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

  • Regulatory Developments. The Obama Administration has issued proposed rules on Affordable Care Act (ACA) summary of benefits and coverage and uniform glossary requirements and excepted benefits/wraparound coverage. The OIG has published its annual solicitation of recommendations for new anti-kickback statute safe harbor provisions and topics for special fraud alerts. Stage 3 meaningful use criteria and health information technology certification proposed rules are in the pipeline. CMS has published Medicare quality improvement organization criteria. FDA regulations/notices have addressed Drug Supply Chain Security Act compliance, electronic distribution of prescription drug biological prescribing information, and direct-to-consumer television ads for prescription drugs. The IRS has issued additional ACA requirements for tax-exempt hospitals.
  • Other HHS Developments. CMS has adjusted the first quarter 2015 Medicare physician fee schedule conversion factor, and it has made announcements regarding provider timeframes for responding to pre-payment review documentation requests and recovery audit contracts. OIG reports have examined hospice care in assisted living facilities and the appropriateness of Medicare ophthalmology claims.
  • Legislative Developments. The House has approved bills to modify certain ACA rules for employers related to part-time workers and veterans. President Obama signed into law a previously-reported tax bill with Medicare provisions and an Ebola treatment/vaccine bill. A House hearing next week will focus on SGR reform.
  • Health Industry Events. MedPAC is meeting to discuss Medicare payment policy, the FDA is holding a workshop on regulatory oversight of next generation sequencing diagnostic tests, and CMS is events will focus on the Open Payments database and hospital outpatient payment policy.
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