Kentucky Continues to Adapt at the State Level

April 10, 2020

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) has continued to update guidance to Kentucky health care providers:

• CHFS issued a new memo dated April 9, 2020 saying that all health care providers (not just hospitals, as provided for in its April 6 memo) have a “blanket waiver” and are not required to obtain additional approval from CHFS for a waiver from any requirement in state law or administrative regulation that is more stringent than federal 1135 waivers issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, which were effective March 1, 2020.
• On April 6, 2020, CHFS issued updated guidance to home health agencies on what constitutes emergent or urgent care for patients requiring in-person services and how to take preventive measures to deliver those services.
• The Department for Medicaid Services updates its Medicaid COVID-19 FAQs almost daily to give providers the most up-to-date information on the delivery of, and reimbursement for, fee-for-service and managed care Medicaid services, especially adapting for telehealth services.
• On April 3, 2020, CHFS issued new guidance in accordance with the CDC’s recommendations on when health care professionals can return to work after a potential exposure to a patient with COVID-19.