CMS eases provider enrollment screening for Irma; hospital funds launched

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has temporarily suspended certain Medicare enrollment screening requirements for health care providers that are assisting with Hurricane Irma recovery efforts in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The agency also has established a toll-free hotline, 855-247-8428, to help non-certified Medicare Part B providers and other practitioners initiate provisional temporary Medicare billing privileges. Beginning on Sept. 18, providers will be able to initiate temporary Medicare billing privileges over the phone and on the same day. For more information, visit www.cms.gov. In other news, the Florida and Texas hospital associations have set up assistance funds to help hospital employees who experienced significant property loss or damage from any natural disasters like the recent hurricanes Irma and Harvey. AHA has contributed to the FHA and THA funds. For more information or to make a donation, visit the FHA webpage and THA webpage.