Physician Group Practice Demonstration Succeeds In Improving Quality And Reducing Costs

From the HHS Press Release: All Participating Practices To Continue In 2-Year PGP Transition Demonstration CMS announced results from the initial Physician Group Practice (PGP) Demonstration, a landmark partnership with physician group practices that aims to better coordinate care across different settings, leading to improved quality and cost savings. After five years, this demonstration has shown […]

CMS Launches Quality Care Finder

On , in Industry News, by AQ-IQ LLC

From the HHS Press Release: Efforts Give Consumers Information To Inform Their Care The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new tool for patients and caregivers and other enhanced initiatives today to empower consumers to make informed choices about their health care, and to help improve the quality of care in America’s […]

CMS Launches Quality Care Finder

From the HHS Press Release: Efforts Give Consumers Information To Inform Their Care The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new tool for patients and caregivers and other enhanced initiatives today to empower consumers to make informed choices about their health care, and to help improve the quality of care in America’s […]

IPPS Final Rule FY 2012

On , in Archives, by AQ-IQ LLC

From the HHS Press Release: Final Rule Strengthens Tie Between Payment and Quality Improvement The final rule updates payment policies and rates for acute care hospitals paid under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS), as well as hospitals paid under the Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS).   The final rule also strengthens […]

IPPS Final Rule Issued for FY 2012

From the HHS Press Release: Final Rule Strengthens Tie Between Payment and Quality Improvement The final rule updates payment policies and rates for acute care hospitals paid under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS), as well as hospitals paid under the Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS). The final rule also strengthens the […]

CMS Implements Payment, Policy Changes For Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

On , in Industry News, by AQ-IQ LLC

From the HHS Press Release: Final rule adopts measures for new IRF Quality Reporting Program CMS issued a final rule Friday that updates Medicare payment policies and rates for more than 1,200 freestanding and hospital-based inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. The final rule increases IRF payment rates under the IRF Prospective […]

More Accurate FY 2012 Payments For Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities

On , in Industry News, by AQ-IQ LLC

From the HHS Press Release: Case-Mix Indexes Recalibrated CMS announced a final rule reducing Medicare skilled nursing facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) payments in FY 2012 by $3.87 billion, or 11.1 percent lower than payments for FY 2011. The FY 2012 rates correct for an unintended spike in payment levels and better align Medicare […]

Final Wage Index Changes For Medicare Hospices Increase FY 2012 Payments By 2.5%

On , in Industry News, by AQ-IQ LLC

From the HHS Press Release: Case-Mix Indexes Recalibrated Hospices serving people with Medicare will see a 2.5 percent increase in their Medicare payments for fiscal year (FY) 2012, according to a final regulation released  by CMS.   Hospices are also called upon to begin reporting on the quality of care received by Medicare patients, as a […]

RAC Program Results (June, 2011)

On , in Archives, by AQ-IQ LLC

Medicare Fee-for-Service Recovery Audit Program as of June 17, 2011 CMS has prepared an overview of the combined results of the RAC program to date. This document also highlights the top issue for each contractor.   Click here to download the document.