The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has sent its mandatory annual report to Congress.
Included in the report are sections on:
- Beneficiary enrollment in Medicare: eligibility notification, enrollment process, and Part B late enrollment penalties.
- Restructuring Medicare Part D for the era of specialty drugs.
- Medicare payment strategies to improve price competition and value for Part B drugs.
- MedPAC’s mandated report to Congress on clinician payments.
- Issues in Medicare beneficiaries’ access to primary care.
- Assessment of the Medicare Shared Savings Program’s effect on Medicare spending.
- Ensuring the accuracy and completeness of Medicare Advantage encounter data.
- Redesigning the Medicare Advantage quality bonus program.
- Payment issues in post-acute care.
- MedPAC’s mandated report to Congress on changes in post-acute and hospice care after implementation of the long-term care hospital dual payment rate structure.
- Options for slowing the growth of Medicare fee-for-service spending for emergency department services.
- Promoting integration in dual-eligible special needs plans.
MedPAC is an independent congressional agency that advises Congress on issues involving the Medicare program. While its recommendations are not binding on either Congress or the administration, MedPAC is highly influential in governing circles and its recommendations often find their way into legislation, regulations, and new public policy.
Learn more from the news release that accompanied publication of the report; a MedPAC fact sheet; and the report itself.