HHS announced a new $25 million funding opportunity to help states strengthen and expand their ability to help seniors and people with disabilities access home and community-based long-term services and supports. Over the next one to three years, funding will support Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) in nearly every state. Each year, more seniors, […]
CMS announced the Partnership to Improve Dementia Care, an initiative to ensure appropriate care and use of antipsychotic medications for nursing home patients. This partnership – among federal and state partners, nursing homes and other providers, advocacy groups and caregivers – has set a national goal of reducing use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing home […]
On May 16, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule, “Reform of Hospital and Critical Access Hospital Conditions of Participation.” This final rule was developed through a retrospective review of existing regulations called for by President Obama’s January 18, 2011 Executive Order 13563, to “modify, streamline, or repeal” regulations […]
CMS ha issued a proposed rule which provides increased payments for certain Medicaid primary care services. Under this provision, certain physicians that provide eligible primary care services would be paid the Medicare rates in effect in calendar years (CY) 2013 and 2014 (or if greater, the Medicare rate in effect in 2009) instead of their […]
CMS will now cover transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for Medicare patients under certain conditions. Aortic valve replacements are used in patients whose aortic heart valves are damaged, causing the valve to narrow – a condition known as “aortic stenosis.” Once patients experience symptoms of aortic stenosis, treatment is critical to improve their chances of […]
New opportunities that will allow people to more easily receive care and services in their communities rather than being admitted to a hospital or nursing home were announced by HHS, who also finalized the Community First Choice rule, which is a new state plan option under Medicaid, and announced the participants in the Independence At […]
CMS announced a final rule today to prevent fraud in Medicare, which is estimated to save taxpayers nearly $1.6 billion over 10 years. This rule ensures that only qualified, identifiable providers and suppliers can order or certify certain medical services, equipment and supplies for people with Medicare. The rule also helps ensure beneficiaries receive quality […]
CMS today issued a proposed rule that would update Medicare payment policies and rates for inpatient stays to general acute care hospitals paid under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) paid under the LTCH Prospective Payment System (PPS). This proposed rule is a continuation of our efforts to promote improvements […]
The proposed rule announced April 9, 2012 is the third in aseries of regulations over five years that are designed to streamline health care administrative transactions, encourage greater use of standards by health care providers, and make existing standards work more efficiently. HHS proposes adoption of a standard for a unique health plan identifier (HPID), […]