March 20, 2020

PASRR requirements cannot be waived or suspended in an emergency unless the state receives authority to do so under an 1135 waiver. Under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act, the HHS Secretary may be authorized to take certain actions during eligible major disasters or emergencies. These actions may include temporarily waiving or modifying certain Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) requirements to help meet the needs of eligible individuals and providers living in emergency areas. Additional information about 1135 waivers can be found on the Section 1135 Waiver Flexibilities webpage on Medicaid.gov, located at: https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/disaster-response-toolkit/cms-1135-waivers/index.html