CMS approves Section 1135 waivers for Puerto Rico and Northern Mariana Islands

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently granted Section 1135 Medicaid waivers for the COVID-19 emergency to Puerto Rico and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. The waivers generally grant relief from prior authorization and provider enrollment requirements, suspend certain nursing home pre-admission reviews and facilitate reimbursement to providers for care delivered in alternative settings due to facility evacuations. To date, waivers have also been granted to all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands.