Providing flexibility for exceeding the 24-hour time frame for patients in Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

􀁸CMS is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s health care facilities continue to be prepared to respond to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). 􀁸Providing flexibility for exceeding the 24-hour timeframe in ASCs: AsCOVID-19 cases continue to surge, CMS will temporarily exercise survey enforcement discretion regarding the 24-hour time frame to allow patients to remain in the ASC longer, if needed, during the COVID-19 PHE. This applies to ASCs that have not converted to a hospital during the PHE.