Current emergencies

Hurricane Idalia – Georgia (2023)  

Secretary Becerra used his authority in the Public Health Service Act to declare a public health emergency (PHE) on September 12, 2023, giving us the flexibility to support our beneficiaries in Georgia, effective retrospectively since August 30, 2023. 

• 2023 Hurricane Idalia (Georgia) Public Health Emergency Determination
• 2023 Hurricane Idalia (Georgia) 1135 Waiver Secretarial Approval
  • Apply for an 1135 waiver or submit a public health emergency (PHE)-related inquiry 
    • Get a quick-start guide to learn how to submit an 1135 waiver (PDF) or a PHE inquiry (PDF)   
    • Watch our YouTube training videos: 
      • 1135 Waiver/Flexibility Requests 
      • PHE-related Inquiry Requests 
• Waiver requests related to the Physician Self-Referral Law (commonly referred to as the “Stark Law”) should not be submitted via the web portal. For these requests, please visit the Physician Self-Referral Spotlight Page for additional information.
• You can read the blanket waivers for the 2023 Hurricane Idalia (Georgia) (PDF) (9/20/23)
• Special enrollment periods for 2023 Hurricane Idalia (Georgia) victims (PDF) 
• Disaster Preparedness Toolkit for State Medicaid Agencies

Hurricane Idalia – Florida (2023)  

Secretary Becerra used his authority in the Public Health Service Act to declare a public health emergency (PHE) on August 30, 2023, giving us the flexibility to support our beneficiaries in Florida, effective retrospectively since August 27, 2023. 

• 2023 Hurricane Idalia (Florida) 1812f Waiver Findings
• 2023 Hurricane Idalia (Florida) Public Health Emergency Determination
• 2023 Hurricane Idalia (Florida) 1135 Waiver Secretarial Approval
  • Apply for an 1135 waiver or submit a public health emergency (PHE)-related inquiry 
    • Get a quick-start guide to learn how to submit an 1135 waiver (PDF) or a PHE inquiry (PDF)   
    • Watch our YouTube training videos: 
      • 1135 Waiver/Flexibility Requests 
      • PHE-related Inquiry Requests 
• Waiver requests related to the Physician Self-Referral Law (commonly referred to as the “Stark Law”) should not be submitted via the web portal. For these requests, please visit the Physician Self-Referral Spotlight Page for additional information.
• You can read the blanket waivers for the 2023 Hurricane Idalia (Florida) (PDF) (9/01/23)
• Special enrollment periods for 2023 Hurricane Idalia (Florida) victims (PDF) 
• Disaster Preparedness Toolkit for State Medicaid Agencies

Wildfires - Hawaii (2023)

Secretary Becerra used his authority in the Public Health Service Act to declare a public health emergency (PHE) on August 11, 2023, giving us the flexibility to support our beneficiaries in Hawaii, effective retrospectively since August 8, 2023.

• 2023 State of Hawaii Wildfires (Hawaii) 1812(f) Waiver (PDF)
• 2023 State of Hawaii Wildfires (Hawaii) Public Health Emergency Determination
• 2023 State of Hawaii Wildfires (Hawaii) 1135 Waiver Secretarial Approval
  • Apply for an 1135 waiver or submit a public health emergency (PHE)-related inquiry 
    • Get a quick-start guide to learn how to submit an 1135 waiver (PDF) or a PHE inquiry (PDF) 
    • Watch our YouTube training videos: 
      • 1135 Waiver/Flexibility Requests
      • PHE-related Inquiry Requests
• Waiver requests related to the Physician Self-Referral Law (commonly referred to as the “Stark Law”) should not be submitted via the web portal. For these requests, please visit the Physician Self-Referral Spotlight Page for additional information.
• You can read the blanket waivers for the 2023 State of Hawaii Wildfires (PDF) (8/18/2023)
• Special enrollment periods for 2023 State of Hawaii Wildfires (Hawaii) victims (PDF)
• Disaster Preparedness Toolkit for State Medicaid Agencies

Typhoon Mawar - Guam (2023)  

Secretary Becerra used his authority in the Public Health Service Act to declare a public health emergency (PHE) on June 2, 2023, giving us the flexibility to support our beneficiaries in Guam, effective retrospectively since May 22, 2023. 

• 2023 Typhoon Mawar (Guam) 1812(f) Waiver (PDF) 
• 2023 Typhoon Mawar (Guam) Public Health Emergency Determination (PDF)
• 2023 Typhoon Mawar (Guam) 1135 Waiver Secretarial Approval (PDF)
  • Apply for an 1135 waiver or submit a public health emergency (PHE)-related inquiry 
    • Get a quick-start guide to learn how to submit an 1135 waiver (PDF) or a PHE inquiry (PDF)   
    • Watch our YouTube training videos: 
      • 1135 Waiver/Flexibility Requests 
      • PHE-related Inquiry Requests 
• You can read the blanket waivers for 2023 Guam Typhoon Mawar (PDF)
• Special enrollment periods for 2023 Guam Typhoon Mawar victims (PDF) 
• Disaster Preparedness Toolkit for State Medicaid Agencies

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (2020-2023)

Update 5/12/2023: The federal PHE for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, expired at the end of the day on May 11, 2023. Learn more by reading Frequently Asked Questions: CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PDF) (PDF Updated 5/19/2023).

• Update: COVID Over The Counter Test Coverage (English PDF) (Spanish PDF) (4/28/2023)

On Thursday, December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law H.R. 2716, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) for Fiscal Year 2023.

This legislation provides more than $1.7 trillion to fund various aspects of the federal government, including an extension of the major telehealth waivers and the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCaH) individual waiver that were initiated during the federal public health emergency (PHE). Additionally, on January 30, 2023, the Biden Administration announced its intent to end the national emergency and public health emergency declarations on May 11, 2023, related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CMS is committed to updating supporting resources and providing updates as soon as possible. Please continue to use the provider-specific fact sheets for information about COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) waivers and flexibilities: https://www.cms.gov/coronavirus-waivers.

Find information and updates about current non-COVID natural disasters, man-made incidents (including cyber-attacks), and public health emergencies. Or, find more information about ongoing or past emergencies.

2020-2023

Coronavirus Disease 2019

When a national emergency was declared on March 13, 2020, we took action nationwide to aggressively respond to COVID-19. 

• You can read the blanket waivers for COVID-19 in the List of Blanket Waivers (PDF) UPDATED (6/16/2022).

The Public Health Service Act was used to declare a public health emergency (PHE) in the entire United States on January 31, 2020 giving us the flexibility to support our beneficiaries, effective January 27, 2020.  The PHE was renewed on April 21, 2020, July 23, 2020, October 2, 2020, January 7, 2021,  April 15, 2021, July 19, 2021,  October 15, 2021, January 7, 2022, April 12, 2022 effective April 16, 2022, July 15, 2022, October 13, 2022, January 11, 2023, and February 9, 2023.

Get waiver & flexibility information, apply for an 1135 waiver, or find COVID-19 vaccine policies & guidance

General information & updates:

• USA.gov has the latest information about what the U.S. Government is doing in response to COVID-19.
• CDC.gov/coronavirus has the latest public health and safety information from CDC and for the overarching medical and health provider community on COVID-19.

Read our Coronavirus disease 2019 press releases

Telehealth guidance:

• HHS telehealth guidance & information
• General Telemedicine Toolkit (PDF) (3/20/20)
• Fact sheet:  Medicare Telemedicine Healthcare Provider Fact Sheet (3/17/20)
• Long-Term Care Nursing Homes Telehealth and Telemedicine Toolkit (PDF) (3/27/20)
• End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Provider Telehealth and Telemedicine Toolkit (PDF) (3/20/20)
• State Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth Toolkit (4/23/20)
• Medicaid Telehealth Guidance (3/17/20)
• CMS Coronavirus Partner Virtual Toolkit (3/17/20)

Clinical & technical guidance:

For all clinicians

• Quality Payment Program—COVID-19 Response (4/30/20)
• CMS letter to Clinicians participating in MIPS (PDF) (4/28/20)
• CMS Dear Clinician Letter (PDF) (4/6/20)

