The Trump Administration has announced a number of policy goals and innovation models that seek to “improve the lives of Americans suffering from kidney disease, expand options for American patients, and reduce healthcare costs,” according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The broad policy framework was outlined in an executive order on … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has instructed state survey agencies that they must conduct onsite complaint investigations related to Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) complaints and surveys of death in restraint or seclusion in hospitals and critical access hospitals within two business days instead of five. This change brings these … Continue Reading
Medical equipment suppliers can submit bids for Round 2021 of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (CBP) from July 16 through September 18, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has just announced. As previously reported, Round 2021 of the CBP round will cover 16 product … Continue Reading
Agency Promises More Frequent Drug/Device HCPCS Code Update Opportunities, Bars MACs from Adopting New Blanket Noncoverage Policies without Evidence Review On May 2, 2019, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma outlined new improvements to the HCPCS coding and local coverage decision processes that are intended to “ensure safe and effective … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its proposed rule to update the Medicare inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) prospective payment system (PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2020. CMS projects that IRF PPS payments would rise by $195 million under the proposed rule. Specifically, CMS proposes a 2.5% increase factor, based on an IRF … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has scheduled a June 24, 2019 public meeting on calendar year (CY) 2020 Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) payments for new or substantially revised clinical lab codes. Specifically, the June meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to submit comments on the appropriate basis — … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently revised its guidance to states on standards for citing “immediate jeopardy” during surveys of all provider and supplier types and laboratories, including health, emergency preparedness, and life safety code surveys. CMS Administrator Seema Verma observed in a blog post that the changes were made in response … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced its plans for Round 2021 of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (CBP), featuring new “lead item” bidding rules and new product categories. Following on the heels of this announcement, the Trump Administration proposed additional legislative changes to … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to test a new voluntary emergency ambulance service innovation model that seeks promote “the most appropriate level of care at the right time and place.” In announcing the model, CMS noted that because Medicare regulations now only allow payment for emergency ground ambulance services for transportation … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a new Medicare Part D Payment Modernization Model (Part D Model), which will be tested by the CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. CMS unveiled the Part D Model on January 18, 2019, at the same time the agency released details on extensive revisions … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is making extensive revisions to its Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design model in order “to contribute to the modernization of Medicare Advantage through increasing choice, lowering cost, and improving the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries.” By way of background, the VBID innovation model was launched … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance on what date of service (DOS) should be billed for various Medicare Part B services. For radiology services, CMS offers the option of reporting the DOS of either the date when the radiology study was performed on the patient or the date of … Continue Reading
CMS has finally posted the Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedule (CLFS) rates for 2019, which are based on private payer data as mandated by the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA). The files reflect payment rate changes announced in a December 14, 2019 CMS transmittal, which also discussed policy changes including revisions to the … Continue Reading
CMS has posted calendar year 2019 Medicare fee schedule rates for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). The 2019 update factor is 2.3%, although other pricing policies are applied in specific circumstances. For instance, adjusted fee schedule amounts for former competitive bidding areas are based on single payment amounts in effect December 31, … Continue Reading
Responding to longstanding industry criticisms, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a number of changes to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) coding process for 2019. Most of the new policies are intended to increase transparency regarding CMS HCPCS coding decisions. The one substantive change of note is that CMS … Continue Reading
In a transmittal issued last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) extended newly-revised supervision rules for certain diagnostic tests paid via the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) to services paid under the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) for hospital outpatient departments. The transmittal relates to services performed by a registered radiologist assistant who … Continue Reading
CMS has released its final 2019 Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedule (CLFS) payment determinations for new and reconsidered clinical lab test codes. Specifically, CMS finalized the basis for establishing the payment rate (crosswalking or gapfilling), along with the agency’s rationale for the decision.… Continue Reading
In an effort to “modernize the Medicare program and bring the latest technologies and innovations to Medicare beneficiaries,” CMS has announced revisions to the local coverage determination (LCD) process. Specifically, under authority provided in the 21st Century Cures Act and taking into account stakeholder feedback, CMS has issued Program Integrity Manual (PIM) changes intended to … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that 1,299 entities have signed agreements to participate in the Administration’s new Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced episode payment model, which runs from October 1, 2018 through December 31, 2023. According to CMS, BPCI Advanced participants include 1,547 Medicare providers and suppliers (832 … Continue Reading
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided additional guidance on a hospital price transparency policy that goes into effect January 1, 2019. By that date, hospitals must make available a list of their current standard charges via the internet in a machine readable format and update this information at least annually, or … Continue Reading
CMS has posted the preliminary 2019 Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedule (CLFS) payment determinations for new and reconsidered clinical lab test codes. For each code, CMS announces whether it intends to use crosswalking or gapfilling to establish the payment rate, along with the agency’s rationale for the decision. CMS will accept public comments on these preliminary … Continue Reading
CMS has released the inflation-adjusted de minimis Open Payments/Physician Payments Sunshine Act reporting thresholds for 2019. Payments or other transfers of value of less than $10.79 do not need to be reported in 2019, unless total annual payments or other transfers of value to a covered recipient exceed $107.91. These amounts are up slightly from the 2018 … Continue Reading
CMS is planning a new “Medicare Advantage Qualifying Payment Arrangement Incentive (MAQI) Demonstration” that would allow clinicians who participate in certain Medicare Advantage (MA) plans that involve taking on risk to be treated as Advanced Alternative Payment Model (Advanced APM) participants under the Medicare physician fee schedule. By way of background, the Medicare Access and … Continue Reading
CMS has released an-agency-wide Rural Health Strategy that seeks to “better serve individuals in rural areas and avoid unintended consequences of policy and program implementation.” The Strategy has five objectives: Apply a rural lens to CMS programs and policies (e.g., apply a new checklist to relevant policies, procedures, and initiatives that impact rural communities) Improve … Continue Reading
