Rise in Covid Cases Prompts HHS to Renew PHE

The PHE renewal will continue through April.

With the constant drumbeat of rising cases of COVID-19, it’s little wonder that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has renewed the nation’s public health emergency (PHE) yet again.

The extension put providers on alert, realizing the increased scrutiny that can be expected from medical record auditors, as this brings another 90 days of 1135 waivers. The next milestone on the ever-moving timetable is mid-February, when HHS is expected to announce a 60-day notice to allow the PHE to expire in April.

The HHS Secretary is empowered to issues waivers under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act (SSA). Waivers are prompted when the President declares a major disaster or an emergency under the Stafford Act or an emergency under the National Emergencies Act.

According to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response, waivers are issued when providers of services (healthcare) to individuals are enrolled in SSA programs “in good faith … (yet) are unable to comply with certain statutory requirements, (so they can be) reimbursed and exempted from sanctions for noncompliance other than fraud or abuse.”

“Many expect this to be the last extension, although contagious viruses that mutate rarely act the way we expect them to act,” said Ronald Hirsch, MD, in an email to RACmonitor. “I am still hearing of a considerable number of hospitals facing capacity and staffing issues. We are far from back to normal.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), new cases of the deadly coronavirus appear to be trending upwards. The agency’s weekly cases are up from November, with 470,699 cases reported this month. Weekly deaths, according to the CDC, are at 2,731, while hospitalizations appear to be trending lower.

Meanwhile, media sources are reporting that the COVID omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 appears to be surging across the Northeast, where it is estimated that 72 percent of infections seem to be traced back to it.

Health officials say that this strain appears to evade immunity provided by immunizations, and even prior infections.

Yet another omicron subvariant, BQ.1.1, although still dominant in this country, has now reached into other U.S. regions, with health officials predicting that it will continue to spread.

In making his announcement, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said that as a result of “the continued consequences of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic,” he was renewing the PHE, effective Jan. 11, 2023.

The PHE was originally instituted Jan. 31, 2020 by former HHS Secretary Alex Azar, who also renewed the PHE again on April 21, July 23, and Oct. 2, all in 2020, and Jan. 7, 2021.

Becerra renewed the PHE on April 15, 2021, and in subsequent quarters in 2022.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Chuck Buck

Chuck Buck is the publisher of RACmonitor and is the program host and executive producer of Monitor Monday.

Related Stories

Leave a Reply

Please log in to your account to comment on this article.

Featured Webcasts

Heart Failure Coding Essentials: Ensuring Compliance and Optimal Reimbursement

Heart Failure Coding Essentials: Ensuring Compliance and Optimal Reimbursement

Master the complexities of heart failure coding with this expert-led webcast by Emily Montemayor, CCS, CMBCS, COC, CPC, CPMA. Discover strategies to ensure compliance with ICD-10-CM guidelines, documentation integrity, and capture comorbidities like CKD and hypertension. Learn how to resolve coding challenges, improve documentation practices, and submit clean claims to minimize denials and safeguard your organization’s financial health. With practical insights and real-world examples, this session equips you to prevent revenue leakage, enhance compliance, and secure optimal reimbursement—all while supporting better patient outcomes.

February 26, 2025
Decoding 2025 OPPS Charge Capture and Coding Complexities: Strategies for Success

Decoding 2025 OPPS Charge Capture and Coding Complexities: Strategies for Success

Prepare your organization for the 2025 OPPS updates with expert insights from Tiffani Bouchard, CCS, CRCR, a Revenue Integrity Professional with over 30 years of experience. This webcast will address critical challenges in charge capture and coding, providing clarity on APC policies, C-APC packaging, exclusions, and payer-specific requirements. Attendees will learn actionable strategies to ensure compliance, optimize reimbursement, and mitigate risks of claim denials. Gain the knowledge needed to implement updates effectively, educate your team, and maintain seamless revenue cycle operations in the face of evolving OPPS complexities.

January 29, 2025
Enhancing Outcomes with CDI-Coding-Quality Collaboration in Acute Care Hospitals

Enhancing Outcomes with CDI-Coding-Quality Collaboration in Acute Care Hospitals

Join Angela Comfort, DBA, MBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, as she presents effective strategies to strengthen collaboration between CDI, coding, and quality departments in acute care hospitals. Angela will also share guidance on implementing cross-departmental meetings, using shared KPIs, and engaging leadership to foster a culture of collaboration. Attendees will gain actionable tools to optimize documentation accuracy, elevate quality metrics, and drive a unified approach to healthcare goals, ultimately enhancing both patient outcomes and organizational performance.

November 21, 2024

Trending News

Featured Webcasts

Navigating the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: Key Changes and Strategies for Success

Navigating the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: Key Changes and Strategies for Success

The 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule brings significant changes to payment rates, coverage, and coding for physician services, impacting practices nationwide. Join Stanley Nachimson, MS., as he provides a comprehensive guide to understanding these updates, offering actionable insights on new Medicare-covered services, revised coding rules, and payment policies effective January 1. Learn how to adapt your practices to maintain compliance, maximize reimbursement, and plan for revenue in 2025. Whether you’re a physician, coder, or financial staff member, this session equips you with the tools to navigate Medicare’s evolving requirements confidently and efficiently.

January 21, 2025
Patient Notifications and Rights: What You Need to Know

Patient Notifications and Rights: What You Need to Know

Dr. Ronald Hirsch provides critical details on the new Medicare Appeal Process for Status Changes for patients whose status changes during their hospital stay. He also delves into other scenarios of hospital patients receiving custodial care or medically unnecessary services where patient notifications may be needed along with the processes necessary to ensure compliance with state and federal guidance.

December 5, 2024
Navigating the No Surprises Act & Price Transparency: Essential Insights for Compliance

Navigating the No Surprises Act & Price Transparency: Essential Insights for Compliance

Healthcare organizations face complex regulatory requirements under the No Surprises Act and Price Transparency rules. These policies mandate extensive fee disclosures across settings, and confusion is widespread—many hospitals remain unaware they must post every contracted rate. Non-compliance could lead to costly penalties, financial loss, and legal risks.  Join David M. Glaser Esq. as he shows you how to navigate these regulations effectively.

November 19, 2024
Post Operative Pain Blocks: Guidelines, Documentation, and Billing to Protect Your Facility

Post Operative Pain Blocks: Guidelines, Documentation, and Billing to Protect Your Facility

Protect your facility from unwanted audits! Join Becky Jacobsen, BSN, RN, MBS, CCS-P, CPC, CPEDC, CBCS, CEMC, and take a deep dive into both the CMS and AMA guidelines for reporting post operative pain blocks. You’ll learn how to determine if the nerve block is separately codable with real life examples for better understanding. Becky will also cover how to evaluate whether documentation supports medical necessity, offer recommendations for stronger documentation practices, and provide guidance on educating providers about documentation requirements. She’ll include a discussion of appropriate modifier and diagnosis coding assignment so that you can be confident that your billing of post operative pain blocks is fully supported and compliant.

October 24, 2024

Trending News

Happy National Doctor’s Day! Learn how to get a complimentary webcast on ‘Decoding Social Admissions’ as a token of our heartfelt appreciation! Click here to learn more →

CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24