Medicare

FEDERAL HEALTH POLICY UPDATE FOR November 3

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for the week of October 31 to November 3.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Medicare Payment Regulations In the past week CMS has published four regulations presenting how it will pay providers in the coming year. Outpatient prospective payment system – CMS announced a 3.8 percent increase for Medicare outpatient and ambulatory surgical payments.  It also adopted its proposal to establish rural emergency hospitals as a new kind of hospital provider; removed 11 surgical procedures from its inpatient-only list and authorized [...]

Federal Health Policy Update for October 27

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for the week of October  21 to October 27.  Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. 340B Responding to a federal court ruling that the federal government has shortchanged hospitals in its payments for 340B-covered prescription drugs, CMS has announced how it will compensate hospitals for its underpayments – at least for the 2023 fiscal year.  According to CMS, it “…will apply the default rate (generally ASP plus 6%) to 340B-acquired drugs for the rest of the year.  CMS also will reprocess claims [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

Risk Adjustment Has Impact on Medicare Readmissions Program

The use of social risk adjustment has helped reduce differences in the penalties assessed to safety-net hospitals and other hospitals by Medicare’s hospital readmissions reduction program, according to a new study. According to the study published in the journal Health Affairs, Seven studies found that adding social risk factors to the program’s base risk-adjustment model (which adjusts only for age, sex, and comorbidities) reduced differences in risk-adjusted readmissions and penalties between safety-net hospitals and other hospitals. Three studies found that peer grouping, the HRRP’s current approach to social risk adjustment, reduced penalties among safety-net hospitals. Two studies found that differences [...]

2022-09-22T06:00:18-04:00September 22, 2022|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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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