CMS increases Medicare Payment for High-Production COVID-19 Lab Tests, Expands Testing Capacity and Monitoring in SNF's

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced Medicare will nearly double payment for certain lab tests that use high-throughput technologies to rapidly diagnose large numbers of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. This is another action the Trump Administration is taking to rapidly expand COVID-19 testing, particularly for those with Medicare, including nursing home residents who are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19 and most affected by COVID-19 outbreaks across the country.

“CMS has made a critical move to ensure adequate reimbursement for advanced technology that can process a large volume of COVID-19 tests rapidly and accurately,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “This is an absolute game-changer for nursing homes, where risk of Coronavirus infection is high among our most vulnerable.”

Medicare will pay the higher payment of $100 for COVID-19 clinical diagnostic lab tests making use of high-throughput technologies developed by the private sector that allow for increased testing capacity, faster results, and more effective means of combating the spread of the virus. High-throughput lab tests can process more than two hundred specimens a day using highly sophisticated equipment that requires specially trained technicians and more time-intensive processes to assure quality. Medicare will pay laboratories for the tests at $100 effective April 14, 2020, through the duration of the COVID-19 national emergency.

Increasing Medicare payment for these tests will help laboratories test in nursing home communities that are vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. On March 30, 2020, CMS announced that Medicare will pay new specimen collection fees for COVID-19 testing for homebound and non-hospital inpatients, to help facilitate the testing of homebound individuals and those unable to travel. As a result of these actions, laboratories will have expanded capability to test more vulnerable populations, like nursing home patients, quickly and provide results faster.

For other COVID-19 laboratory tests, local Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) remain responsible for developing the payment amount in their respective jurisdictions. MACs are currently paying approximately $51 for those tests. As with other laboratory tests, there is generally no beneficiary cost-sharing under Original Medicare.

This announcement builds upon recent CMS actions to expand testing for COVID-19. On March 30, 2020, CMS announced that hospitals, laboratories, and other entities can perform tests for COVID-19 on people at home and in other community-based settings outside of the hospital. This will both increase access to testing and reduce risks of exposure. Additionally, CMS took action to allow healthcare systems, hospitals, and communities to set up testing sites to identify COVID-19-positive patients in a safe environment.

To keep up with the important work the Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19, visit www.coronavirus.gov. For a complete and updated list of CMS actions, and other information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.

For more information on this payment announcement, please visit:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/cms-2020-01-r.pdf

GoodRx Launches Telemedicine Comparison Service

GoodRx, the Californian startup best known for its pharmaceutical-cost-transparency tool, is rolling out a new feature that lets patients compare telemedicine prices and service options, according to an article in Mobihealthnews. 

Dubbed GoodRx telehealth marketplace, users are able to select the type of condition they are looking to address. Patients can select one of 100 conditions, which run the gamut from cold and flu symptoms to erectile dysfunction, and even include COVID-19. 

After the medical issue is selected, the site redirects patients to a list of telehealth services that treat that condition, along with the estimated price and pharmacy information. For example, a patient can search to see if a specific telehealth service has pharmacy pickup or medication delivery. 

The startup is pitching this as a way to get care during the coronavirus pandemic. 

“As Americans stay home, and with our front-line hospitals and clinics experiencing tremendous demand, we want to help people get access to services for a range of medical issues,” Doug Hirsch, co-CEO and cofounder of GoodRx, said in a statement. “Our goal with the telehealth marketplace is to give people all their options, services and prices, so they can easily get the treatment they need.”

Telemedicine has seen a sharp increase in usage in the last few months as the cases of the coronavirus have spiked. Providers are pitching telemedicine as a way to provide individuals with care, while practicing responsible social distancing and limiting unnecessary travel. Regardless, telemedicine is essential to many aging in place plans.  The reliance on telemedicine in response to the virus makes telemedicine more readily available and familiar to a wider segment of the population, making incorporation into aging in lace plans easier.  

"If there are any silver linings it's that the [American Medical Association] along with many other organizations have been working for telehealth adoption for some time. Obviously it is really having its moment right now and [has been] able to step up to keep providers and patients safe on the front lines," Meg Barron, vice president of Digital Health Strategy at the American Medical Association (AMA), said during the MassChallenge coronavirus innovation summit, last week. 

As telemedicine takes center stage, consumers and providers alike are learning more about the technology. Last week the AMA launched the Telemedicine Quick Reference Guide, aimed at helping clinicians figure out best practices for implementing the tech. The guidelines cover everything from policy and coding to implementation.

COVID-19: Caregiver Action Network Tips for Family Caregivers

If you are an in-home caregiver the rapid spread of COVID-19 has and will continue to affect how you do your job. The Caregiver Action Network (CAN) has posted some Tips for Family Caregivers.  CAN continues to recommend following the guidance of the CDC.

Tips include:

• Finding support through support groups, churches or community centers;
• Refilling prescriptions and making sure you are fulling stocked on medical supplies;
• Only going to the Emergency Room for emergencies;
• Knowing your own risk factors – chronic conditions or immunosuppressed;
• Being aware of any changes to visitation policies;
• Calling ahead before going to any medical appointments; and
• Preparing for possible quarantine.

