Coronavirus (COVID-19) Partner Toolkit

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking action to protect the health and safety of our nation’s patients and providers in the wake of the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

CMS has developed this toolkit to help you stay informed on CMS and HHS materials available on the COVID-19. Please share these materials, bookmark the page, and check back often for the most up-to-date information.

To listen to the audio files and read the transcripts for the COVID-19 Stakeholder calls, visit the Podcast and Transcripts page.

To keep up with the important work CMS is doing in response to COVID-19, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.

CDC Homepage

Coronavirus.gov

USA.gov

USA.gov (Spanish)

FEMA.gov

White House Coronavirus Task Force: Keeping Workplaces, Homes, Schools, or Commercial Establishments Safe.

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Workplace, School and Home Guidance
• A Framework for Mitigation

If you work with:

The General Public

Wash Your Hands Video

FEMA Rumor Control

Infographics

• Stop the Spread of Germs
• COVID-19 Symptoms

Faith-Based Communities

• HHS Recommended Preventive Practices and FAQs for Faith-Based and Community Leaders
• Interim Guidance for Community and Faith Leaders
• Checklist for Community and Faith Leaders
• Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations
• Resources for Homeless Shelters

Higher Risk Groups  

• CDC Guidance
• Administration for Community Living: Information for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

Rural Communities

• Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) FAQs
• Rural Health Information Hub – Rural Response to COVID-19
• Rural Response to COVID-19 Webinars and Teleconferences
• Registration for CDC COVID-19 Response Update for Rural Communities webinar on April 8 at 4pm ET
• Update for Rural Partners and Communities on COVID-19 Webinar- aired March 23

CDC Guidance for Retirement Communities and Independent Living

Guidance in Correctional and Detention Facilities

Medicare Beneficiaries

General Beneficiary Information

General Beneficiary Information (Spanish)

Medicare blog

Protect Yourself from Coronavirus Scams – How to Report Medicare Fraud

Telemedicine

• Telehealth Benefits
• Expanded Telehealth Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Resources

• Taking Care of your Behavioral Health: Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak
• Virtual Recovery Resources

Caregivers

• Home Care Guidance
• Prevent the Spread Guidance

Marketplace Consumers

• Marketplace Blog
• Payment and Grace Period Flexibilities Associated with the COVID-19 (PDF)

If you are a Clinician

CMS Guidance

Telemedicine

• Telehealth Benefits in Medicare
• Expanded Medicare Telehealth Services
• Telehealth Toolkit for General Practitioners (PDF)
• End-Stage Renal Disease Providers Toolkit (PDF)
• FAQs on Availability and Usage of Telehealth Services through Private Health Insurance Coverage (PDF)

HHS Office of Inspector General

• Policy Statement Regarding Physicians or Other Practitioners that Reduce or Waive Amounts Owed by Federal Health Care Program Beneficiaries for Telehealth
• Fact Sheet for Practitioners That Reduce, Waive Amounts Owed by Beneficiaries for Telehealth Services During the COVID-19 Outbreak

HHS Office of Civil Rights

• Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications During the COVID-19 Nationwide Public Health Emergency
• FAQs on Telehealth and HIPAA during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency

HIPAA Guidance during COVID-19

• Limited Waiver of HIPAA Sanctions and Penalties During a Nationwide Public Health Emergency
• HIPAA Privacy and Novel Coronavirus

Medicare Quality Reporting Programs – exceptions from reporting requirements and extensions

Provider Enrollment Relief FAQs (PDF)

Provider Enrollment Flexibilities (PDF)

Notice of Recommendations on Adult Elective Surgeries, Non-Essential Medical, Surgical, and Dental Procedures

Guidance on CMS Adult Elective Surgery and Procedures (PDF)

Fact Sheet: Expansion of the Accelerated and Advance Payments Program for Providers and Suppliers during COVID-19 Emergency (PDF)

CDC Health Professionals Guidance

• CDC COVID-19 Information for Healthcare Professionals
• Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)
• Information for Clinicians on Therapeutic Options for COVID-19 Patients

FDA Resources

• NEW Guidance on Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) Requirements
• NEW Action to Facilitate Access to Medical Products, including Ventilators and other Respiratory Devices

Personal Protective Equipment

Access to Respirators

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Resources and Information

• SAMHSA Resources and Information
• Considerations for the Care and Treatment of Mental and Substance Use Disorders
• COVID-19 Guidance for opioid treatment programs
• FAQs: Provision of methadone and buprenorphine for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in the COVID-19 Emergency
• Disaster Planning Handbook for Behavioral Health Treatment Programs

If you are in a Care Setting

CMS Guidance

Hospitals and Healthcare Systems

• Press Release: Regulatory Changes Regulatory Changes to Help U.S. Healthcare System Address COVID-19 Patient Surge
• Fact Sheet: Additional Background: Sweeping Regulatory Changes to Help U.S. Healthcare System Address COVID-19 Patient Surge
• COVID-19 Waivers and Flexibilities
• Letter to Hospitals: Reporting Data on COVID-19 Testing Performed in “In-house” Laboratories (PDF)
• Memorandum for Hospital Emergency Departments

Long-Term Care Nursing Homes Telehealth and Telemedicine Tool Kit (PDF)

Medicare Quality Reporting Programs – exceptions from reporting requirements and extensions

CMS Targeted Plan for Healthcare Facility Inspections

Waivers and Flexibilities for Hospitals and other Healthcare Facilities (PDF)

Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Organizations

Health Centers

• Health Resources and Services Administration - Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Resources for Health Centers
• COVID-19 FAQs for Health Centers

Hospice

Nursing Home

CDC Health Professionals Guidance

• CDC COVID-19 Information for Healthcare Professionals
• CDC COVID-19 Information for Healthcare Facilities

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Resources and Information

• SAMHSA Resources and Information
• Considerations for Outpatient Mental and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Settings
• Interim Considerations for State Psychiatric Hospitals
• Opioid Treatment Program Guidance

If you are a Health Plan or a State

Medicaid.gov

Medicaid and CHIP Disaster Response Toolkit

New Guidance Regarding Enhanced Medicaid Funding for States

• Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP)
• FMAP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Medicaid and CHIP Checklists and Tools

NEW Information Bulletin: Medicaid Substance Use Disorder Treatment via Telehealth, and Rural Health Care and Medicaid Telehealth Flexibilities Guidance

Medicaid Disaster State Plan Amendment Template

Medicaid 1115 Waiver Opportunity and Application Checklist

Medicaid Section 1135 Waivers

• Medicaid 1135 Waiver Opportunity and Application Checklist
• List of Approved State Medicaid 1135 Waivers

Medicaid Home and Community Based 1915(c) Waivers/Appendix K

• Appendix K Templates, Documents, Instructions and List of Approved Waivers
• COVID-19 Appendix K Instructions

Medicaid Telehealth

Medicare Advantage and Part D

• Press Release
• CMS memorandum for Medicare Advantage and Part D (PDF)

This resource, and earlier CMS actions in response to the COVID-19 virus, are part of the ongoing White House Task Force efforts. To keep up with the important work the Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19 click here Coronavirus.gov. For information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.

CMS is regularly posting resources. Please note that the most updated information can be found on Coronavirus.gov, FDA.gov, and USA.gov.

Updated April 7, 2020