Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board
MedPAC Meets
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission met in Washington, D.C. last week to discuss various Medicare payment issues. Among the issues discussed at MedPAC’s April meeting were: Medicare skilled nursing facility value-based purchased program. Medicare alternative payment models (APMs). Medicare Advantage benchmark policy. Medicare indirect medical education (Medicare IME) payments. Medicare vaccine coverage and payments. Medicare payment for prescription drugs prescribed on an outpatient basis. Private equity and Medicare. Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedule. MedPAC is an independent congressional agency that advises Congress on issues involving Medicare. While its recommendations are [...]
Health Policy Update for Monday, April 5
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 5. The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript of the April 5 press briefing provided by its COVID-19 response team and public health officials. Provider Relief Fund HHS has removed the following question and answer from its Provider Relief Fund FAQ. Are there any restrictions on how hospitals that receive Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments can use Provider Relief Fund General and Targeted Distribution payments? (Added 2/24/2021) Yes. Providers may [...]
Health Policy Update for Thursday, April 1
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 1. Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Program In the latest edition of its online publication MLN Connects, CMS has published information about repayment of money health care providers received under its COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments Program. Those repayments began on March 30. For further information, see the MLN Matters article “Repayment of COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments Began on March 30, 2021.” The White House COVID-19 The White House has posted a transcript [...]
Health Policy Update for Tuesday, March 30
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30. Medicare Sequestration In anticipation of possible congressional action to extend the two percent sequester reduction suspension, CMS has instructed the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to hold all claims with dates of service on or after April 1, 2021 for a short period without affecting providers’ cash flow. This will minimize the volume of claims the MACs must reprocess if Congress extends the suspension. The MACs will automatically reprocess any claims [...]
CMS Ponders Future of Medicare Payment Models
The new administration has delayed the planned launch of several new Medicare payment models and ultimately may choose not to move forward with some or to alter them. The models currently under review by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are: Primary Care First Kidney Care Choices Geographic Direct Contracting Part D Payment Modernization Model Learn more from the Becker’s Hospital Review article “CMS payment models that are under review, delayed.”