Resources and Information

This page contains information from CMS and groups such as VGM Government and HME State Associations.

Updates

Week of February 7, 2022

• States’ COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declarations and Mask Requirements

Week of July 7, 2021

• VGM & Associates Guide to OSHA's COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard

Week of April 19, 2021

• HHS Officially Extends Public Health Emergency For An Additional 90 Days

Week of April 5, 2021

• Paycheck Protection Program Extended Until May 31

Week of March 22, 2021

• Updated Health Plan Policy Changes

Week of March 15, 2021

• Changes Made To PPP And EIDL Programs By $1.9T American Rescue Plan

Week of March 1, 2021

• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Tax Treatment For Federal & State Taxes

Week of February 23, 2021

• Paycheck Protection Program To Focus On Businesses With 20 Or Fewer Employees

Week of January 11, 2021

• Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution By State
• Vaccine Distribution Info
• HHS Extends PHE By An Additional 90 Days

Week of January 4, 2021

• COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution By State

Week of December 28, 2020

• VGM Notice State Vaccinations Plans
• Health Plan Policy Changes 12.11.2020
• Changes to PPP and EIDL
• Tax implications from the COVID-19 Relief Bill
• Requiring COVID-19 Shots? Employers Advised to Follow EEOC Guidance Carefully

Week of December 14, 2020

• How Employers Can Defend Themselves Against A COVID-19 Claim
• EEOC Issues Guidance On Mandatory Vaccinations
• State Vaccination Plans
• Vaccine And PPE Distribution - Take Action Today!

Week of November 16, 2020

• PPP Update: IRS Clarifies Deductibility Of PPP Loan Expenses

Week of November 2, 2020

• Click here for the latest policy changes to private payers (Health plans) due to COVID-19.

Week of October 5, 2020

• Update on Phase 3 of the HHS Provider Relief Fund
• The Public Health Emergency is Extended: What this Means for You!

Week of September 28, 2020

• Additional Provider Relief Fund Payments Now Available

Week of September 21, 2020

• HHS Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements Released

Week of August 24, 2020

• Click here for the latest policy changes to private payers (Health plans) due to COVID-19.
• UPDATE: The Deadline To Apply For Phase 2 General Distribution Funding Has Been Extended To September 13, 2020

Week of August 3, 2020

• Reporting Requirements For Provider Relief Fund Recipients
• Medicare Providers Who Did Not Apply For Round 2 Of The $50B General Distribution Will Get A Second Chance To Apply
• Deadline For Providers To Apply For Medicaid/CHIP Relief Payments Extended To August 28
• Total Number of Supporters to the Letter to Pause the Competitive Bidding Program Closes at 101

Week of July 27, 2020

• Outstanding Last-Minute Outreach Brings Nearly 100 Signatures To The Letter To Pause The Competitive Bidding Program
• Need Additional Supporters For Congressional Letter
• Tomorrow Is The Deadline To Pause The Competitive Bidding Program
• Medicare Updates The Provider Relief FAQs - New Effective Date
• Vlog: Mass Adjustments for Non-Rural Zip Codes - An Update
• Urgent Need For More Signatures On The Congressional Letter To CMS To Pause The CB Program

Week of July 20, 2020

• New Signatures on the Letter Asking CMS to Pause the Competitive Bidding Program. Need Many More!
• HHS Renews Public Health Emergency
• Call To Action! Congressional Sign On Letter Released Asking CMS To Pause The Competitive Bidding Program
• More Details on Medicare Audits Beginning August 3

Week of July 13, 2020

• Mass Adjustments from CARES Act for NON-RURAL Areas
• Deadline Reminder: July 20th is Deadline to Apply for HHS Relief Payments
• $10,000 Advance Forgivable Grants no Longer Available with EIDL Applications
• Updated Health Plan Policy Changes 7.13.2020
• Updated Economic Stimulus Programs Related to COVID-19 7.13.2020

Week of July 6, 2020

• Updated FAQs on Provider Burden Relief and More Details On Prior Authorizations
• CMS Directs Auditors to Get Back to it on August 3; Prior Auth Programs Get the Greenlight Too
• New Deadline to Apply for the Paycheck Protection Program

Week of June 29, 2020

• Vlog: From the Desk of Ronda Buhrmester: CMN DIF ABN
• HHS Indicates an Additional Extension to the PHE
• Competitive Bidding Access Concerns Persist

Week of June 15, 2020

• Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available to All Businesses Again
• Updated Health Plan Policy Changes 6.18.20
• HHS To Host Two Webinars About The $15 Billion Medicaid/CHIP Provider Relief Distribution

Week of June 8, 2020

• Updated Economic Stimulus Programs Tool 6.11.2020
• HHS Announces Additional Funds ($15B) Specifically for Medicaid Providers

Week of June 1, 2020

• Big Changes To The Paycheck Protection Program Heading To The President For Signing

Week of May 25, 2020:

• HHS Extends Compliance Deadline to 90 Days
• Important PPP Updates - Overview from Mark Higley
• Updated 5.12.20: Health Plan Policy Changes due to COVID-19

Week of May 18, 2020:

• Deadline of HHS Payments (Round 2) June 3rd
• OSHA's "Guidance on PreparingWorkplaces for COVID-19"
• Video Blog from Ronda Buhrmester: How to use KX and CR Modifiers During COVID-19

Week of May 11, 2020:

• Updated 5.12.20: Health Plan Policy Changes due to COVID-19
• From the Desk of Ronda Buhrmester: Non-Rural Rate Instructions Released

Week of May 4, 2020:

