HOUSTON–Hospice providers and several state associations filed a lawsuit Thursday, Jan. 16, against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to block the implementation of the Special Focus Program (SFP).
BALTIMORE—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its calendar year (CY) 2026 advance notice for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and the Medicare Part D prescription drug programs, which would update payment policies for these programs.
BALTIMORE—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the list of the 50 hospice companies selected for participation in the 2025 Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP). The SFP program, which will be led by the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, aims to improve hospice quality through increased health and safety oversights.
WASHINGTON—On Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, President Joe Biden signed into law HR 670, also known as the Think Differently Database Act, which requires the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a website to provide information on resources available to individuals with a disability and their caregivers and families.
ARLINGTON, Virginia—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) adjustment updates for calendar year (CY) 2025 durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) fee schedules, the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) released in a recent newsletter to members.
WASHINGTON—A group of U.S. senators have written a letter expressing concern about “deep financial ties” the potential head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Centers (CMS), Mehmet Oz, has with Medicare Advantage. The letter was written by multiple democratic senators, including Sen.
DALLAS—Axxess, a global technology platform for health care at home, announced its keynote speaker for its upcoming Axxess Growth, Innovation and Leadership Experience (AGILE) conference, as well as a new hospice outcomes and patient evaluation (HOPE) workshop and early bird pricing for AGILE 2025. The conference will be held Monday, May 5 through Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Dallas, Texas.
WASHINGTON—LeadingAge, an association of nonprofit providers of aging services, released a statement from its president and CEO, Katie Smith Sloan, regarding on the recently released Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) contract year (CY) 2026 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D proposed rule. The full statement by Sloan is detailed below.
WASHINGTON—As 2024 starts to wind down and a new administration and Congress begins to take over in Washington, home health advocates are focused on two primary priorities: reversing planned reimbursement cuts for home health and reforming plans that target underperforming hospices.
WASHINGTON—President-elect Donald Trump announced his nomination of Mehmet Oz, physician, surgeon, former television host and founder of the nonprofit health education company HealthCorps, as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
WASHINGTON—The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit to determine whether Medicare Part B properly paid for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies to hospice enrollees from the time period of 2017 through 2021. This audit took place in order to follow up on a prior OIG audit, which found Medicare Part B improperly paid suppliers for such supplies.
WASHINGTON—Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a fix that will impact suppliers who provide disposable medical supplies to Medicare beneficiaries, the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) wrote in a recent newsletter to members. This fix aims to lay the groundwork for ongoing engagement with CMS in order to address denials triggered by unknown Part A episodes.
WASHINGTON—The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reviewed Medicare Advantage (MA) companies’ use of health risk assessments (HRAs), which often increase payments to MA plans by billions of dollars. As a result of the review, OIG offered suggestions to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Patrick Newbold has been appointed chief information officer (CIO), as reported by Federal News Network. After the addition of Newbold, the U.S.
BALTIMORE, Maryland—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2025 premiums, deductibles and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, as well as its 2025 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts.
CMS’ 2025 updates to Medicare Parts A, B and D amounts are listed below.
BOSTON—A new study led by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health revealed Medicare Advantage (MA) plans receive billions of federal dollars for enrolling veterans who receive no Medicare services.
BALTIMORE—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule on its calendar year (CY) 2025 home health prospective payment system, which updates Medicare payment policies and rates for home health agencies.
WASHINGTON—The Office of Inspector General (OIG) updated its work plan with two new durable medical equipment, prosthetics/orthotics and supplies-related reviews, the American Association for Homecare wrote in a recent e-newsletter to members. The OIG is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is an independent office that reviews the department for fraud, waste and abuse.
WASHINGTON—House Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Randy Feenstra (R-IA) are asking colleagues in the House to join a sign-on letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that aims to reestablish the Medicare 75/25 blended rate for durable medical equipment (
WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a blanket waiver that allows physical therapists and speech language pathologists to perform initial and comprehensive assessments in instances where therapy is ordered for home health agencies (HHAs) impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Additionally, CMS modified some hospice requirements that involve updating comprehensive assessments of patients.
Below are the modifications:
BALTIMORE, Maryland—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced additional resources and flexibilities are available in response to Hurricane Milton in Florida. CMS is working with the state of Florida and federal partners to put these flexibilities in place in an effort to ensure those affected by this natural disaster have access to the care they need.
WASHINGTON—Vice President Kamala Harris announced a proposed Medicare at Home benefit designed to help families with caregiving needs and strengthen Medicare. Under the plan, Medicare would cover homecare for the nations’ seniors and those with disabilities who are enrolled in Medicare, as well as vision and hearing benefits aimed at helping seniors live independently for longer.
