CMS: 3-day waiver also applies to swing-bed care

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services clarified that the agency is waiving the Medicare coverage requirement for a three-day prior hospitalization requirement for both skilled nursing facilities and swing-bed services furnished by critical access hospitals and rural swing-bed hospitals, the agency says in a new COVID-19 FAQ on Medicare billing, specifically question 4. AHA last week urged the Department of Health and Human Services to take additional actions to help health care providers better respond to the pandemic, including making explicit that swing beds are included in the 3-day SNF waiver.