For all health care providers 

• COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for Health Care Providers UPDATED (5/12/23)
• Medicare Claims During Public Health Emergencies (11/23/22)
• COVID-19 Over-the-Counter Tests UPDATED (5/12/23)
• Medicare Monoclonal Antibody COVID-19 Infusion Instruction  UPDATED (7/5/23)
• Our COVID-19 Medicare data snapshot UPDATED (1/25/21)
• Guidance related to the Emergency Preparedness Testing Exercise Requirements- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (9/30/20)
• COVID patient counseling:
  • Counseling checklist (PDF) (7/30/20)
  • Talking points (PDF) (7/30/20)
  • Information for your patients after COVID testing:
    • Steps to take after being tested (7/30/20)
    • Learn about contact tracing (7/30/20)
• Providing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Resources During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PDF) (7/1/20)
• Price Transparency: Requirements for Providers to Make Public Cash Prices for COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing (PDF) (5/12/20)
• CMS Non-Emergent, Elective Medical Services, and Treatment Recommendations (PDF) (4/6/20)
• CMS Adult Elective Surgery and Procedures Recommendations (PDF) (3/19/20)
• Fact sheet: Additional Background: Sweeping Regulatory Changes to Help U.S. Healthcare System Address COVID-19 Patient Surge (3/30/20)
• Guidance memo - Exceptions and Extensions for Quality Reporting and Value-based Purchasing Programs (PDF) (3/27/20)

For health care facilities  

• COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for Health Care Providers UPDATED (5/12/23)
• Ending the Streamlined Process for Ambulatory Surgical Centers and Independent Freestanding Emergency Departments to Temporarily Enroll as Hospitals during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PDF) (12/1/21)
• Acute Hospital Care at Home Program Approved List of Hospitals (PDF) UPDATED (4/5/21)
• Toolkit for States to Mitigate COVID-19 in Nursing Homes (PDF) UPDATED (5/6/22)
• Visitation at Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IIDs) and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs) - Coronavirus Disease -2019 (COVID-19) (2/11/21)
• Revised COVID-19 Focused Infection Control Survey Tool for Acute and Continuing Care (12/30/20)
• Providing flexibility for exceeding the 24-hour time frame for patients in Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (12/30/20)
• COVID-19 Infection Control for Psychiatric and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID) (12/17/20)
• “Hospital Without Walls” FAQs for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (PDF) (11/25/20)
• SNF: Enforcement Discretion Relating to Certain Pharmacy Billing UPDATED (5/12/23)
• Fact sheet:  Expansion of the Accelerated and Advance Payments Program for Providers and Suppliers During COVID-19 Emergency (PDF) UPDATED (10/8/20)
• Accelerated and Advance Payments Program FAQ (PDF) (10/8/20)
• COVID-19 Data Element Reporting Requirements and Enforcement Process for Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals Interim Final Rule (IFC), CMS-3401-IFC (10/6/20)
• Dear Nursing Home Resident Voting Rights Letter (PDF) UPDATED (10/20/20)
• Medicare Payments for COVID-19 Viral Testing in Skilled Nursing Facilities/Nursing Facilities (PDF) (9/18/20)
• Final Report: Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes (PDF) (9/16/20)
• Point of Care Antigen Testing FAQ UPDATED (12/7/20)
• CLIA and University Laboratory Testing FAQ (8/31/20)
• Interim Final Rule (IFC), CMS-3401-IFC, Updating Requirements for Reporting of SARS-CoV-2 Test Results by (CLIA) of 1988 Laboratories, and Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (8/26/20)
• Key Components for Continued COVID 19 Management for Dialysis Facilities (8/17/20)
• QIP ESRD FAQs (PDF) UPDATED (7/14/20)
• Phase II Hospital Visitation for Patients who are Covid-19 Negative (PDF) (6/26/20)
• FAQs for Non Long-Term Care Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (PDF) (6/10/20)
• Releasing COVID Nursing Home Data (6/4/20)
• Fact sheet for State and Local Governments About CMS Programs and Payment for Hospital Alternate Care Sites (PDF) UPDATED (12/13/21)
• Guidance on Notification Requirements of Confirmed and Suspected COVID-19 Cases Among Nursing Home Residents and Staff (5/6/20)
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs): FAQs, Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement, Limits to Visitation and Availability of 1135 waivers (4/8/20)
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Outpatient Settings: FAQs and Considerations (4/8/20)
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IIDs) and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs) (4/8/20)
• Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) Requirements and Implications Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and FAQs  UPDATED (4/28/20)
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Dialysis Facilities  UPDATED (4/8/20)
• Letter requesting hospitals report data in connection with their efforts to fight the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (PDF) (3/30/20)
• Guidance for Use of Certain Industrial Respirators by Health Care Personnel (3/10/20)
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Home Health Agencies (3/10/20)
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by Hospice Agencies (3/9/20)
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): FAQs and Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement and Hospital Discharge (3/4/20)
• Information for Healthcare Facilities Concerning 2019 Novel Coronavirus Illness (2019-nCoV) (2/6/20)

