CMS
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 9, 2016)—The clock is ticking for the next round of cuts for providers in rural, non-bid areas: the July 1 cuts are just 2,719 hours away. In hopes of stemming these cuts before they cause further harm to providers and patients, AAHomecare has been working with Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) and Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) to stop the second cut so Congress can thoroughly examine the impact CMS’s plan is having.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 3, 2016)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the final annual Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for the 2017 coverage year, along with related guidance documents, as part of their ongoing efforts to promote healthy and stable markets that work for consumers and insurers.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 3, 2016)—Program Integrity Enhancements to the Provider Enrollment Process (CMS-6058-P)
This proposed rule is part of CMS’s ongoing and continuous effort to prevent questionable providers and suppliers from entering the Medicare program and enhance our ability to promptly identify and act on instances of improper behavior.
CMS Tightens Screws on Home Health Fraud
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is making strides to crack down on home health fraud through data use and more site visits, the agency announced Monday. (Kourtney Liepelt/Home Health Care News)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 24, 2016)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released proposed changes for the Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Programs in 2017 that will, if finalized, provide stable and fair payments to plans, and makes unprecedented improvements to the program for plans that provide high quality care to the most vulnerable enrollees.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 23, 2016)—As part of our efforts to improve care delivery, data sharing, and transparency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing two public data sets regarding the availability and use of services provided to Medicare beneficiaries by ground ambulance suppliers and home health agencies, as well as a list of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) providers and suppliers currently approved to bill Medicare.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 18, 2016)—Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), as part of a broad Core Quality Measures Collaborative of health care system participants, released seven sets of clinical quality measures. These measures support multi-payer alignment, for the first time, on core measures primarily for physician quality programs.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 18, 2016—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a final rule that requires Medicare Parts A and B health care providers and suppliers to report and return overpayments by the later of the date that is 60 days after the date an overpayment was identified, or the due date of any corresponding cost report, if applicable.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 10, 2016)—The Department of Health and Human Services released Tuesday new information that shows that millions of seniors and people with disabilities with Medicare continue to save on prescription drugs and see improved benefits in 2015 as a result of the Affordable Care Act.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 4, 2016)—Today we released the annual report summarizing impacts from the Initiative to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations among Nursing Facility Residents in 2014. This three-year-old initiative is designed to test ways to reduce avoidable hospitalizations among long-stay nursing facility residents. For such individuals, avoidable hospitalizations can be dangerous, disruptive, and disorienting.
WATERLOO, IOWA, (February 4, 2016)—VGM & Associates has launched the 2016 HME Business Playbook, a 26-page resource created specifically for the HME industry.
The playbook includes innovative ideas and strategies to both grow and adapt to the new age of HME products and services, all while providing guidance for providers and vendors alike to develop their own game plan.
SAN DIEGO (February 3, 2016) A study showing significant, measurable efficiency gains when using the automated messaging capabilities of ResMed’s U-Sleep patient management solution was published this month in Sleep and Breathing, international journal of the science and practice of sleep medicine.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 29, 2016)—On January 27, CMS published the final rule to Medicaid Program; Face-to-Face Requirements for Home Health Services; Policy Changes and Clarifications Related to Home Health.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 27, 2016)—Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH), released a new Guide to Preventing Readmissions among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Medicare Beneficiaries.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 27, 2016)—Since the start of the New Year, AAHomecare leadership has taken part in numerous discussions with leading companies and associations in the HME sector to map out strategy to get relief for companies in rural areas, as well as those in other non-bid areas, now subject to Medicare competitive bidding-derived pricing.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 26, 2016)—In order to effectively implement provisions of the Affordable Care Act, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule detailing reforms to the rebate and reimbursement systems for Medicaid prescription drugs, which will save federal and state governments an estimated $2.7 billion over five years.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 26, 2016)—Many suppliers have been waiting to learn when CMS will adjust the fee schedules for group 3 accessories for power wheelchairs as mandated by the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act (PAMPA). Unfortunately, CMS has published that the adjustments to the fee schedule will not be available until July 1, 2016.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 14, 2016)—Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced 121 new participants in Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) initiatives designed to improve the care patients receive in the health care system and lower costs. With this announcement, ACOs now represent 49 states and the District of Columbia.