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Teleprescribing of Controlled Substances Temporarily Extended Beyond PHE

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are extending telehealth flexibilities that allow providers to prescribe controlled substances. While the extension is in place, the DEA indicated that it will be further evaluating its recently proposed rules for post-COVID-19 public health emergency telemedicine prescription of controlled substances.

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Drug Discount Plan Remains Target for Possible Legislation

Members of Congress could call for more transparency about how hospitals use their federal drug discount program savings. According to this Bloomberg Law article, a study found that the Health Resources and Services Administration’s oversight of the 340B program could be improved. McDermott Partner Emily Jane Cook said there is interest in Congress overseeing aspects of hospitals, including the 340B program.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bill being introduced that imposes more explicit oversight requirements,” Cook said.

Access the article.

Reproduced with permission. Published May 15, 2023. Copyright 2023 by Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc. (800-372-1033) http://www.bloombergindustry.com




Preparing for the End of the COVID-19 Emergency: Deadline Tolling

The Biden administration previously announced its intent to end the COVID-19 National Emergency (NE) and the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023 (read our series introduction for more information). On April 10, 2023, President Biden signed a resolution moving up the end of the NE to April 10, 2023 (the PHE ended on May 11). The US Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services, and the Treasury (the Departments) issued a set of FAQs (available here) on March 29, 2023 (FAQs), which anticipated that the NE would end on May 11, 2023 (see our prior article explaining the FAQs). Plan sponsors should continue to treat May 11 as the end of the NE consistent with the FAQs until the Departments say otherwise.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Departments provided relief from certain benefit plan deadlines, including:

  • The minimum 60-day election period for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage.
  • The date for making COBRA premium payments (45 days for the initial, then minimum 30-day grace periods).
  • The date for individuals to notify the plan of certain qualifying events (divorce, dependent child aging out of plan coverage) or determination of disability as it relates to COBRA coverage.
  • The date for providing a COBRA election notice (typically within 14 days after the plan receives notice of a qualifying event).
  • The 30-day period (or 60-day period, if applicable) to request Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) special enrollment.
  • The date within which individuals may file a benefit claim or an appeal of an adverse benefit determination under a plan’s claims procedures.
  • The date within which claimants may file a request for an external review after receipt of an adverse benefit determination or final internal adverse benefit determination.

This article discusses how the affected tolled deadlines will be phased out and what actions employers may need to take.

BACKGROUND

EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01, later extended by EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01, provided that the deadline by which action needs to be taken for the events described above was tolled until the earlier of: (i) one year from the date the deadline would have first started running for that individual or (ii) sixty (60) days from the end of the NE (the Outbreak Period). This guidance created a tolling deadline specific to each affected individual. Where the individual has not reached the one-year anniversary of the date of the initial deadline, timeframes will begin to run again sixty (60) days after the end of the NE (i.e., July 10, 2023).

The FAQs released by the Departments at the end of March provided much-needed clarification and various helpful examples for employers of how the outbreak period should be taken into consideration when calculating the tolled deadlines. For example, if an employee experiences a qualifying event under COBRA and loses coverage on April 1, 2023, the deadline for the individual to make a COBRA election is tolled until the earlier [...]

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Ending Free COVID Tests Risks Worsening the Pandemic

The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency also means the end of coverage of self-administered, over-the-counter COVID tests. In this MedTech Dive opinion article, McDermott+Consulting’s Amy Kelbick and Eric Zimmerman argue that insurers, including Medicare, should continue to cover COVID tests at no cost and without requiring a prescription even after the public health emergency ends.

Read more here.




Federal Government to Wind Down Vaccination Mandates

The Biden administration has announced that the federal government will wind down its remaining COVID-19 vaccination mandates (including those for federal workers, contractors and international air travelers) effective May 11, 2023. This action coincides with the conclusion of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Additionally, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will initiate steps to terminate the vaccination prerequisites for healthcare facilities that are certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Read more here.




Healthcare Preview for the Week of May 1, 2023

There has been a flurry of activity in Congress focused on healthcare issues over the last two weeks. Committees in both the US House and Senate held hearings on legislation focused on increasing transparency and competition in the healthcare system that could have significant impacts for certain healthcare providers, healthcare plans and pharmacy benefit managers.

Read more here.




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