Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

FEDERAL HEALTH POLICY UPDATE FOR OCTOBER 20

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for the week of October 14 to October 20. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. White House President Biden has signed an executive order on lowering prescription drug costs. The order directs HHS to consider additional actions to further drive down prescription drug costs, encourages it to pursue such actions through its Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), and directs HHS to submit a formal report within 90 days outlining any plans to use CMMI’s authority to lower drug costs and [...]

iqtsupport2022-10-20T17:01:23-04:00October 20, 2022|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, COVID-19, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid and housing, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

FEDERAL HEALTH POLICY UPDATE FOR OCTOBER 13

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for the week of October 7 to October 13. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Public Health Emergency Declaration HHS Secretary Becerra has renewed the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration. This renewal does not provide the promised 60-day notice of the PHE’s end, so for now, the current declaration is set expire on January 11, 2023. We will continue to update you on any changes to the PHE timeline. You can view the PHE renewal here. White House The White House COVID-19 [...]

iqtsupport2022-10-13T17:14:18-04:00October 13, 2022|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, COVID-19, Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC, Telehealth|

Federal Health Policy Update for October 6

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for the week of September 26 to October 6. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. 340B HHS must immediately end its significant cut in reimbursement for 340B-covered prescription drugs provided on an outpatient basis to eligible patients, a federal court has ruled, writing that “The prospective portion of the 2022 reimbursement rate shall be vacated because it is defective and because vacating this portion of the 2022 OPPS Rule will not cause substantial disruption” and that “HHS should not be allowed to [...]

iqtsupport2022-10-06T17:42:49-04:00October 6, 2022|340b, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, COVID-19, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare disproportionate share, Medicare DSH, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC, Telehealth|

FEDERAL HEALTH POLICY UPDATE FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19-27

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for the week of September 19-27. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. White House The White House has issued a fact sheet summarizing new actions and funding to address the overdose epidemic and support recovery as part of its September “National Recovery Month.” Awarding $1.5 billion for all states and territories to address addiction and the opioid crisis. Investing more than $104 million to expand substance use treatment and prevention in rural communities. Investing $20.5 million to increase access to recovery supports. [...]

iqtsupport2022-09-27T17:09:35-04:00September 27, 2022|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, COVID-19, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy|

FEDERAL HEALTH POLICY UPDATE FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 12-16

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for the week of September 12-16. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. No Surprises Act The Department of Health and Human Services, the federal Office of Personnel Management, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Employee Benefits Security Administration have issued a request for information (RFI) seeking stakeholder comment on how to implement the No Surprises Act’s requirement that health care providers and payers give explanations of benefits and good-faith estimates of costs for [...]

iqtsupport2022-09-19T16:10:33-04:00September 19, 2022|340b, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, COVID-19, health equity, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC, Telehealth|

Federal Health Policy Update for the Week of September 5-12

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for the week of September 5-12. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The White House has published a fact sheet on the administration’s plan to get Americans an updated COVID-19 shot and to manage COVID-19 this fall. The major components of the plan are providing access to free, updated vaccines; ensuring easy access to testing and treatment; encouraging safe practices; and preparing for potential surges and new variants. Find that fact sheet here. The White House’s COVID-19 response team [...]

iqtsupport2022-09-13T17:33:15-04:00September 13, 2022|340b, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, COVID-19, health equity, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicare, MedPAC, Telehealth|

CMS Seeks Comment on Efficiency, Administrative Burdens, and Health Equity

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a request for information “…seeking public input on accessing healthcare and related challenges, understanding provider experiences, advancing health equity, and assessing the impact of waivers and flexibilities provided in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.” According to a CMS news release, The Make Your Voice Heard: Promoting Efficiency and Equity Within CMS Programs RFI furthers CMS’ commitment to engaging and learning from partners, communities, and individuals across the health system to inform how we can better support the populations we serve. The agency also explains that CMS is seeking to [...]

iqtsupport2022-09-09T06:00:47-04:00September 9, 2022|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, health equity, Medicaid, Medicare|

Federal Health Policy Update for the Week of August 24 to September 2

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for the week of August 29 to September 2. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The White House has introduced a new “National HIV Strategy” for 2022-2025. The new strategy updates the 2021 strategy and establishes targets for ending the HIV epidemic in the U.S. by 2030, including a 75 percent reduction in new HIV infections by 2025 and a 90 percent reduction by 2030. Find the strategy here. Proposed Changes in Medicaid, CHIP, and Basic Health Program Enrollment [...]

iqtsupport2022-09-06T15:25:17-04:00September 6, 2022|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, COVID-19, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC, post-acute care, Telehealth|

Federal Health Policy Update for Tuesday, August 23

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. CMS “Roadmap for the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency” While the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) has not ended and HHS Secretary Becerra has committed to giving states and the health care community 60 days’ notice before formally ending it – notice he has not given – the federal government is already planning for life after the PHE and its latest step in this process is [...]

iqtsupport2022-08-23T17:33:16-04:00August 23, 2022|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, COVID-19, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC, post-acute care, Telehealth|

Federal Health Policy Update for Wednesday, August 17

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, August 17. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. White House The White House has released a fact sheet outlining key supports and guidance it is providing for protecting students, teachers, and school communities and for managing the risks of COVID-19 spread for the upcoming school year. These resources and guidance focus on using COVID-19 vaccines and boosters as the first line of defense to protect in-person learning; providing robust access to COVID-19 testing at schools to [...]

iqtsupport2022-08-17T17:13:54-04:00August 17, 2022|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, COVID-19|