New guidance from CMS might help agencies address patient concerns and show providers in the community that your agency is beginning to try to get back to normal operations and are operating within similar parameters, says Robert Markette, an attorney with Indianapolis-based Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman.
CMS has issued new recommendations concerning communities that are in Phase 1 of the guidelines for President Trump’s Opening Up America Again with low incidence or relatively low and stable incidence of COVID-19 cases. CMS states that in areas that have a low, or relatively low and stable incidence of COVID-19, it is important to be flexible and allow facilities to provide care for patients needing non-emergent, non-COVID-19 health care.
The new guidelines mention a gradual transition and encourage health care providers to coordinate with local and state public health officials and to review the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies. Workforce availability, facility readiness and testing capacity should be considered when making the decision to re-start or increase in-person care, according to the new CMS recommendation.