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 report finds COVID-19 vaccine for children reduced chances of ED, urgent care visits
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dec. 11 released a report that found last year’s version of the COVID-19 vaccine was 76% effective in preventing…
Headline
AHA responds to FDA request for information on AI-enabled medical devices
The AHA provided recommendations to the Food and Drug Administration Dec. 1 in response to a request for information on the measurement and evaluation of…
Headline
Permanent recall issued for Baxter ventilation system
The Food and Drug Administration has identified a Class I recall of Baxter Life2000 Ventilation Systems due to a cybersecurity issue discovered through…
Headline
CDC data shows rise in flu, COVID-19 cases across states 
Flu cases are growing or likely growing in 39 states, according to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from Nov. 11. COVID-19…
Headline
Recall issued for mislabeled potassium chloride
The Food and Drug Administration yesterday published an announcement from Otsuka ICU Medical saying that the company issued a voluntary recall for a mislabeled…
Headline
Study finds flu, COVID-19 infection temporarily raises risk of heart attack, stroke 
A study published Oct. 30 by the American Heart Association found that people have an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke following flu and COVID-19…