Two or more teaching hospitals may form a Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) affiliated group to aggregate direct and/or indirect medical education resident caps to provide flexibility for cross-training residents. During the Public Health Emergency (PHE), teaching hospitals may have until October 1, 2020 (rather than July 1 or June 30, 2020) to submit new or amended Medicare GME affiliation agreements. As under existing procedures, hospitals should email new and/or amended agreements to CMS at Medicare_GME_Affiliation_Agreement@cms.hhs.gov, and indicate in the subject line whether the Medicare GME affiliation agreement is a new one or an amended one. Copies must be sent to the hospitals’ Medicare Administrative Contractors as well. Noridian hospitals’ paperwork is sent to PO Box 3770, Fargo, ND 58103.

Resources

• CMS COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers
• CMS MLN Matters Article SE 20011: Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• CMS Direct Graduate Medical Education (DGME)
• CMS Indirect Medical Education (ME)

Source: MLN Connects® for Thursday, June 18, 2020