In a Coronavirus Task Force press briefing on April 7, 2020, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma (the “Administrator”) announced that CMS will distribute $30 billion in grants from the Public Health and Social Service Emergency Fund (PHSSEF) to providers to help alleviate the burden that…
On March 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will issue blanket waivers from sanctions imposed under section 1877 of the Social Security Act (SSA), often referred to as the Physician Self-Referral (Stark) Law, to healthcare providers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. By way…
The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) is a public policy that allows Michiganders access to information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them. To balance this priority with the restrictions created by the COVID-19 crisis, it is necessary to provide temporary extensions…
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an Interim Final Rule (the “Initial Rule”) to implement sections 1102 an 1106 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) on April 2, 2020. Subsequently, the SBA issued an additional Interim Final Rule (the “Subsequent Rule”) to supplement the…
The new Small Business Administration (“SBA”) program for forgivable loans to small businesses (the “Paycheck Protection Program” or “PPP”) under the CARES Act launched yesterday. There at $349 billion in funds appropriated for forgivable loans under the PPP. Businesses must obtain loans directly from private SBA lenders and one lender…
On March 28, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it is expanding its Accelerated and Advance Payment Program for healthcare providers and suppliers participating in Medicare. CMS is expanding the program to ensure that all Medicare-participating providers and suppliers have the resources necessary to combat…
As a broad overview, a sub-provision of the CARES Act governs “middle market” businesses, those between 500 and 10,000 employees. The Federal Reserve will specifically set up a funding program to banks and other lenders who will then make direct loans to such mid-market companies. These loans will carry preferential…
The U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has just issued a new Interim Final Rule related to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) under the recently-adopted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”): https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP–IFRN%20FINAL.pdf The PPP provides for SBA-backed loans to small businesses, which have under 500 employees or are otherwise…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Sheet responding to eight (8) FAQs regarding provider burden relief for COVID-19. Below is an overview of the FAQs Sheet issued by CMS. Is CMS suspending most Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) medical review during the Public…
Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, has announced new programs to expand unemployment benefits for workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pursuant to an agreement signed by Governor Whitmer with the U.S. Department of Labor under the CARES Act, new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Compensation programs are being implemented to expand unemployment…