Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the 2017 California Wildfires

On October 15, 2017, Acting Secretary Hargan of the Department of Health & Human Services declared that a public health emergency exists in the State of California retroactive to October 8, 2017, and authorized waivers and modifications under §1135 of the Social Security Act. On October 17, 2017, the Administrator of CMS authorized waivers under §1812(f) of the Social Security Act for the State of California retroactive to October 8, 2017 for those people who are evacuated, transferred, or otherwise dislocated as a result of the effect of wildfires. In accordance with CR6451, use of the “DR” condition code and the “CR” modifier are mandatory on claims for items and services for which Medicare payment is conditioned on the presence of a “formal waiver” including, but not necessarily limited to, waivers granted under either Section 1135 or Section 1812(f) of the Act.

Source: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE17035.pdf