Emergency and Disaster Instructions
Published 02/20/2023
When a natural disaster, extreme weather or other emergency occurs that affects Medicare providers and the beneficiaries that they serve, special emergency-related policies and procedures may be implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). For detailed information on these policies and procedures, please see the following resources:
- For information when an applicable 1135 waiver (PDF) has been granted
- For information on the Medicare Fee-For-Service Emergency-Related Policies and Procedures (PDF) where no 1135 waivers are required
This section provides information regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). CMS has developed helpful information regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
COVID-19 Vaccines
- COVID-19 Vaccine Policies & Guidance
- COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit
Coronavirus: Overview
- CMS Current Emergencies: Coronavirus
- CMS Coronavirus Waiver and Flexibilities
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- USA.gov has the latest information about what the U.S. Government is doing in response to COVID-19
- Read CMS' Coronavirus Press Releases
- COVID-19 Interim Final Rule FAQs
General Information and Updates
- CMS Coronavirus Partner Virtual Toolkit
CMS MLN Connects
- MLN Connects — Thursday, May 5, 2022: COVID-19: Patients Can Get Free Over-the-Counter Tests from Participating Providers
- MLN Connects — Thursday, April 14, 2022: COVID-19: New Codes for Moderna Vaccine Booster Doses
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Thursday, April 7, 2022: Eligible Individuals Can Receive Second COVID-19 Booster Shot at No Cost
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Wednesday, April 6, 2022: Eligible Individuals Can Receive Second COVID-19 Booster Shot at No Cost
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Monday, April 4, 2022: A New Way for Medicare Beneficiaries to Get Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests
- MLN Connects — Thursday, March 10, 2022: COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibodies: Revised Emergency Use Authorization for EVUSHELD
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Friday, February 18, 2022: COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibodies: FDA Authorized Bebtelovimab
- MLN Connects — Thursday, February 10, 2022: COVID-19: New HCPCS Code for Convalescent Plasma in Outpatient Setting
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Thursday, February 3, 2022: COVID-19: Medicare Will Cover Free Over-the-Counter Tests
- MLN Connects — Thursday, January 27, 2022: COVID-19: Tools to Determine if Vaccine Requirements Apply
- MLN Connects — Thursday, January 20, 2022: COVID-19: Long-term Care, RHCs, & FQHCs
- MLN Connects —Thursday, January 13, 2022: COVID-19: Long-term Care, Remdesivir, & Booster Doses
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Friday, January 7, 2022: COVID-19: New HCPCS Code for Remdesivir Antiviral Medication
- MLN Connects — Thursday, December 23rd, 2021: COVID-19 Vaccine Access in Long-Term Care Settings
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Thursday, November 2, 2021: CMS Encourages People with Medicare to get COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot
- MLN Connects — Thursday, November 18, 2021: COVID-19: Changes to Nursing Home Visitation & Survey Activities
- MLN Connects — Thursday, November 4, 2021: COVID-19: Changes for Medicare Advantage Plan Claims Starting January 1
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Thursday, November 4, 2021: Biden-Harris Administration Issues Emergency Regulation Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Workers
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Friday, October 22, 2021: COVID-19: Moderna & Jansen (J&J) Booster Shots
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Friday, September 24, 2021: CMS Will Pay for COVID-19 Booster Shots, Eligible Consumers Can Receive at No Cost
- MLN Connects — Thursday, September 23, 2021: COVID-19: Compare Nursing Homes by Vaccination Rate
- MLN Connects — Thursday, September 17, 2021: COVID-19 Vaccines: Act Now
- MLN Connects — Thursday, September 9, 2021: SNF: WBT & COVID-19 Reminder
