CMS eases certain CLIA laboratory requirements during COVID-19 emergency
To meet the urgent need to expand laboratory capacity, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday announced a relaxed enforcement policy under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments during the COVID-19 public health emergency with respect to review of pathology slides, proficiency testing, alternate collection devices, and requirements for a CLIA certificate. Among other flexibilities, CMS said the policy will enable:
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Pathologists to review pathology slides remotely if certain defined conditions are met;
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U.S. laboratories performing COVID-19 testing that apply for CLIA certification to begin testing as quickly as possible; and
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Laboratories within a hospital/university hospital campus to hold a single CLIA certificate for the laboratory sites within the same physical location or street address