The American Hospital Association is urging HHS to consider temporarily suspending more federal requirements to help providers better respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports AHA News.
AHA President and CEO Richard Pollack outlined recommendations in an April 6 letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar.
Recommended actions include:
1. Waiving more sanctions outlined by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act regarding the transfer of unstabilized patients and screenings performed by healthcare providers.
2. Pausing all medical review audits to free up staff members' time during the pandemic.
3. Ensuring teaching hospitals that boost bed capacity are not penalized in their indirect medical education payments due to an artificially depressed resident-to-bed ratio.
4. Waiving provisions that bar hospital outpatient departments from providing telehealth services.
5. Confirming that the Office of Civil Rights' HIPAA protections last throughout the nation's emergency declaration.
To view the full set of recommendations, click here.
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