Physician & Practice Timeline®

In a recent interim final rule, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) extended the compliance dates and timelines for information blocking and Conditions and Maintenance of Certification (CoC/MOC) requirements in the Cures Act Final Rule. The extension will allow health care systems to properly focus on COVID-19 response. The new deadline will be April 5, 2021. Read the full announcement and see additional dates and timelines.

Physicians can now submit patient information and claims for payment for uninsured patients treated for COVID-19. Physicians will need to verify and attest that the patient does not have individual, employer-sponsored, Medicare or Medicaid coverage and that no other payer will reimburse them for COVID-19 testing and/or treatment for the patient. Claims will be reimbursed for dates of service or admittance on or after February 4, 2020. You can submit your claim through the uninsured portal.

CMS recently announced that effective March 28, 2020, it will offer accelerated and advance payments for Medicare participating health care clinicians and suppliers to lessen financial hardships for physician practices. Clinicians who meet the qualifying criteria may request up to 100% Medicare payments for a three-month period. The payments will be subject to recoupment within 180 days. Visit the press release and fact sheet for more information.