The Reed Smith Health Industry Washington Watch blog has been updated to report on recent health policy developments, including the following:

  • FY 2015 Obama Administration Proposed Budget. Yesterday the Obama Administration released its proposed FY 2015 budget, which includes a number of legislative proposals to reduce Medicare and Medicaid spending.
  • Regulatory Developments. CMS is inviting comments on potential changes to Medicare reimbursement for DMEPOS that could impact payment to suppliers nationwide regardless of whether they participate in competitive bidding. CMS also published preliminary federal share disproportionate share hospital allotments for FY 2014. HHS has proposed updated electronic health record certification criteria and ACA health coverage waiting period regulations. FDA is seeking input on direct-to consumer television ads and the Nutrition Facts label.
  • Other CMS Developments. CMS has announced that it is “pausing” Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) audits and making a number of changes to the RAC program. CMS also has proposed updates to Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plan policies and rates, and it is allowing retroactive ACA insurance subsidies in certain cases, including for certain non-Marketplace plans. CMS is requesting suggestions for advanced diagnostic imaging quality and safety regulations. In addition, CMS continues to modify implementation of the two-midnight inpatient admissions policy, and it has posted HIPAA administrative simplification transaction testing checklists.
  • Legislative Developments. A number of Congressional panels have held hearings on health policy issues.
  • Fraud & Abuse Developments. The OIG has issued reports on the Medicare hospital “DRG window” and adverse events among Medicare beneficiaries in SNFs, and the Obama Administration cites record-breaking recoveries under the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program.
  • Health Industry Events. Upcoming CMS events will focus on hospital outpatient services and HCPCS coding applications. The FTC is holding a workshop on health care competition, MedPAC is meeting this week to address a variety of Medicare payment policies, and FDA Is meeting to discuss modernizing over-the-counter drug reviews.