVID-19 Testing
- COVID-19 Vaccine
- COVID-19 Treatments
- Telehealth
- Telephone Evaluation and Management (E/M) Services (including Routine Office Visits)
- Hospital Outpatient Services Furnished at Home
- Therapy Services (Physical Therapy/PT, Occupational Therapy/OT, Speech Language Pathology/SLP)
- Ambulance Transport
- Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS)
- Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
- National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) and Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs)
- Opioid Treatment Programs
- Remote Physiologic Monitoring (RPM)
- Home Infusion Services
- MEDICARE PARTS C and D
- COVID-19 Related Updates to Medicare Parts C and D Enrollment
- Medicare Advantage (MA)
- Part D Plans (including MA-PDs)/Prescription Refills
- MISCELLANEOUS
- COVID-19 Related Updates to Medicare Part A and B Enrollment
- Notice Delivery in Institutions
- Medicare Appeals
- Information Regarding Providers
- Non-Discrimination re: Provision of Health Services
- Non-Essential Care
- State Medicaid Issues for Dual Eligibles
- Oral Health
- Disparities in COVID-19 Infections
- MEDICARE PART A
____5. RESOURCES