AHA urges Medicare to enhance SNF funding for COVID-19 testing

Jun 10, 2020 - 02:44 PM
COVID19 Testing Web Sized

AHA yesterday submitted comment to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the agency’s proposed skilled nursing facility prospective payment system for fiscal year 2021, urging CMS to support additional funds to offset the cost of critically important COVID-19 testing.

AHA said COVID-19-positive patients “are widely acknowledged to generally require substantial additional clinical and other resources… While a portion of these costs have been supported with much-appreciated emergency funds, COVID-19 testing remains a particularly costly ongoing need, with the added expectation that it will resurface during future pandemics.”

Also, AHA agreed it was appropriate for CMS to exclude selected data from the SNF value-based purchasing program, to recognize the impact of the pandemic. Read AHA’s full comments.

Related News Articles

Headline
CDC releases 2025-26 respiratory disease season outlook
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is predicting a similar combined number of peak hospitalizations from COVID-19, the flu and respiratory…
Headline
OSHA extends comment period on proposal removing remaining COVID-19 emergency temporary standard requirements
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a 60-day extension of the comment period on its proposed rule to remove the remaining…
Headline
CDC says COVID-19 cases growing or likely growing in 45 states 
COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 45 states and not changing in five states, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease…
Headline
FDA announces recall of cefazolin by Sandoz for mislabeling
The Food and Drug Administration July 15 announced a recall by Sandoz on certain lots of cefazolin, due to the lots being mislabeled as penicillin G potassium…
Headline
COVID-19 vaccination approved for older adults and high-risk, younger children
 The Food and Drug Administration July 10 approved Moderna’s Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine for children under 12 with at least one underlying condition that…
Headline
OSHA proposes removing remaining requirements of its COVID-19 emergency temporary standard
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration June 30 released a proposed rule to remove what remains of its emergency temporary standard for occupational…