Medicare COVID-19 Waivers
Webinar 2.26.2021
On-Demand Webinar, Handouts &
Additional Resources
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government has published temporary exceptions in the Medicare and Medicaid requirements of participation. These waivers allow healthcare providers more flexibility in admitting and caring for patients across the continuum of care (Acute, SNF, LTCH, Psychiatric Hospitals, IRF, Hospice, HHA, ESRD and more). This 60 minute session will address the waivers specific to Skilled Nursing Facilities and touch upon the waivers in all the continuums. This information is essential for healthcare providers to properly navigate through this unprecedented journey and understand the options available to free up hospital beds and create care areas for those patients with or impacted by COVID-19.
Speaker
Kris Mastrangelo, OTR/L, LNHA, MBA
President & CEO
Harmony Healthcare International (HHI)
Background
On March 13, 2020, the President issued an emergency declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the “Stafford Act”) to declare a national health emergency.
The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) is authorized to waive certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) program requirements and conditions of participation under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act once the President has declared an emergency through the Stafford Act and the Secretary has declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE).
The Secretary issued a Public Health Emergency (PHE) on January 31, 2020. As a result of this authority, CMS can grant waivers that will ease certain requirements for affected providers as stated under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act.
Recommended Audience
Owners and Operators, CEO, CFO, Administrators, Medical Directors, Geriatricians, Board of Directors, Nursing Management, Direct Care Nurses in a SNF, Therapy Management, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, MDS Coordinators, Compliance Officers, Reimbursements Specialists, Social Workers, Case Managers and Business Office Managers.
Objectives
- Identify documentation requirements necessary to support the utilizing the COVID-19 Waiver.
- Identify a scenario in which a provider cannot implement necessary to support the utilizing the COVID-19 Waiver.
- Verbalize an understanding of rationale for why the COVID-19 Waivers are in place.
Goals
This webinar will assist long term care professionals to gain an understanding of how to utilize waivers to improve care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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