CAN also offers several useful resources:

• Crisis Symptom Reporting Guide;
• Medication Checklist; and a
• Patient File Checklist.

CAN is a leading family caregiver organization working to improve the quality of life for the more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease or the frailties of old age. It is a nonprofit organization providing education, peer support and resources to family caregivers across the country free of charge.

Beware Coronavirus Scams that Exploit Unity and Commitment

We’re witnessing a phenomenal solidarity of people around the world stepping up during the global emergency of Covid-19. Apparently, cybercriminals waste no time to exploit it to their advantage. The number of coronavirus-themed scams and security incidents related to it has been steadily increasing over the last couple of months. Hackers are preying on people’s fears, spreading disinformation, and monetizing panic.

“This may be the most dangerous time to be online,” says Daniel Markuson, a digital privacy expert at NordVPN Teams. “And those least informed are in most danger. Hackers are exploiting very real fears about the coronavirus through fake emails and scam websites. People are giving up private information and downloading malware without a second thought.”  NordVPN Teams is a cybersecurity solution for business from the world’s most advanced VPN service provider NordVPN. 

The following are the most common coronavirus scams and security incidents:

Emails from “health authorities.” When Covid-19 was just ramping up, cybercriminals were already on it. Pretending to be health officials, they sent out emails with instructions on how to prevent coronavirus infection. These instructions, disguised as PDF, mp4, docx files, contained malware, which harvested sensitive data or took over infected devices. “That’s the granddaddy of coronavirus scams,” says Daniel Markuson. “Fake emails from WHO, CDC, and other health authorities have been circulating since January, containing malware or phishing scams instead of life-saving information.“

Fake coronavirus maps. A black world map with expanding red dots. The now-famous Johns Hopkins University map is a source of much-needed information that is accessible to all. Hackers used Johns Hopkins University data to create malware-ridden apps and spread them all over the web to unsuspecting users. This resulted in cybercriminals gaining access to people’s phone cameras, microphones, and text messages.

An ecosystem of scam websites. Every day sees the launch of a thousand fraudulent coronavirus websites. They host phishing scams, distribute malware, or sell non-existent cures and supplements. “Covid-19 and coronavirus-themed websites are growing at an exponential rate,” says Daniel Markuson from NordVPN Teams. “Among them, there’s a large number of suspicious or outright malicious websites.”

Covid-19 weaponized in cyberwarfare. In February, an email went viral in Ukraine. Supposedly coming from the health ministry, it reported new coronavirus cases in the country, sparking violent protests and clashes with the police. The email was fake, and it came from outside of Ukraine. Russia is among the suspects because, as the email went viral, its state-sponsored hackers attacked Ukrainian targets with malware hidden in Covid-19 documents. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. South Korean and Vietnamese cybersecurity firms reported coronavirus-themed attacks coming from North Korea and China, respectively. In India, a Pakistani-sponsored agent used a decoy health advisory document to collect sensitive information from Indian institutions.

Cyberattack on the US Health and Human Services Department. On March 15, cyberattackers tried to overload the Department’s servers with a DDoS attack (an attempt to flood and crash a service with superfluous requests). The Department's servers suffered millions of hits over several hours, but this failed to make a dent in its systems. US officials suspect that the attack came from foreign actors. “No worse time than a global health emergency to DDoS the Health Department. Ethically, this is one of the worst things you can do — it could’ve cost lives,” says Daniel Markuson, the digital privacy expert at NordVPN Teams.

The virus of the mind. Hackers know that scared people tend to make irrational decisions. This is exactly why cybercriminals have been using coronavirus conspiracy theories to grab attention and exploit fear. By claiming to have a secret coronavirus cure or a new vaccine against Covid-19, they use social engineering to extract confidential data or bait users into downloading malware. “Not a piece of cybersecurity advice, just a general one — check your sources and prioritize what health authorities and healthcare professionals say over anything else.”

Thanks to NordVPN Teams for putting this information together, and to Today's Caregiver, for distributing it.  

NordVPN Teams offers a full range of features to ensure convenience and powerful digital protection for small and medium enterprises, freelancers, and remote teams through advanced 256-bit encryption, including ad and malware blocking, unsecured traffic prevention, automatic connection on Wi-Fi networks, and 24/7 customer support with a dedicated manager.

3-Day Hospital Stay Rule Waived for SNF Transfers During the National Emergency

On the heels of the declaration of a national emergency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is waiving the requirement that Medicare beneficiaries must spend at least three days in a hospital before qualifying for coverage in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for those beneficiaries who need to be transferred as a result of a disaster or emergency. 

In addition, CMS states that “for certain beneficiaries who recently exhausted their SNF benefits,” SNF coverage will be renewed without first having to start a new benefit period.  

For more information see CMS’s “COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Health Care Providers Fact Sheet.”