LUTZ BUSINESS INSIGHTS

cms blanket waivers update
julianne kipple, healthcare shareholder
On April 7, 2022, CMS issued a memorandum that ended specific waivers for skilled nursing facilities/nursing facilities (SNFs/NFs), inpatient hospices, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IIDs) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities. CMS will end the specific waivers in two groups, the first 60 days from the issuance of the memorandum and the second 30 days from the issuance of the memorandum.
CMS notes that they targeted these specific waivers as they continue to review the need for existing emergency blanket waivers issued in response to COVID-19. They believe that these facilities have developed policies or other practices that mitigate the need for the specific waivers. Also noted, they targeted waivers that should be restored to address the risks to resident health and safety that are not related to infection control. Applicable waivers will remain in effect for hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs).
Blanket Waivers Ending 30 days from publication of Memorandum:
- Resident Groups – 42 CFR §483.10(f)(5)
- Physician Delegation of Tasks in SNFs – 42 CFR §483.30(e)(4)
- Physician Visits – 42 CFR §483.30(c)(3)
- Physician Visits in Skilled Nursing Facilities/Nursing Facilities – 42 CFR §483.30
- Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) – 42 CFR §483.75(b)–(d) and (e)(3)
- Detailed Information Sharing for Discharge Planning for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities – 42 CFR §483.21(c)(1)(viii)
- Clinical Records – 42 CFR §483.10(g)(2)(ii)
Blanket Waivers Ending 60 days from publication of Memorandum:
- Physical Environment for SNF/NFs – 42 CFR §483.90
- Equipment Maintenance & Fire Safety Inspections for ESRD facilities – 42 CFR §494.60(b) and(d)
- Facility and Medical Equipment Inspection, Testing & Maintenance (ITM) for Inpatient Hospice, ICF/IIDs and SNFs/NFs – 42 CFR §§418.110(c)(2)(iv), 483.470(j), and 483.90
- Life Safety Code (LSC) and Health Care Facilities Code (HCFC) ITM for Inpatient Hospice, ICF/IIDs and SNFs/NFs – 42 CFR §§ 418.110(d)(1)(i) and (e), 483.470(j)(1)(i) and (5)(v), and 483.90(a)(1)(i) and (b)
- Outside Windows and Doors for Inpatient Hospice, ICF/IIDs and SFNs/NFs – 42 CFR §§418.110(d)(6), 483.470(e)(1)(i), and 483.90(a)(7)
- Life Safety Code for Inpatient Hospice, ICF/IIDs, and SNFs/NFs – 42 CFR §§418.110(d), 483.470(j), and 483.90(a)
- Paid Feeding Assistants for LTC facilities: 42 CFR §§483.60(h)(1)(i) and 483.160(a)
- In-Service Training for LTC facilities – 42 CFR §483.95(g)(1)
- Training and Certification of Nurse Aides for SNF/NFs – 42 CFR §483.35(d) (Modification and Conditional Termination)
If you have any questions, please contact us or learn more about our healthcare accounting and consulting services.
More information
Specific waivers that will be ending:
Current emergency blanket waivers in effect due to the COVID-10 pandemic:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JULIANNE KIPPLE + HEALTHCARE SHAREHOLDER
Julianne Kipple is a Healthcare Shareholder at Lutz with over 12 years of professional experience in the healthcare industry. Her expertise is in accounting and consulting services for healthcare facilities, including outsourced CFO services, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, and Medicaid Disproportionate Share Surveys (DSH).
AREAS OF FOCUS
- Healthcare Accounting & Consulting
- Medicare & Medicaid Reimbursement
- Outsourced CFO Services
- Medicaid Disproportionate Share Surveys (DSH)
- Financial Support Services
AFFILIATIONS AND CREDENTIALS
- Healthcare Financial Management Association, Member
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Member
- Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants, Member
- Certified Revenue Cycle Representative
- Certified Public Accountant
- Certified Healthcare Financial Professional
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
- BSBA in Accounting, with high distinction, Creighton University, Omaha, NE
- MBA, Creighton University, Omaha, NE
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
- Provider Relief Fund + Where Are We Now?
- Hospital Financial Governance
- Benefits of Medicare Interim Cost Report Template for Critical Access Hospitals
- Year-End Audit and Cost Report Planning, Preparation Tips
- Medicare Cost Report Electronic Filing
- Attention Kansas CAH's - Upcoming DSH Surveys
- Flex Monitoring - CAH Financial Indicators Released
- Provider Quality Reporting System (PQRS) + Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Transition Update
- CMS Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) Form
- Hospital Board of Director Responsibilities
- Not-For-Profit Net Asset Classification Changes
- Healthcare Revenue Recognition & Self-Pay Contracts
- Changes in Accounting for Leases + the Impact on Healthcare Entities

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