The memorandum discusses a hospital’s options to mitigate exposure to COVID-19 and set up alternative screening sites both on and off the hospital campus. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Health, the entity licensing hospitals in the state, issued guidance on the ability of hospitals to set up alternate screening sites for COVID-19. The guidance can be found here.

Hospitals do not need to enroll their on-campus or off-campus temporary screening sites separately with the Department of Human Services (Department). The Department understands the Department of Health considers these sites part of the hospital and the areas are set up as part of the hospital’s emergency preparedness plan. Thus, hospitals should use their existing acute care hospitals or hospital outpatient unit locations already enrolled with the Department of Human Services to submit claims for services performed at these on or off campus screening sites.

Community Screening Sites Not Under the Control of a Hospital 

Other non-hospital community providers may choose to set up COVID-19 screening sites. Community screening sites not under the control of a hospital and being conducted by a health care provider, such as an independent clinic, federally qualified health care center, rural health center, physician or physician office, laboratory or certified registered nurse practitioner, also do not need to enroll these sites separately. As these sites are temporary in nature, providers should bill from office or clinic sites already enrolled using a place of service that best describes where the service was provided.