Governor Cuomo Announces Results of Hospital Survey, Plans for “Reimagining” Health Care Today (May 6th), Governor Cuomo held a press conference during which he announced preliminary results from a survey completed by 113 hospitals over a three-day period regarding new COVID-19 cases. This survey was conducted to provide detailed information on new COVID-19 hospitalizations to…
Continue readingGovernor Cuomo Provides Details on Phased Reopening Plan Today (May 4th), Governor Cuomo held a press conference during which he announced that total hospitalizations, new hospitalizations, and deaths related to COVID-19 are continuing to decline. Addressing the State’s reopening plan, the Governor reaffirmed that certain regions will be permitted to begin reopening on May 15th based…
Continue readingAs part of our ongoing effort to provide comprehensive resources on policy changes during the coronavirus pandemic, SPG has put together a review of COVID-19 related benefits for the major downstate New York Medicaid managed care organizations. These changes include member cost-sharing, telehealth benefits, and behavioral health benefits. SPG’s COVID-19 MCO benefit grid is attached.
Continue readingOn April 3rd, the $178 billion State Budget for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2021, which began April 1st, was passed by the New York State Legislature and signed by the Governor. Due to economic impacts from the COVID-19 crisis, the State anticipates a revenue shortfall of $10 billion and an overall budget deficit of up…
Continue readingOn March 30th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a wide-ranging set of temporary regulatory waivers offering new flexibilities in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The waivers pertain mostly to Medicare rules, with some Medicaid components. They went into effect nationwide immediately and will last for the duration of…
Continue readingState Updates Governor Cuomo Extends School Closures, Seeks Targeted Info on New COVID-19 Hospitalizations Today (May 1st), Governor Cuomo held a press conference during which he announced that the slow but steady decline in new COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths continues. In order to develop a targeted strategy for reducing the number of new hospitalizations, the…
Continue readingFederal Updates CMS Issues New COVID-19 Regulatory Waivers Today, CMS released a new set of waivers in response to the COVID-19 outbreak creating more regulatory flexibilities for Medicare providers, retroactive to March 1st. These waivers will: Add new services to the list of Medicare eligible telehealth services that may be provided with audio-only technology. This…
Continue readingRISA Timeframes Extended During COVID-19 Emergency Today (April 29th), the Department of Labor (DoL) and Department of the Treasury released a final rule to extend the timeframe for covered persons’ rights to enroll in or continue health coverage under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). This guidance applies to ERISA-covered group health plans, disability…
Continue readingState Updates Governor Cuomo Announces Regional Reopening Requirements Today (April 28th), Governor Cuomo held a press conference during which he announced the development of the “NY Forward Reopening Advisory Board,” which will be comprised of over 100 business, community, and civic leaders who will help guide the State’s reopening strategy (a full list of members…
Continue readingState Updates Governor Cuomo Announces New Antibody and Diagnostic Testing Efforts, Plans for Reopening Today (April 27th), Governor Cuomo held a press conference during which he announced that the statewide COVID-19 antibody survey had tested 7,500 New Yorkers. Based on the increased sample size, the infection rate is now estimated at 14.9% (up from 13.9%).…
Continue readingFederal Updates President Trump Signs Increased CARES Act Funding for Small Businesses and Health Providers On April 24th, President Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266), the “interim” COVID-19 relief bill, which provides $484 billion of further economic relief for businesses and health care providers. This package will replenish…
Continue readingState Updates Governor Cuomo Announces Nursing Home Investigations, Preliminary Results of Statewide Antibody Testing Today (April 23rd), Governor Cuomo held a press conference during which he announced that while total hospitalizations and intubations continue to decrease, new hospitalizations per day and deaths per day remain relatively flat, with yesterday having 1,359 new hospitalizations and 431…
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