• Certain Filtering Facepiece Respirators from China May Not Provide Adequate Respiratory Protection
• From The Desk Of Ronda Buhrmester: Breaking Down The PHE Rules
• CMS Releases New Information On Getting Oxygen Claims Paid
• From The Desk Of Ronda Buhrmester: IFR Updates
• HHS Extends Deadline From 30-45 Days For Provider Relief Funds

Week of April 27, 2020:

• COVID-19 Interim Final Rule Released
• HHS Opens New Portal for Providers to Submit Claims
• Paycheck Protection Program Loans Over $2M Will Now Be Audited Before Being Forgiven
• Updated: Health Plan Policy Changes 4.29.20
• IMPORTANT CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Update
• CMS Reevaluates Accelerated Payment Program And Suspends Advance Payment Program
• CMS Releases COVID-19 IFR

Week of April 20, 2020:

• Updated Q&A: How to Get a Small Business Loan Under the Paycheck Protection Program
• COVID-19 3.5 Emergency Relief Bill Passes the House
• Senate Passes COVID-19 3.5 Emergency Relief Fund
• Guidelines for Opening Up America Again
• COVID-19 Fraud Alert

Week of April 13, 2020:

• April 16 UPDATE: The CARES Act Provider Relief Fund
• Update 4.16.20: Health Plan Policy Changes for COVID-19
• VGM Releases Economic Stimulus Resource Tool
• Update: The CARES Act Provider Relief Fund
• Updated 4.13.20: Health Plan Policy Changes for COVID-19
• What the CARES Act Means for the Health Care Industry
• Study Shows N95 Respirators Can Be Decontaminated for Re-Use

Week of April 6, 2020:

• CMS Removing Barriers, DMEPOS Providers Remain Vigilant, and FEAT
• Health Plan Policy Changes for COVID-19 updated 4.10.20
• Healthcare Providers Are Starting To See Their Share Of The Initial $30 Billion COVID-19 Payments
• CMS Removes Non-Invasive Ventilators From Round 2021 Of The Competitive Bidding Program
• FAQs on Shortages of Surgical Masks and Gowns
• N95 Respirator: Re-Use And Making Your Own
• New Video Available on Medicare Coverage and Payment of Virtual Services from CMS
• New York Governor Announces Executive Order Allowing State to Redistribute Vents and PPE
• Person Protective Equipment Shortage
• State of Ohio Requiring Weekly Ventilator Inventory Level Reports

Week of March 30, 2020:

• A Breakdown of the SBA Paycheck Protection Program
• CMS Loosens Requirements for Respiratory Equipment
• Questions and Answers: Paycheck Protection Program
• CMS Announces New Waivers and Rules to Help Healthcare Providers
  • Provider Specific Fact Sheet – Primarily DME (Please note the Patients of Paperwork section)
  • Full Overview of CMS Coronavirus Waivers and Flexibility
• From The Desk Of Ronda Buhrmester: Summary Of CMS New Waivers And Flexibility
• Recordings for CMS National Stakeholder Calls on COVID-19
• HME Business: President Moves to Ramp Up Ventilator Production

Week of March 23, 2020:

• House Passes Coronavirus Stimulus Plan- HME Legislation Included! Heading to the President’s Desk.
• Senate Passes $2 Trillion Stimulus Plan. HME Relief Included. 
• The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and what you need to know as an employer
• U.S. Small Business Administration Offer Low-Interest Rate Loans
• CPAP devices can be used as ventilators during coronavirus outbreak, FDA guidance says
• CMS Approves Medicaid Section 1135 Waivers for 11 Additional States in Response to COVID-19
• FEMA Heads Says Administration Will Use Defense Production Act to Obtain 60,000 Coronavirus Tests
• Florida DMEPOS Medicaid Program COVID-19 Response
• Tennessee DMEPOS Medicaid Program COVID-19 Response
• Treasury, IRS and Labor announce plan to implement Coronavirus-related paid leave for workers and tax credits for small and midsize businesses to swiftly recover the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave

Week of March 16, 2020:

• 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Medicare Provider Enrollment Relief Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Partner Toolkit
• COVID-19: 2020 State and Local Government Responses
• COVID-19: Signature Guidelines
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act Signed This Week
• From The Desk Of Ronda Buhrmester: Store Operation Hours
• HQAA Message 03.17.2020
• President Trump Expands Telehealth Benefits for Medicare Beneficiaries During COVID-19 Outbreak
• States, Doctors Ask Trump to Empty Stockpile of Medical Supplies
• The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Announces Emergency Declarations
• Trump Invokes A Cold War Relic, The Defense Production Act, For Coronavirus Shortages
• van Halem Group: Relaxed HIPAA Requirements for Telehealth Encounters During the COVID-19 National Emergency
• VGM Requests Congressional Support
• What HME Suppliers Need To Know About Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Webinar Recording: Home Delivery, Billing, and Sales in a COVID-19 Environment
  • Session 1 (11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. CT)
  • Session 2 (1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. CT)

Week of March 9, 2020:

• CMS Releases More Information Regarding Coronavirus
• DOL FAQs: COVID-19 and the Fair Labor Standards Act
• Florida Alliance of Home Care Services (FAHCS) Update
• SBA Guidance & Loan Resources
• SBA Resources on COVID-19

Week of March 2, 2020:

• CMS Announces Actions to Stem Spread of Coronavirus
• CMS Develops Additional Code for Coronavirus Lab Tests
• Coronavirus Guidelines for America
• Helping You Navigate the Coronavirus
• Oklahoma Medical Equipment Provider Association (OMEPA) Update

Week of February 24, 2020:

• What Do You, As An Employer, Need To Do About The Coronavirus?