News: CMS issues recommendations for restarting non-emergency healthcare

CMS is offering recommendations for restarting non-emergency procedures for hospitals in areas with low cases of COVID-19, reported HealthLeaders Media.

"Every state and local official will need to assess the situation on the ground to determine the best course forward, but these guidelines provide a gradual process for restarting non-COVID-19 essential care while keeping patients safe," CMS Administrator Seema Verma said.

The recommendations target communities that are in phase 1 of the guidelines for Opening Up America Again with relatively low and stable incidence of COVID-19 cases, reported HealthLeaders Media.

CMS is calling for a "gradual transition," with providers coordinating with state and local public health officials, and accounting for the availability of personal protective equipment and other supplies, workforce availability, facility readiness, and testing capacity.

To get to phase 1, states or regions need to pass gating criteria regarding symptoms, cases, and hospital capacity. However, CMS said recommendations are just that, and are not meant to be implemented by every state, county, or city right now. Ultimately, governors and local leaders will make decisions on whether re-openings are appropriate.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in HealthLeaders Media. Opening Up America Again can be found here. ACDIS coverage of providers originally being encouraged to cancel elective surgeries can be found here.