AHA releases new fact sheet on COVID-19 waivers that should be extended or made permanent

The AHA today released a new fact sheet detailing a number of waivers issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the COVID-19 public health emergency that the association believes should be extended or made permanent. The fact sheet discusses a number of waivers related to telehealth; hospital-at-home programs; workforce; quality, patient safety and privacy; and care delivery in rural areas.

"Recognizing the potential long-term benefit of many of these waivers, we urge CMS to consider taking action under its own authority or in conjunction with Congress, where necessary, to make certain flexibilities permanent while providing a post-PHE transition period for several other flexibilities," the fact sheet says. "In addition to taking action to extend some waivers while making others permanent, we urge CMS to consider employing significant enforcement discretion for some time after the PHE is terminated."

AHA has shared the fact sheet with CMS.