On November 4, CMS issued a rule requiring health care facilities staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 4, 2022. The CMS rule applies to Medicare and Medicaid-certified provider and suppliers in facilities that are regulated under the Medicare health and safety standards known as Conditions of Participation, Conditions for Coverage, or Requirements. Since outpatient private practices are not governed by such regulations, the CMS mandate does not apply to them. Under the CMS rule, individuals who provide services 100% remotely, such as fully remote telehealth or payroll services, are not subject to the vaccination requirements. Certain allergies, recognized medical conditions, or religious beliefs, observances, or practices may provide grounds for exemption. For full details of the CMS vaccination rule, please see our story and practice advisory published on our website.  

Write your lawmakers about the Supporting Medicare Providers Act (H.R. 6020) and the Stabilizing Medicare Access to Rehabilitation and Therapy Act, or SMART Act (H.R. 5536).

Burnout and high turnover are an increasing problem in most health care professions. Here’s what you can do to help your employees feel truly valued.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has ramped up audits this year. While technically it is impossible to avoid an audit because Medicare is always actively analyzing claims, it’s possible to reduce the burden of a dedicated audit and help avoid large penalties.