CMS Extends Deadline to Submit Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) Affiliation Agreements

Due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), on May 24, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the extension of the submission deadline for both new and amendmentsto existing Medicare GME affiliation agreements to January 1, 2022.  As CMS further explains on page 8 of COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers, during the COVID-19 PHE, instead of requiring that new Medicare GME affiliation agreements be submitted to CMS and the MACs by July 1, 2020 (for the academic year starting July 1, 2020), and that amendments to Medicare GME affiliation agreements be submitted to CMS and the MACs by June 30, 2020 (for the academic year ending June 30, 2020), CMS had previously extended the deadline to January 1, 2021 for hospitals to submit new and/or amended Medicare GME affiliation agreements.  However, as a result of the continuation of the COVID-19 PHE effective April 21, 2021, new Medicare GME affiliation agreements must be submitted by January 1, 2022 (for the academic year starting July 1, 2021) and amended Medicare GME affiliation agreements must be submitted by January 1, 2022 (for the academic year ending June 30, 2021). As under existing procedures, CMS instructs hospitals to email new and/or amended agreements to CMS at Medicare_GME_Affiliation_Agreement@cms.hhs.gov, and to indicate in the subject line whether the affiliation agreement is a new one or an amended one.