Medicare reimbursement policy

Federal Health Policy Update for September 17

Don’t Miss: CMS advises on “medical frailty” as qualification for Medicaid eligibility CMS unveils long-anticipated IDR Gateway Medicare ACCESS Model to expand The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 11-17. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss bills seeking to modify certain physician payments under Medicare, to address cybersecurity in the health care system, and to expand seniors’ access to care. See the chairman’s opening statement here and find a list of witnesses [...]

joe2026-09-17T16:23:30-04:00September 17, 2026|Accountable Care Organization, ACO, Alternative payment models, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare disproportionate share, Medicare DSH, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

Federal Health Policy Update for September 10

Don’t Miss: Energy and Commerce to weigh multiple health care bills HRSA shares upcoming 340B administrative changes CMS continues distributing Rural Health Transformation Program $$$ The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 4-10. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The White House announced that the federal government will issue refunds of $500 a person to nearly one million Americans who it says were overcharged for Affordable Care Act exchange health plans because their premiums included user fees that were charged to cover the cost [...]

joe2026-09-10T14:54:12-04:00September 10, 2026|340b, Affordable Care Act, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, CMMI, Congress, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

MedPAC Meets

Members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission held their latest public meeting on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4. The subjects on the meeting’s agenda were: context for Medicare payment policy issues and potential policy directions in Part D workplan: ambulatory surgical centers examining use of post-acute care services by beneficiaries in fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare Advantage Accuracy of Medicare Advantage risk adjustment at the plan level Go here for summaries of the issues and key points and links to the presentations delivered by MedPAC’s staff and go here for a transcript of the two-day session. MedPAC is an independent [...]

joe2026-09-09T12:41:01-04:00September 9, 2026|Medicare, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

MedPAC Looks to the Year Ahead

In anticipation of the start of its 2026-2027 public meeting cycle next month, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has published a summary of its anticipated analytic agenda for that period. The major components of that agenda are: recent trends in Medicare Part D (prescription drug) spending the processes and information involved in beneficiary enrollment in Medicare the effect of Medicare’s quality measurement and value-based purchasing programs on quality and value the adequacy of Medicare fee-for-service payments and payment recommendations for the upcoming year further analysis of the Medicare Advantage program Learn more from this MedPAC message to its constituents.

joe2026-08-27T11:30:47-04:00August 31, 2026|Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

Federal Health Policy Update for August 27

Don’t Miss: Homeland Security proposes new six-figure H-1B visa fee CMS announces refinement of critical access hospital status evaluation HHS seeks feedback on relative of childhood vaccines The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for August 21-27. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The House will return from recess next Monday, August 31 and the Senate returns on September 14. Funding for the federal government expires after September 30. H-1B Visas The Department of Homeland Security has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking calling for a $103,265 fee [...]

joe2026-08-27T16:40:49-04:00August 27, 2026|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

Federal Health Policy Update for August 20

Don’t Miss: Latest No Surprises Act/Independent Dispute Resolution news Dept of Homeland Security issues guidance on “public charge” The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for August 14-20. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress Thirty Senate Democrats have written to HHS Secretary Kennedy seeking to reverse the cancellation of health research grants administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). For more information, see the letter here. Congress remains in recess; the House is expected to return on August 31 and the Senate on September 14. [...]

joe2026-08-20T15:55:42-04:00August 20, 2026|Affordable Care Act, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for August 13

Don’t Miss: Federal court vacates key aspect of No Surprises Act’s IDR process President calls for changes in childhood immunizations CMS seeks billing info so it can pay APM docs their bonuses The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for August 7-13. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The White House has issued an executive order calling for a change in recommended childhood vaccines. The order suggests reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccines from the current 17 to 11 revising the status of the remaining [...]

joe2026-08-13T14:39:23-04:00August 13, 2026|Alternative payment models, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Congress, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for August 6

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for July 31 to August 6. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents.CongressThe Senate is expected to vote on its version of a continuing resolution (CR) before leaving for recess; it would extend federal government funding through December 11. Notably, the legislation includes language that would prevent the Office of Management and Budget from moving forward with its proposed change in how federal grants are awarded and overseen.Because appropriations bills have not cleared both chambers of Congress, the federal government faces a September [...]

joe2026-08-17T15:33:55-04:00August 6, 2026|340b, Accountable Care Organization, ACO, Alternative payment models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicare, Medicare disproportionate share, Medicare DSH, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for July 30

Don’t Miss: Two new final Medicare payment rules CMS seeks data on 340B prescriptions Agency seeks potentially confidential ER data The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for July 24-30. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress Senate Republicans remain focused on advancing a short-term continuing resolution (CR) before the August recess; it is expected to differ from the CR the House passed last week. The Senate appears unlikely to consider a budget resolution for a third party-line reconciliation bill before September. The Senate Budget Committee announced a hearing [...]

joe2026-07-30T15:52:57-04:00July 30, 2026|340b, Affordable Care Act, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, hospitals, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid disproportionate share, Medicaid DSH, Medicaid regulations, Medicare, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for July 23

Don’t Miss: Congress advances health care bills CMS proposes provider tax rule Courts act on ACA changes, 340B The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for July 17-23. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a markup for 29 bills, advancing the following health care transparency measures with bipartisan support: H.R. 9390, Prices on the Wall Act of 2026 H.R. 9393, Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026, part of a package that also includes: H.R. 3514, Improving Seniors’ Timely Access [...]

joe2026-07-23T16:29:15-04:00July 23, 2026|340b, Affordable Care Act, MACPAC, Medicaid managed care, Medicaid regulations, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|