Policy Updates

Coronavirus Update for Tuesday, February 9

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS has updated its “COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Billing” document with three updated answers addressing data reporting requirements for ambulance service providers and changes in those requirements and payments for services in response to the COVID-19 emergency. The new information can be found on pages 55 and 56. HHS and CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Calls HHS Clinical Rounds Peer-to-Peer Virtual Communities of Practice HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for [...]

iqtsupport2021-02-10T06:00:34-05:00February 10, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

The New Administration’s Health Care Team

Becker’s Hospital Review has published a list of 35 officials who are currently part of the Biden administration’s health care team. Some are staff, some are appointments awaiting Senate confirmation, and some are serving on an interim basis until permanent replacements can be chosen and/or confirmed. The list includes links to information about each individual. See the list here.

iqtsupport2021-02-09T06:00:09-05:00February 9, 2021|Uncategorized|

Coronavirus Update for Friday, February 5

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Friday, February 5. The White House The White House has published a fact sheet describing the administration’s actions to increase the COVID-19 vaccine supply, launch a federal retail pharmacy program, and expand FEMA reimbursement to states for COVID-19-related services provided by FEMA and the National Guard. A separate memo from the president to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security describes the additional responsibilities delegated to that agency in greater detail. Provider Relief Fund A new proposal has been adopted by the [...]

iqtsupport2021-02-08T06:00:03-05:00February 8, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

Administration to Review Public Charge Rule

President Biden has ordered a review of the federal public charge rule. The controversial rule, which would limit immigration to the U.S. for people who might at some point become dependent on public aid programs, has been the subject of litigation since it was proposed in 2019. The White House executive order directs …the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the heads of other relevant agencies, as appropriate…[to] review all agency actions related to implementation of the public charge ground of inadmissibility… The officials were ordered to report their findings to the president within 60 [...]

iqtsupport2021-02-05T06:00:20-05:00February 5, 2021|Medicaid, Medicaid regulations, Medicare regulations|

MACPAC Meets

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission met for two days last week in Washington, D.C. The following is MACPAC’s own summary of the sessions. MACPAC kicked off its January meeting with a review of a draft chapter for the March 2021 report to Congress and recommendations on a mandatory extension of Medicaid coverage for 12 months postpartum. The Commission received extensive public comment on the recommendations. On Friday, the Commission approved three recommendations as drafted related to postpartum coverage. The Commission recommended that Congress should: extend the postpartum coverage period for individuals who were eligible and enrolled in [...]

iqtsupport2021-02-03T06:00:34-05:00February 3, 2021|Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, Medicaid and housing for the disabled, Medicaid long-term services and supports, Medicaid regulations for the disabled|

Coronavirus Update for Monday, February 1

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Monday, February 1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS has compiled resources and materials to help providers share important and relevant information about the COVID-19 vaccine with the people they serve. These resources include: CMS’s COVID-19 Partner Resources Page the HHS COVID Education Campaign page the CDC Resources for Health Care Providers Page CMS’s COVID-19 Provider Toolkit CMS’s FAQ on Medicare fee-for-service billing Resources for Medicare beneficiaries about coverage for COVID-19 vaccines CMS has updated its list of hospitals approved to participate in [...]

iqtsupport2021-02-02T06:00:00-05:00February 2, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19, Uncategorized|

Coronavirus Update for Friday, January 29

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Friday, January 29. The Biden Administration The Biden administration has issued an “Executive Order on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act” to make it easier for the uninsured to get coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. The order: reopens access to the federal Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace for three months, from February 15 through May 15, and restores some of the Affordable Care Act exchange marketing funds that had been eliminated by the previous administration and calls for the review of all [...]

iqtsupport2021-02-01T06:00:16-05:00February 1, 2021|Affordable Care Act, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medicaid|

Coronavirus Update for Tuesday, January 26

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS has updated its list of Medicare Administrative Contract prices for COVID-19 tests. To support clinicians during the COVID-19 public health emergency, CMS has extended the 2020 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception application deadline to February 1. Go here for further information. CMS has updated its list of hospitals approved to participate in its Acute Hospital Care at Home program. CMS has updated its Medicare COVID-19 Data Snapshot, which reports [...]

iqtsupport2021-01-27T06:00:11-05:00January 27, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|

MedPAC Meets

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission met in Washington, D.C. recently to discuss various Medicare payment issues. Among the issues discussed at MedPAC’s January meeting were: hospital inpatient and outpatient payments physician and health professionals payments the possible expansion of the post-acute transfer policy to hospice ambulatory surgical center, outpatient dialysis, and hospice payments Medicare payments for skilled nursing facilities, long-term hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and home health services the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation’s development and implementation of alternative payment models the future of telehealth after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends a status report on the Medicare Part [...]

iqtsupport2021-01-25T06:00:58-05:00January 25, 2021|Alternative payment models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, CMMI, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|

Coronavirus Update for Thursday, January 21

The following is the latest COVID-19 information from the federal government as of 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 21. President Signs Executive Orders Late this afternoon President Biden signed a series of executive orders and actions to implement his administration’s approach to addressing COVID-19. The following is a look at the orders and what they say. Executive Order on Ensuring an Equitable Pandemic Response and Recovery Creates a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force to address health equity and to “…prevent and remedy differences in COVID-19 care and outcomes within communities of color and other underserved populations.” Executive Order on a [...]

iqtsupport2021-01-22T08:45:43-05:00January 22, 2021|Coronavirus, COVID-19|