Date

News Alert

CMS Releases Comprehensive Pandemic Plan to Chronicle Key Lessons and Strengthen Agency’s Resiliency to Future Pandemic Virus Events

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CMS Pandemic Plan, which details the response and actions CMS utilized to support the country’s healthcare system and its beneficiaries during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency pandemic. The Plan ensures CMS’ business operations and functions will continue to be performed to provide access to quality healthcare for more than 140 million Americans during a public health emergency.

The Plan outlines how CMS used waivers and flexibilities to support states, providers and external stakeholders, ensuring continued access to quality care for beneficiaries. The Plan also details how CMS provided regulatory relief to healthcare providers on the frontlines that allowed them to expand hospital capacity through the twin CMS Hospital without Walls and Hospital at Home initiatives, boost healthcare workforce, expand telehealth services and reduce time-consuming paperwork requirements to allow every available resource to be directed toward patient care.

To view the introductory letter by Administrator Seema Verma, visit: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/covid-administrators-cover-letter.pdf (PDF)

To view the CMS Pandemic Plan, visit: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/covid-pandemic-plan.pdf (PDF)

 

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Contact: CMS Media Relations

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