For labs  

• Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Test Demonstration (PDF) (4/28/23)

 

Billing & coding guidance:

• Frequently Asked Questions to Assist Medicare Providers (PDF) UPDATED (4/20/23)
• Medicare Monoclonal Antibody COVID-19 Infusion Instruction  UPDATED (7/5/23)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for Health Care Providers UPDATED (5/12/23)
• Fact sheet:  Expansion of the Accelerated and Advance Payments Program for Providers and Suppliers During COVID-19 Emergency (PDF) UPDATED (10/8/20)
• Accelerated and Advance Payments Program FAQ (PDF) (10/8/20)
• COVID patient counseling:
  • Provider Q&A (PDF) UPDATED (10/28/20)
  • Counseling checklist (PDF) (7/30/20)
  • Talking points (PDF) (7/30/20)
• Fact sheet for State and Local Governments About CMS Programs and Payment for Hospital Alternate Care Sites (PDF) UPDATED (12/13/21)
• CMS Dear Clinician Letter (PDF) (4/6/20)
• Fact sheet:  Medicare Coverage and Payment Related to COVID-19 (PDF) UPDATED (3/23/20)
• Fact sheet:  Medicare Telemedicine Healthcare Provider Fact Sheet (3/17/20)
• MLN Matters article:  Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (PDF) UPDATED (5/12/23)
• Fact sheet:  Medicaid and CHIP Coverage and Payment Related to COVID-19 (PDF) (3/5/20)
• COVID-19: New ICD-10-CM Code and Interim Coding Guidance (2/20/20)

Survey & certification guidance:

• Toolkit for States to Mitigate COVID-19 in Nursing Homes (PDF) UPDATED (1/12/22)
• Providing flexibility for exceeding the 24-hour time frame for patients in Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (12/30/20)
• COVID-19 Infection Control for Psychiatric and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID) (12/17/20)
• Guidance for Processing Attestation Statements from Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) Temporarily Enrolling as Hospitals during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (11/25/20)
• Guidance related to the Emergency Preparedness Testing Exercise Requirements- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (9/30/20)
• Key Components for Continued COVID 19 Management for Dialysis Facilities (8/17/20)
• Memo to States and Nursing Home Stakeholders About Changes to Staffing Information and Quality Measures (6/25/20)
• Posting Nursing Home Inspections (6/4/20)
• Releasing COVID Nursing Home Data (6/4/20)

Coverage guidance:

• Frequently Asked Questions to Assist Medicare Providers (PDF) UPDATED (4/20/23)
• Medicare Monoclonal Antibody COVID-19 Infusion Instruction  UPDATED (7/5/23)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for Health Care Providers UPDATED (5/12/23)
• CMS Dear Clinician Letter (PDF) (4/6/20)
• Long-Term Care Nursing Homes Telehealth and Telemedicine Toolkit (PDF) (3/27/20)
• Fact sheet:  Medicare Coverage and Payment Related to COVID-19 (PDF) UPDATED (3/23/20)
• General Telemedicine Toolkit (PDF) (3/20/20)
• End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Provider Telehealth and Telemedicine Toolkit (PDF) (3/20/20)
• FAQs on Catastrophic Plan Coverage and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PDF) (3/19/20)
• Fact sheet:  Medicare Telemedicine Healthcare Provider Fact Sheet (3/17/20)
• FAQs on Essential Health Benefit Coverage and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) (PDF) (3/13/20)
• Fact sheet:  Medicaid and CHIP Coverage and Payment Related to COVID-19 (PDF) (3/5/20)
• Fact sheet:  Individual and Small Group Market Insurance Coverage (PDF) (3/5/20)

