Hospitals Must Report Daily Flu, COVID-19 Data to HHS

On October 6, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that starting October 7, hospitals will have 14 weeks to comply with federal COVID-19 data-reporting requirements.  This timeline follows the interim final rule published on September 2 that requires all Medicare and Medicaid-certified hospitals to provide daily data updates to HHS on numerous COVID-related measures.  Under the new guidance, hospitals will also have to provide similar data about the seasonal flu.  Failure to make the mandatory reporting could result in exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.