Policy Updates

Nearly Half of Hospitals Nicked for Readmissions

Medicare’s Hospital Readmissions Reduction program will penalize 2499 hospitals for excessive readmissions in the coming year. That represents 47 percent of all hospitals covered by the program. The average penalty for the nearly 2500 hospitals will be a 0.64 percent reduction of their Medicare payments. Thirty-nine hospitals will suffer the maximum penalty: a three percent cut of their Medicare payments. Learn more about the effect the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program has had on hospitals – and on patients admitted to the hospital with specific medical conditions – in the Kaiser Health News story “Medicare Punishes 2,499 Hospitals for High Readmissions.”

iqtsupport2021-11-01T06:00:12-04:00November 1, 2021|Medicare|

Federal Health Policy Update for Thursday, October 28

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, October 28. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. The White House The Biden administration has updated its “Build Back Better Framework” to reflect the results of recent negotiations between the White House and congressional Democrats. Congress’s next steps on the Build Back Better Act, the social spending reconciliation bill, are unclear. The $1.75 trillion framework is far short of the $3.5 trillion plan embraced by congressional progressives. The text of the bill, HR 5376, was released this [...]

iqtsupport2021-10-28T17:08:42-04:00October 28, 2021|Congress, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicare|

Federal Health Policy Update for Tuesday, October 26

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 26. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Provider Relief Fund HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has made 18 changes in its Provider Relief Fund FAQ that address Provider Relief Fund Phase 4 funding. They are: p. 7 – about returning Provider Relief Fund money p. 8 - for providers interested in receiving Provider Relief Fund money they previously rejected pp. 10 (two questions) and 14 (also two questions) – consideration for Provider Relief [...]

iqtsupport2021-10-26T18:07:22-04:00October 26, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

Federal Health Policy Update for Monday, October 25

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Monday, October 25. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Provider Relief Fund: Deadline for Submission is Tuesday, October 26 The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will accept applications for $25.5 billion in health care relief funds until October 26. Go here for further information. HRSA has modified some of the terms for applying for assistance. All applicants must complete the first step of the application process (i.e., submitting their Tax Identification Number (TIN) and associated information [...]

iqtsupport2021-10-25T17:14:51-04:00October 25, 2021|Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

Innovation Center Unveils Blueprint

The CMS Innovation Center has published a document that shares its strategic direction for the coming years. Driving Health System Transformation – A Strategy for the CMS Innovation Center’s Second Decade reviews the lessons the agency has learned over the past ten years and lays out its objectives for the next ten: Drive Accountable Care – increase the number of people in a care relationship for quality and total cost of care. Advance Health Equity – embed health equity in every aspect of CMS Innovation Center models and increase focus on underserved populations. Support Care Innovation – leverage a range [...]

iqtsupport2021-10-21T13:00:01-04:00October 21, 2021|Alternative payment models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, CMMI|

CMS Funds Expanded Telehealth in Four States

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is building on its Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model by awarding up to $20 million to organizations in four states to expand the use of telehealth in their communities and introduce other improvements that enhance access to care in rural areas. Organizations in Alabama, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington state will receive $2 million for planning and up to $3 million each for achieving specific objectives. The CHART model seeks to use telehealth and other means, reimbursed through an accountable care organization model, to address health disparities and reduce hospital [...]

iqtsupport2021-10-21T06:00:15-04:00October 21, 2021|Accountable Care Organization, ACO, Alternative payment models, Telehealth|

Federal Health Policy Update for October 19

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Provider Relief Fund: Reminder That Applications Are Now Being Accepted The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has opened its portal for providers to apply for $25.5 billion in health care relief funds, including $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan resources for providers that serve rural patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program and $17 billion for Provider Relief Fund Phase 4 grants, for [...]

iqtsupport2021-10-19T17:26:31-04:00October 19, 2021|Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicare, Medicare regulations|

Lotteries Didn’t Boost Vaccine Acceptance

Highly publicized lotteries for vaccinate-resistant individuals who changed their minds and got their shot in exchange for an opportunity to win a six- or seven-figure drawing did little, if anything, to persuade people to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Or so concludes a new study published by JAMA Network. In all, 19 states tied big-money lotteries to new vaccines, but the study found that “…the association between an announcement and vaccination rates were very small in magnitude and statistically indistinguishable from zero,” according to the report “Association Between Statewide COVID-19 Lottery Announcements and Vaccinations.” Go here for a summary of the [...]

iqtsupport2021-10-19T13:41:31-04:00October 19, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

Federal Health Policy Update for Tuesday, October 12

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, October 12. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Provider Relief Fund: Reminder That Applications Are Now Being Accepted The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has opened its portal for providers to apply for $25.5 billion in health care relief funds, including $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan resources for providers that serve rural patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program and $17 billion for Provider Relief Fund Phase 4 grants for [...]

iqtsupport2021-10-12T17:17:12-04:00October 12, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, MACPAC, Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

Federal Health Policy Update for Wednesday, October 6

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government as of 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, October 6. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Provider Relief Fund: Reminder That Applications Are Now Being Accepted The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has opened its portal for providers to apply for $25.5 billion in health care relief funds, including $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan resources for providers that serve rural patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program and $17 billion for Provider Relief Fund Phase 4 grants for [...]

iqtsupport2021-10-06T19:24:30-04:00October 6, 2021|340b, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Coronavirus, COVID-19, hospitals, MedPAC|