surprise medical bill law

Federal Health Policy Update for November 7

The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for November 1-7. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Medicare Payment Regulations Late last week CMS published four regulations describing how Medicare will pay certain providers in 2025. The following is a brief overview of those regulations. Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System Rate increase of 2.9 percent for outpatient and ambulatory surgical center services. New Conditions of Participation for obstetrical services. Additional payments for selected non-opioid treatments for pain relief. Minor modifications of the inpatient-only list. A change in the review time [...]

Feds Pursue Next Regs for Surprise Billing Law

In their continuing effort to implement the complex No Surprises Act, the 2020 law that seeks to prevent consumers from receiving surprise medical bills, federal regulators are now turning their attention to how providers and payers should inform insured individuals about the costs they may incur for procedures and purchases. Specifically, the federal agencies with jurisdiction over the law and its implementation – 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 [...]