CMS Allows for “Verbal Consent” by COVID-19 Patients

Several weeks ago, PWW and other industry groups asked CMS for relief from signature rules because of the impracticability of obtaining Assignment of Benefits (AOB) signatures from suspected or actual COVID-19 patients. Now, CMS has officially acknowledged that due to CDC Guidelines, it is improper to ask suspected or known COVID patients to handle styluses, pens and other devices or equipment used to obtain signatures due to the infection risk.