From the CMS News Release: On November 1, 2011 CMS issued a final rule with comment period (final rule) that will update payment policies and payment rates for services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) beginning Jan. 1, 2012. In addition to establishing payment rates for […]
From the CMS News Release: Payments to home health agencies (HHAs) are estimated to decrease by approximately 2.31 percent or $430 million in CY 2012, the net effect of a 1.4 percent payment update, the wage index update, and the case-mix coding adjustment. This final rule reflects the ongoing efforts of CMS to support […]
From the CMS News Release: On October 24, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that 500 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) have been selected for the FQHC Advanced Primary Care Practice (APCP) demonstration project from over 800 applicants. The initiative is designed to evaluate the impact of the advanced primary care […]
From the CMS News Release: People with Medicare will be able to benefit from a new program designed to encourage primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals, and other health care providers to coordinate their care under a final regulation issued by HHS. Created by the Affordable Care Act, these final rules on Accountable Care Organizations […]
From the CMS News Release: New proposed rules released this week by CMS would reduce unnecessary, obsolete, or burdensome regulations and save hospitals and healthcare providers nearly $1.1 billion each year and over $5 billion over 5 years. The new proposals regarding the rules for hospitals that treat Medicare and Medicaid patients were developed […]
From the CMS News Release: CMS announced this week that it is accepting applications for a new Innovation Advisors program to help health professionals deepen skills that will drive improvements to patient care and reduce costs. These health care improvements will benefit people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). […]
From the CMS News Release: CMS announced two new national coverage determinations that cover alcohol misuse screening and behavioral counseling for Medicare beneficiaries as well as screening for depression. These new coverage policies add to the existing portfolio of covered preventive services, most of which are now available to people with Medicare at no […]
From the CMS News Release: CMS has proposed revisions to the Medicare Advantage program and prescription drug benefit program (Part D) that would implement new benefits under the Affordable Care Act and increase patient protections. The proposals would codify provisions providing important new benefits including the 50% discount on covered brand name drugs in […]
From the HHS News Release: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a new initiative made possible by the Affordable Care Act to help primary care practices deliver higher quality, more coordinated and patient-centered care. Under the new initiative, Medicare will work with commercial and state health insurance plans to offer […]