Medicare ACCESS Model

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|

Medicare Innovations Foster Focus on Behavioral Health

A number of recent changes in the Medicare program appear designed to make it easier for beneficiaries to pursue behavioral health assistance. Among them: A greater focus on the integration of physical and behavioral health. A greater willingness to pay for digital behavioral health interventions. The release of several requests for information addressing behavioral health services. The introduction of new behavioral health procedure and billing codes. The inclusion of behavioral health in new Medicare models, including the LEAD (Long-Term Enhanced ACO Design) Model, the ACCESS (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions) Model, and the MAHA ELEVATE (Make America Healthy [...]

joe2026-04-23T15:06:02-04:00April 27, 2026|ACO, Alternative payment models, Medicare, Medicare reimbursement policy|

Federal Health Policy Update for December 11

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for December 5-11. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress The Senate voted today on competing proposals to address health care affordability: Democrats sought a clean extension of the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits set to expire on December 31 while Republicans tried to consolidate support around an alternative plan. Neither bill gained the 60-vote threshold needed for passage. In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) intends to bring a vote on a health care package next week but at this [...]

joe2025-12-11T15:48:53-05:00December 11, 2025|Affordable Care Act, Alternative payment models, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMMI, Congress, hospitals, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare disproportionate share, Medicare DSH, Medicare post-acute care, Medicare regulations, Medicare reimbursement policy, MedPAC|