CMS

By Kristin Easterling

(May 24, 2018)—Recently, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted a study on Medicare prior authorization requirements. The requirements began in seven states for certain power mobility devices such as power wheelchairs in 2012. The categories later expanded to include DME, home health and others.

Tom Ryan (left) of AAHomecare presented Doug Coleman with the Mal Mixon Award

By Kristin Easterling

(May 17, 2018)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new guidance on electronic visit verification (EVV), in accordance with section 12006(b) of the Cures Act. This section requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collect and disseminate best practices for the training people who provide personal care services (PCS), home health care services (HHCS) or both, on the operation of EVV systems.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 14, 2018)—Effective August 1, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will require suppliers to use KX, GA, GY and GZ modifiers on oxygen claims. The KX modifier will indicate when payment criteria is met, and the GA, GY and GZ modifiers provide more information for oxygen claims that do not meet payment criteria.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 8, 2018)—Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the agency’s first Rural Health Strategy intended to provide a proactive approach on health care issues to ensure that the nearly one in five individuals who live in rural America have access to high quality, affordable health care.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 3, 2018)—United Spinal Association, United Ostomy Associations of America and Spina Bifida Association partnered with AAHomecare on a comprehensive white paper to articulate why competitive bidding should not include urologicals and ostomy supplies. The white paper counters recent references to expanding the controversial bid program in the President’s Budget and MedPAC recommendations. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 24, 2018)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed changes to empower patients through better access to hospital price information, improve patients’ access to their electronic health records, and make it easier for providers to spend time with their patients.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 23, 2018)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it has released the comments submitted by patients, clinicians, innovators and others in response to the CMS Innovation Center’s New Direction Request for Information (RFI).

Why Trump’s Tariffs Could Raise the Cost of a Hip Replacement

Via CMS, WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 3, 2018)—Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized polices for Medicare health and drug plans for 2019 that will save Medicare beneficiaries money on prescription drugs while offering additional plan choices. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 22, 2018)—The Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) today released a new report that highlights the urgent need for policymakers to reform Medicare’s outdated payment methodology. The report outlines how the current payment system, called the competitive bidding program (CBP), restricts patients’ access to the oxygen and medical equipment they need, despite the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) best intentions.

Via CMS, WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 6, 2018)—Today, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma announced a new Trump Administration initiative—MyHealthEData—to empower patients by giving them control of their health care data, and allowing it to follow them through their health care journey.

Via AAHomecare, WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 28, 2018)—AAHomecare has been working for many months with CMS and the Jurisdiction D Council to fix a claims system problem related to physician’s PECOS enrollment.

Via AAHomecare, WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 22, 2018)—Champions on Capitol Hill remain highly engaged in efforts to roll back bidding-derived Medicare reimbursement cuts in rural/non-bid areas and to address the “double dip” cuts for oxygen in rural areas. With potential omnibus spending legislation expected in late March as a possible vehicle for language from H.R. 4229, it’s critical that we continue to engage Capitol Hill to support these priorities—especially over the next three weeks.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—CMS is soliciting nominations for technical expert panels (TEP) for its measure development and maintenance contractors. The project’s overall objective is to develop episode-based cost measures suitable for potential use in the Quality Payment Program.