On April 30th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a second interim final rule (IFC) aimed at addressing the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The rule has not yet been submitted to the Federal Register. The rule include flexibilities for a variety of areas including infection control in long-term care facilities, [...] Read More
On the afternoon of April 30th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it submitted a second interim final rule (IFC) to the Federal Register and that it released an additional set of blanket waivers under section 1135 of the Social Security Act aimed at addressing the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Below are many of the new flexibilities and capabilities included in the waivers and rule: Interim Final [...] Read More
On April 16, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed rule for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for fiscal year (FY) 2021. The rule includes proposals related to payment, documentation requirements, and use of non-physician practitioners. Comments on the proposed rule are due on June 15, 2020. Payments to Inpatient Rehabilitation [...] Read More
On the evening of April 10th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released three proposed rules. These rules include proposals related to payment, quality reporting, and other areas for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), inpatient psychiatric facilities, and hospices. Comments on the proposed rules are due on June 9, 2020. Total Payments to SNFs to [...] Read More
Overview On December 17, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule that would change outcome performance measures for organ procurement organizations (OPO)s. In addition, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) simultaneously released a proposed rule that adds new categories of reimbursable expenses in order to incentivize living organ [...] Read More
On November 1, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final calendar year (CY) 2020 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). The rule includes the annual payment update for physicians in the Medicare program and also includes policies for the Quality Payment Program, care management services, and Opioid Treatment Program (OTPs). Provisions of [...] Read More
On October 9, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a long-awaited proposed rule making changes to physician self-referral regulations based off the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute. The rule was released in conjunction with a similar rule from the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Comments on the proposed rule [...] Read More
Smart phones, social networks and internet applications help us communicate with family, friends and colleagues, but they can do so much more to improve our lives. Advances in technology and connectivity offer new methods for monitoring and accessing information about our health and well-being. Earlier this year, CMS Administrator Seema Verma announced that the Centers [...] Read More
Tweet On August 2, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final FY 2020 payment rule for hospital inpatient departments and long-term care hospitals. The rule includes the payment update for both types of facilities as well as policies for new technology add-on payments, graduate medical education, and the hospital wage [...] Read More
Tweet On July 31, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final FY 2020 hospice payment rule. The proposal finalizes an overall payment increase for hospices as well as rebased rates for three levels of care. Provisions of this final rule take effect on October 1, 2019. Per Diem rates rebased [...] Read More