GNYHA is launching a major campaign to inform the public that hospitals in the New York City area are safe and ready to treat non-COVID-19 patients, and that delaying care can be harmful. The four-week, $6 million campaign is anchored by two 30-second television ads in which real doctors from downstate hospitals inform viewers that…

GNYHA recently submitted comments on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) fiscal year (FY) 2021 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule. Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, CMS is waiving the 60-day delay in the final rule’s effective date and shortening it to 30 days. Therefore, we expect that CMS will…

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced yesterday that the COVID-19 module in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) will be retired tomorrow (July 15). Hospitals reporting daily capacity and utilization data to NHSN to fulfill HHS’s March 29 request should begin submitting data to the TeleTracking portal. Daily data submitted to…

In collaboration, with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, GNYHA is sharing a daily syndromic surveillance report that compares median visits for COVID-19-like illness for the most recent three-day period against the same type of visits for the previous two-week period. The report includes data at the City, borough, and facility…

GNYHA members and providers nationwide used the Medicare advance payment program included in the CARES Act to secure vital funding during the initial COVID-19 surge. The recoupment period for these loans, which carry a near 10% interest rate, begins 120 days after the advance was issued. As the recoupment period approaches, securing Medicare advance payment…

The State Legislature will return to session on July 20—mostly remotely—for the first time since April. They are expected to act on several bills related to the COVID-19 pandemic, policing, local measures, and possibly New York’s precarious financial situation—the State faces a $13.3 billion deficit. Committees in both houses are set to consider legislation this…

The City Council passed an $88 billion budget on July 1. Though it includes billions in cuts, health care spending was largely spared. The Council is now operating on a reduced schedule, but will continue to meet on an ad-hoc basis. GNYHA continues to hold weekly calls with key Council staff. We are also monitoring…

On July 1, the quality reporting waivers the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented in response to COVID-19 expired. Announced on March 22, 2020, the extraordinary circumstances exceptions (ECE) waived quality reporting activities for October 1, 2019–December 31, 2019 (Q4) and January 1–June 30, 2020 (Q1 and Q2). These exceptions made data submission…

Convert Medicare Advances to Grants The CARES Act enables hospitals to request a six-month Medicare advance, while all other providers and suppliers can request a three-month advance. Under current law, these advances are subject to certain repayment terms beginning 120 days after the advance (hospitals receiving periodic interim payments are subject to different payment terms…

CDC Guidance Item Date Updated Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from Persons for COVID-19 7/8 Updated Guidance on Evaluating and Testing Persons for Coronavirus Disease 2019 3/8 Information for Laboratories 6/10 Interim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with COVID-19 6/5 Overview of Testing for SARS-CoV-2 6/13 Flyer:…

Economic Issues That Could Affect the Hospital Industry’s Response to a Second Surge of COVID-19 Cases describes COVID-19’s fiscal impact on hospitals in the New York City area and the financial landscape in the months ahead—especially in the context of a potential second wave of the virus. GNYHA is committed to helping you meet the many…