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Tuesday, August 24, 2021: CMS Expands Medicare Payments for At-Home COVID-19 Vaccinations
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Monday, August 16, 2021: COVID-19 Vaccines Additional Doses: Codes & Payment
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Friday, August 13, 2021: COVID-19 Vaccine Additional Dose
- MLN Connects — Thursday, August 12, 2021: COVID-19: Vaccinate Your Patients
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Monday, August 2, 2021: CMS Final Rule Improves Health Equity, Access to Treatment, Hospital Readiness, and COVID-19 Vaccination Data Reporting of Hospital Workers
- MLN Connects — Thursday, July 22, 2021: COVID-19: EUA for Tocilizumab Monoclonal Antibody Product
- MLN Connects — Thursday, July 8 , 2021: COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments: Updated FAQs
- MLN Connects — Thursday, June 17, 2021: COVID-19: EUAs for Monoclonal Antibody Products
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Wednesday, June 9th, 2021:
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Tuesday, May 11, 2021: CMS Expanding Efforts to Grow COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and Uptake Amongst Nation’s Most Vulnerable
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Thursday, May 6, 2021: CMS Increases Medicare Payment for COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Infusions
- MLN Connects — Thursday, May 6, 2021: COVID-19: Ambulance Treatment in Place Waiver
- MLN Connects — Thursday, April 22, 2021: COVID-19: Partnership to Vaccinate Dialysis Patients & Health Care Personnel
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Tuesday, April 20, 2021: COVID-19 Update: FDA Revoked the EUA for Bamlanivimab When Administered Alone
- MLN Connects Special Edition - Wednesday, April 14, 2021: J&J COVID-19 Vaccine: Health Alert
- MLN Connects — Thursday, April 1, 2021: Repayment of COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Monday, March 15, 2021: Medicare Payment Increase for COVID-19 Vaccine
- MLN Connects — Thursday, March 4, 2021: COVID-19 Vaccine Codes: EUA for Janssen Biotech
- MLN Connects — Thursday, February 18, 2021: COVID-19: EUA for Antibody Treatment
- MLN Connects — Thursday, January 7, 2021: COVID-19 Vaccines: CDC Long-Term Care Facility Toolkit
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Tuesday, December 22, 2020: COVID-19 Vaccine Codes: Updated Effective Date for Moderna
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Friday, December 18, 2020: COVID-19: Add-on Payment for New Treatments
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Monday, December 14, 2020: COVID-19 Vaccine Codes: Updated Effective Date for Pfizer-BioNTech
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Wendesday, December 9, 2020: COVID-19: Medicare Coverage of Antibody Treatment
- MLN Connects Special Edition - Thursday, December 3, 2020: COVID-19 Antibody Treatment and Enforcement Discretion Reminder
- MLN Connects — Thursday, November 19, 2020: Nursing Homes: Take COVID-19 Training
- MLN Connects — Thursday, November 12, 2020: COVID-19: Non-Physician Practitioner Billing for Audio Services
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Thursday, November 12, 2020: COVID-19 Vaccine Codes and PC-ACE Software Update
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Tuesday, November 10, 2020: CMS Takes Steps to Ensure Medicare Beneficiaries Have Wide Access to COVID-19 Antibody Treatment
- MLN Connects — Thursday, November 5, 2020: COVID-19 Vaccine: Find Out How to Prepare
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Wendesday, October 28, 2020: Coverage of Life-Saving COVID-19 Vaccines & Therapeutics
- MLN Connects — Thursday, October 15, 2020: COVID-19 Testing: Protecting Integrity
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Thursday, October 8, 2020: CMS Announces New Repayment Terms for Medicare Loans Made to Providers During COVID-19
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Friday, September 18, 2020: New COVID-19 Nursinig Home Visitation Guidance, Kidney Disease Care Model, & Radiation Oncology Payment Model
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Thursday, September 17, 2020: Nursing Home COVID-19 Commission Findings, Oregon Wildfires, & Flu
