The nation’s healthcare system is preparing to reach record capacity in the coming weeks. Much focus has been on the limited capacities of the nation’s acute care hospitals. As a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Secretary is authorized to make temporary waivers under the Social Security Act (known as “Section 1135 Waivers”). In turn, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) COVID-19 Emergency Declarations have expanded the ability to move patients from acute care setting to skilled nursing settings in an expedited manner to reserve hospital beds for the most severely ill patients.
Continue Reading Using Skilled Nursing Facilities to Expand Hospital Capacity During COVID-19 Crisis

In an unprecedented announcement (and on the heels of other directives on healthcare privacy matters), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issued a statement on March 17, 2020, that it will not impose penalties against covered entity healthcare providers in connection with their “good faith provision of telehealth services” as long as the Public Health Emergency related to COVID-19 is in place. OCR is the federal agency responsible for the regulation and enforcement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its Privacy and Security Rules (together, HIPAA).
Continue Reading Good Faith Provision of Telehealth During COVID -19 Public Health Emergency

HIPAA and COVID-19: Privacy Protections Still Control in Case of Pandemic

As noted in our recent alert listed below, the HIPAA Privacy Rule is not suspended during a public health or other emergency. However, the Secretary of Health & Human Services may waive certain portions of the Privacy Rule during an emergency. Effective as of March 15, 2020 (and retroactive to March 1, 2020), HHS Secretary Alex Azar issued a limited waiver of HIPAA sanctions and penalties. Even with this limited waiver in place, HHS continues to stress the importance of appropriately sharing healthcare information and maintaining healthcare privacy protections during the COVID-19 pandemic situation.Continue Reading UPDATE – HHS Announces Limited HIPAA Waiver for Hospitals