Provider enrollment guidance:

• Guidance for Processing Attestations from Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) Temporarily Enrolling as Hospitals During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (11/25/20)

Medicaid & CHIP guidance:  

• State Medicaid Director Letter on CY 2021 Jan-Sep Claw Back Phased-Down State Contribution Amounts (PDF) (10/9/20)
• State Medicaid Director Letter on CY 2020 Oct-Dec Claw Back Phased-Down State Contribution Amounts (PDF) (9/22/20)
• Informational Bulletin on Medicaid Reimbursement Strategies to Prevent Spread of COVID-19 in Nursing Facilities (8/24/20)
• COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies UPDATED (6/30/20)
• State Medicaid Director Letter on CY 2020 Jan-Sep Claw Back Phased-Down State Contribution Amounts (PDF) (6/23/20)
• Fact sheet for State and Local Governments About CMS Programs and Payment for Hospital Alternate Care Sites (PDF) UPDATED (12/13/21)
• State Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth Toolkit (4/23/20)
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), Public Law No. 116-127 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law No. 116-136 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (4/15/20)
• Federal Medical Percentage Map (FMAP) & Families First Coronavirus Response Act – Increased FMAP FAQs (3/27/20)
• State Medicaid Director Letter (SMDL) #20-002 with New Section 1115 Demonstration Opportunity to Aid States With Addressing the Public Health Emergency (3/22/20)
• Section 1135 Waiver Checklist (3/22/20)
• Section 1915 Waiver, Appendix K Template (3/22/20)
• State Plan Flexibilities (3/22/20)
• COVID-19 Disaster Response Toolkit (3/12/20)
• Medicaid Telehealth Guidance (3/17/20)

Marketplace plan guidance:

• Leveraging Existing Health and Disease Management Programs to Provide Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Resources During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) (PDF) (6/29/20)
• FAQs on Prescription Drugs and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) for Issuers Offering Health Insurance Coverage in the Individual and Small Group Markets (PDF) (3/26/20)

Medicare Advantage and Part D plan guidance:

• HPMS Memo: Opportunities to maximize COVID-19 vaccinations among dually eligible individuals (PDF) (2/18/21)
• Postponement of 2019 Benefit Year HHS-operated Risk Adjustment Data Validation (HHS-RADV) (PDF) (4/15/20)

Open Payments guidance:

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Enforcing Open Payments Deadlines (PDF) (3/26/20)

Partner & stakeholder resources:

• Training for disaster responders, emergency staff, and state and regional offices
  • Training Video – Replacing Durable Medical Equipment & Prescription Drugs after a Disaster: Addressing the Needs of Medicare Beneficiaries
  • Training Content Guide (PDF)
  • DME Customer Support Tool (PDF)
  • DME Resource Guide for Beneficiaries (PDF)
• Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Program COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Payment Data (PDF) UPDATED (12/10/20)
• Medicare COVID Accelerated & Advanced Payment Data  (ZIP) (10/15/20)
• Open Door Forum Stakeholder Call podcasts & transcripts
• HHS telehealth guidance & information
• Memo to States and Nursing Home Stakeholders About Changes to Staffing Information and Quality Measures (6/25/20)
• What Patients Should Know About Seeking Health Care in English (PDF) & Spanish (PDF) (6/9/20)
• COVID Nursing Home Compare Data (6/4/20)
• CMS Coronavirus Partner Virtual Toolkit (3/17/20)
• Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments by State and Provider Type  (PDF) UPDATED (5/8/20)
  • Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Provider Detail by State (ZIP) (5/8/20)

Find more information on ongoing or past emergencies.

Consumer information:

• For people with Medicare
• For people with Marketplace coverage

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