- MLN Connects — Thursday, August 27, 2020: COVID-19: Training to Strengthen Nursing Home Infection Control Practices
- MLN Connects — Thursday, August 20, 2020: Routine Provider Inspections Resume
- MLN Connects — Thursday, August 13, 2020: COVID-19: CMS/CDC Nursing Home Training Series Webcast – August 13
- MLN Connects — Thursday, August 6, 2020: Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Listening Session: Register Now
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Tuesday, August 4, 2020: PFS, OPPS, and IRF: FY 2021 Payment Rules
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Friday, July 31, 2020: FY 2021 Medicare Payment Policies for IPFs, SNFs, and Hospices
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Thursday, July 30, 2020: Payment for COVID-19 Counseling, Reporting Hospital Therapeutics, Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs
- MLN Connects — Thursday, July 30, 2020: COVID-19 Impacts on Medicare Beneficiaries – Updated Data
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Thursday, July 23, 2020: COVID-19: New Resources to Protect Nursing Home Residents
- MLN Connects for Thursday, July 23, 2020: Telemedicine Hack: 10-Week Learning Community for Ambulatory Providers
- MLN Connects for Thursday, July 16, 2020: Nursing Homes & COVID: Five Things to Know, Additional Resources, Training
- MLN Connects for Thursday, July 9, 2020: ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes: FY 2021
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Monday July 6, 2020: News
- MLN Connects for Thursday, July 2, 2020: Attend Nursing Home Training Series Webcasts
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Friday, June 26, 2020: News
- MLN Connects for Thursday, June 25, 2020: COVID-19: New Data Details Impacts on Medicare Beneficiaries
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Friday, June 19, 2020: COVID-19: Using the CR Modifier and DR Condition Code
- MLN Connects for Thursday, June 18, 2020: COVID-19 Diagnostic Laboratory Tests: Billing for Clinician Services
- MLN Connects for Thursday, June 11, 2020: COVID-19: Reopening Health Care Facilities
- MLN Connects for Thursday, June 4, 2020: MLN Connects for June 4, 2020
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Monday, June 1, 2020: COVID-19: Using the CR Modifier and DR Condition
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Friday, May 29, 2020: New COVID-19 FAQs on Medicare Fee-for-Service Billing
- MLN Connects for Thursday, May 28, 2020: MLN Connects for May 28, 2020
- MLN Connects for Thursday, May 21, 2020: Join Upcoming COVID-19 Calls
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Friday, May 15, 2020: COVID-19 deadlines, new releases, and important calls
- MLN Connects for Thursday, May 14, 2020: IPPS/LTCH PPS: FY 2021 Proposed Rule
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Tuesday, May 12, 2020: COVID-19: Additional Waivers, Price Transparency, and the CMS
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Friday, May 8, 2020: COVID-19: Nursing Home Reporting, Updated Telehealth Video, Pharmacies & Other Suppliers Can Enroll as Labs, IRF Flexibilities
- MLN Connects for April 30, 2020: COVID-19: Lessons from the Front Lines
- Special Edition MLN Connects — April 27, 2020: COVID-19: CMS Reevaluates Accelerated Payment Program and Suspends Advance Payment Program
- MLN Connects for April 23, 2020: Report Clinical Trial Data to Fight COVID-19 & Earn MIPS Credit
- Special Edition MLN Connects — April 20, 2020: COVID-19: Nursing Home Transparency, Recommendations for Areas with Low Incidence of Disease
- Special Edition MLN Connects — April 17, 2020: COVID-19: RHC & FQHC Flexibilities, Increased Payment for Lab Tests, Hospital Waivers, Call Audio and Transcript
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Wednesday, April 15, 2020: COVID-19: Reprocessing Hospital Claims, Essential Diagnostic Services, Non-Invasive Ventilators
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Friday, April 10, 2020: COVID-19: Infection Control, Maximizing Workforce, Updated Q&A, CS Modifier for Cost-Sharing, Payment Adjustment Suspended
- MLN Connects for Thursday, April 9, 2020: Important COVID-19 Updates
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Tuesday, April 7, 2020: COVID-19: Telehealth Video, Coinsurance and Deductible Waived, ASC Attestations, Ambulance Modifiers, Lessons From Front Lines, MLN Call Today
