New CMS “Guidance” – Clear As Mud

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently issued new guidance for healthcare providers on documenting and reporting electronic clinical quality measures (“eCQMs”) for telehealth encounters.  The new guidance was intended to provide clarity but may in fact lead to more confusion about what claims will be reimbursed if provided by telehealth methods as opposed …

CARES Act Expands Funding and Medicare Coverage For Telehealth Services

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump, provides a number of important expansions of telehealth coverage during the public health emergency affecting those in rural areas and home health care patients and establishes significant funding for enhancement of telehealth services by updating …

Temporary Relaxation of Supervision and Credential Requirements for Healthcare Providers

On March 29, 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-30 temporarily suspending a number of supervision and credential requirements applicable to healthcare providers.  These changes are intended to remain in effect during the public health emergency resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and apply only to healthcare providers currently in possession of a license in …

HIPAA, the Opioid Crisis and the Role of Part 2

Updated as of December 2018 With the ever-growing opioid crisis and the President’s call to action to address that crisis particularly through the signing of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act or the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, P.L. 115-271 in October, 2018 , primary …