CMS extends COVID-19 waiver to new Medicare-dependent hospitals

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has modified its COVID-19 blanket waiver for Medicare-dependent hospitals (MDHs) to include hospitals that became newly classified as MDHs during the COVID-19 public health emergency. For the duration of the PHE, CMS in May 2020 waived the requirement that MDHs have 100 or fewer beds and at least 60% of their inpatient days or discharges attributable to patients with Medicare Part A benefits during the specified hospital cost reporting periods. For more on the waiver, see page 12 of the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers.