Month: July 2020
NABH Signs Letter Calling For Access to OUD Treatment and RSS During Covid-19
Written by Emily Wilkins (NABH) on . Posted in Letters.
Help Maintain Coverage of Telehealth Expanded During Covid-19
Written by Emily Wilkins (NABH) on . Posted in Alerts.
NABH is requesting information from our members to show how expanded coverage of telehealth during the Covid-19 pandemic has helped maintain and even improve access to behavioral healthcare. This information will help us advocate for continuation of this expanded coverage of telehealth after the public health emergency ends.
Here is a quick survey to share the requested data on the impact of the telehealth expansion. Please submit the survey and any additional information as soon as possible, but no later than Friday, July 31.
Please email Kirsten Beronio, Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs (kirsten@nabh.org) with any questions.
Deadline to Apply for Medicaid / CHIP Provider Relief Extended to Aug. 3
Written by Emily Wilkins (NABH) on . Posted in Alerts.
Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced that it is extending the application deadline for Medicaid and CHIP Provider Relief Fund distribution from today July 20, 2020 to August 3, 2020.
In June, HHS announced plans to distribute approximately $15 billion to eligible providers that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs who had not yet received a payment from earlier distributions from the Provider Relief Fund.
This HHS fact sheet explains the application process.
In addition, HHS is holding focus groups tomorrow and Wednesday to identify opportunities to increase application volumes in the current Medicaid/CHIP distribution. The focus group discussion will center on three topics-
- Awareness of the PRF program and Medicaid/CHIP distribution
- Understanding of program components, such as eligibility
- Technical challenges faced during the application process
NABH Letter on Telehealth: NABH sent a copy of this letter to the House Ways and Means and House Energy and Commerce Committees.
Written by Emily Wilkins (NABH) on . Posted in Letters.
HHS Announces Changes to Covid-19 Daily Data Reporting Process Effective July 15
Written by Emily Wilkins (NABH) on . Posted in Alerts.
HHS announced that as of Wednesday, July 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Covid-19 module will no longer be an option for hospitals to fulfill the agency’s request for daily data reporting on bed capacity, utilization, personal protective equipment (PPE), and in-house laboratory testing data.
Instead, HHS is asking hospitals to use one of these four options to report that information:
- If your state has assumed reporting responsibility, submit all data to your state each day and your state will submit on your behalf. Your state can provide you with a certification if they are authorized to submit on your behalf.
- Submit data to TeleTracking™. All instructions about the data submission are on that site and the new and updated fields will be ready as of July 15.
- Authorize your health information technology (IT) vendor or other third party to share information directly with HHS.
- Publish to the hospital or facility’s website in a standardized format, such as schema.org.
SAMHSA Updates Confidentiality of Patient Records in Final Rule
Written by Emily Wilkins (NABH) on . Posted in Alerts.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on Monday issued a final rule to update the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records known as 42 CFR part 2 (or “part 2”) regulations, further aligning the regulations with other healthcare delivery rules.
Key changes include:
- Part 2 programs may share information verbally with a non-part 2 provider without subjecting the non-part 2 record to the requirements of part 2, as long as the non-part 2 provider segregates specific substance use disorder (SUD) records.
- Patients may consent to disclosures without naming a specific individual to receive this information; the update provides instructions for disclosures to exchanges and research institutions and provides guidance on disclosures related to care coordination and case management.
- Non-part 2 providers are not required to redact information in their medical records and may redisclose information if the patient has signed a written consent, or if the disclosure is otherwise permitted under the regulations.
- Written consents expressly allow sharing information with 18 types of payment and healthcare operations, including for care coordination and case management.
- Non-opioid treatment providers have access to central registries if they have a treatment relationship to the patient.
- Opioid treatment programs have new permissions to disclose information to prescription drug monitoring programs.
- During medical emergencies, information may be shared among part 2 programs or other SUD treatment providers during state or federally declared natural and major disasters.
- Disclosures for conducting scientific research may be made to non-Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) covered entities and those who are not subject to the Common Rule.
- Permits federal, state, and local agencies to conduct audits and evaluations.
- Extends to 12 months the period of placement of undercover agents or informants, which may be further authorized by a new court order.