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A second wave of policy and payment changes that CMS released today is reshaping – yet again – how the medical community can conduct care during the COVID-19 crisis and, critically, how much providers can expect to get paid.
 
In a wide-ranging update to policy guidance that CMS is touting as a “second round of sweeping changes,” the agency seeks to further expand COVID care, ramp up diagnostic testing and again loosen restrictions on which types of providers can deliver vital services like telehealth during this unprecedented emergency.
 
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on April 18 expanded its list of possible COVID-19 signs and symptoms, adding six new S&S in addition to the original three, the New York Times reports.
 
 
In a surprise Sunday night announcement, CMS announced it was stopping the Accelerated and Advance Payments (AAP) program it recently offered as a solution for providers cash-strapped by COVID-19 closures.
 
 
Starting today a second wave of relief payments — totaling $20 billion — is on its way to health care providers and hospitals. But take note: To access and keep the relief funds, providers must verify their 2018 payment receipts with the federal government.
 
CMS and private payers have knocked down barriers for telehealth and telemedicine services during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). But a MedPage Today article reveals that barriers to payment remain, and the steady flow of changes to coding and billing guidance is a major hurdle.

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