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Friday, April 3, 2020: COVID-19: Telehealth Billing Correction, Nursing Home Recommendations, Billing for Multi-Function Ventilators, New ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Tuesday, March 31, 2020: COVID-19: Regulatory Changes, Telehealth Billing, and Specimen Collection Codes
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Monday, March 30, 2020: COVID-19: Financial Relief, Nursing Home Telehealth, Quality Reporting, Clinical Laboratories, Hospital Data Sharing
- MLN Connects for Thursday, March 26, 2020: COVID-19: New Targeted Plan for Health Care Facility Inspections
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Thursday, March 26, 2020: COVID-19: Enrollment Relief, Open Payments, Beneficiary Notices
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Monday, March 23, 2020: COVID-19: Relief for Quality Reporting Programs and Provider Enrollment
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Friday, March 20, 2020: COVID-19: Telehealth and Non-Essential Procedures
- MLN Connects for Thursday, March 19, 2020: Medicare FFS Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Tuesday, March 17, 2020: COVID-19: President Trump Expands Telehealth Benefits for Medicare Beneficiaries During COVID-19 Outbreak
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Monday, March 16, 2020: COVID-19: FFS Response and Nursing Home Visitor Guidance
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Friday, March 13, 2020: COVID-19: Test Pricing, Diagnostic Lab Tests, Pricing & Codes, and EHB Coverage
- MLN Connects for Thursday, March 12, 2020: 2019 Novel Coronavirus Guidance
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Monday, March 9, 2020: COVID-19 Response: CMS Issues FAQs to Assist Medicare Providers
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Friday, March 6, 2020: CMS Develops Additional Code for Coronavirus Lab Tests
- Special Edition MLN Connects — Wednesday, March 4, 2020: CMS Announces Actions to Address Spread of Coronavirus
- MLN Connects for Thursday, February 27, 2020: COVID-19 Coding Guidance
- MLN Connects for Thursday, February 20, 2020: Bill Correctly for Medicare Telehealth Services
All Health Professional Guidance
- Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) (SE20011, PDF)
Telehealth
- Medicare Coverage and Payment of Virtual Services Video
- COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Billing (PDF)
- Special Edition MLN Connects – Friday, April 3, 2020
- MLN Connects Special Edition — Tuesday, March 31, 2020
- President Trump Expands Telehealth Benefits for Medicare Beneficiaries During COVID-19 Outbreak Tuesday, March 17, 2020
- Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Provider Fact Sheet Tuesday, March 17, 2020
- Medicare Telehealth Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Tuesday, March 17, 2020 (PDF, 111 KB)
- Telehealth Benefits in Medicare are a Lifeline for Patients During Coronavirus Outbreak Monday, March 9, 2020
- Telehealth Services MLN Booklet (PDF)
- General Provider Telehealth and Telemedicine Tool Kit (PDF)
Labs
- COVID-19 Laboratory Test Pricing
- Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) COVID-19 Test Pricing (PDF)
- CMS SARS-CoV-2 Laboratory Testing Comparison
- CMS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), CLIA Guidance During the COVID-19 Emergency (PDF)
- Notification to Surveyors of the Authorization for Emergency Use of the CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel Assay and Guidance for Authorized Laboratories on the CMS website
Billing and Coding
- Addition of the QW modifier to Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code U0002 and 87635 (MM11765, PDF)
- Expanded Use of Ambulance Origin/Destination Modifiers (Special Edition MLN Connects 4/7/2020)
Accelerated Payments
- Starting Soon: The Demand of Remaining COVID-19 Accelerated or Advanced Payment Balances
- Offset Percentage Increase for COVID-19 Accelerated or Advanced Payment Refunds
- Accelerated and Advance Payment (CAAP) Repayment & Recovery Frequently Asked Questions (June 24, 2021) (167)
- CMS Reevaluates Accelerated Payment Program and Suspends Advance Payment Program