Many provider groups have expressed serious concerns about their ability to meet the Oct. 1, 2013, compliance date. The proposed change in the compliance date for ICD-10 would give providers and other covered entities more time to prepare and fully test their systems to ensure a smooth and coordinated transition to these new code sets. […]
Nearly $46.5 million for basic grant funding will be distributed to State Health Insurance Assistance Programs to help people with Medicare get more information about their health benefits and choices according to CMS. The fiscal year 2012 grant is a non-competitive continuation of the SHIP grant from the prior annual grant period. These grants are […]
Data Show Gains In Reporting Quality Measures And In Program Participation Rates CMS results for the 2010 Physician Quality Reporting System and the 2010 Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program show significant gains in participation and incentives paid to eligible health care professionals. The report identifies key areas in which physician-level quality measures point toward future […]
CMS has announced a call for applications for a new ACA initiative designed to strengthen primary care in the United States. Under the Graduate Nurse Education Demonstration, CMS will provide hospitals working with nursing schools to train advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with payments of up to $200 million over four years to cover the […]
CMS announced that 11 States and the District of Columbia will participate in the Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Demonstration, established under the Affordable Care Act to test whether Medicaid beneficiaries who are experiencing a psychiatric emergency get more immediate, appropriate care when institutions for mental diseases (IMDs) receive Medicaid reimbursement. The Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Demonstration will […]
Marilyn Tavenner, the Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced the redesign of the statement that informs Medicare beneficiaries about their claims for Medicare services and benefits. The redesigned statement, known as the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), will be available online and, starting in 2013, mailed out quarterly to beneficiaries. […]
From the CMS Press Release: Public comments now open for 2013 combined Advance Notice and Draft Call Letter CMS announced proposed payment and policy guidance for Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare prescription drug (Part D) plans for 2013 that will help continue the trend of lower premiums and stable or improved benefits that beneficiaries […]
From the CMS Press Release: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius announced that HHS will initiate a process to postpone the date by which certain health care entities have to comply with International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition diagnosis and procedure codes (ICD-10). The final rule adopting ICD-10 as a standard was published […]
From the HHS News Release: CMS announced that it has selected 73 individuals from 27 States and the District of Columbia for its Innovation Advisors program. The initiative, launched by the CMS Innovation Center in October 2011, will help health professionals deepen skills that will drive improvements to patient care and reduce costs. After […]