CMS: Medicare Program Public Meeting for New Revisions to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Coding-May 28-30, 2024
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a virtual public meeting on May 28-30, 2024, to discuss the preliminary coding, Medicare benefit category, and payment determinations for new revisions to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II code set. The agenda and information on how to join the meeting will be posted on theCMS website. Registration is required. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 22, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
Biden-Harris Administration Takes Historic Action to Increase Access to Quality Care, and Support to Families and Care Workers
Announces three rules from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services establishing national standards and increasing access to care. "Minimum Staffing Standards for Nursing Homes" aims to improve healthcare quality by setting minimum staffing standards for nursing staff, collecting and reporting on workforce compensation data, and offering incentives for the nurse workforce to work in nursing homes. The 2 remaining rules work together to establish national appointment wait time standards, address payment transparency, and create payment standards for workers providing home and community based services. (Source: News stori...
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - April 22, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
Biden Administration Sets Higher Staffing Mandates. Most Nursing Homes Don't Meet Them.
Offers review of a new rule from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services regarding staffing minimums in nursing homes. The new standard is expected to require most nursing homes to increase staff. Discusses the rural-specific timeline for meeting the standard in addition to the impact on wages, workforce shortages, and Medicaid reimbursement. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - April 22, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
Some Older Women Need Extra Breast Scans. Why Won ’t Medicare Pay?
Mammography can miss tumors in women with dense breasts, so their doctors often include ultrasound or M.R.I. scans. Patients often wind up paying the bill. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - April 19, 2024 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Roni Caryn Rabin Tags: your-feed-science Breast Cancer Tests (Medical) Mammography Women and Girls Medicare Disease Rates Ultrasonic Imaging and Sonograms Tumors Preventive Medicine Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Source Type: news
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Often Go Untreated for Parents on Medicaid
Among those with substance use disorders who have been referred to child welfare, less than half received medication or counseling. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - April 19, 2024 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Emily Baumgaertner Tags: your-feed-health your-feed-healthcare Source Type: news
Elevance Health Reports $2.2 Billion Profit Despite Drop In Medicaid Enrollment
Elevance Health reported a first quarter profit of $2.2 billion as commercial health insurance and healthcare services offset a big decrease in Medicaid enrollment. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News - April 18, 2024 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Bruce Japsen, Senior Contributor Tags: Healthcare /healthcare Innovation /innovation business pharma standard Source Type: news
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments on the reinstatement of an information collection titled "Skilled Nursing Facility and Skilled Nursing Facility Complex Cost Report." The information collected will be used to determine the cost weights for the skilled nursing facility (SNF) market basket, conduct payment adequacy analyses, and determine reasonable costs. Comments are due by May 17, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 17, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
Improper Payments in Medicare and Medicaid: Who's at Fault?
(MedPage Today) -- Republicans and Democrats took two very different approaches Tuesday to the issue of improper payments made by the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
"For fiscal year 2023, GAO [the Government Accountability Office] reports that... (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)
Source: MedPage Today Public Health - April 16, 2024 Category: American Health Source Type: news
5 Takeaways From a Year of Medicaid Upheaval
In the year after a pandemic-era policy preserving Medicaid coverage lapsed, more than 20 million people were dropped from the program at some point. (Source: NYT)
Source: NYT - April 16, 2024 Category: American Health Authors: Noah Weiland Tags: Medicaid Health Insurance and Managed Care Children and Childhood State Children ' s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) United States Politics and Government Source Type: news
CMS: Public Meeting on June 25, 2024 Regarding New and Reconsidered Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test Codes for the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2025
The Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) announces a virtual public meeting on June 25, 2024, to receive recommendations and comments regarding payment amounts for new or substantially revised test codes Medicare is considering under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) for calendar year 2025. Written comments are due by May 30, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 16, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
The Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comments on revisions to an information collection titled "Reform of Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities." The information collected will be used by CMS, state survey agencies, and long-term care (LTC) facilities to ensure compliance with Medicare and Medicaid requirements and quality of care provided to LTC residents. Revisions include new requirements proposed at42 CFR 483.35 and new section 483.71, which were discussed in theSeptember 6, 2023, proposed rule onpage 61391. Comments are due by June 17, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 16, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
Why doesn ’t Medicare cover drugs like Ozempic for weight loss?
Medicare Part D, which provides prescription drug coverage, will now cover the weight-loss medication Wegovy in cases where the patient is at risk of a heart attack or a stroke. Wegovy belongs to a group of drugs known as GLP-1s — which include Ozempic and Mounjaro — that were developed for those…#medicare #wegovy #glp1s #zepbound #johncawley #cornelluniversity #medicaid #jamesbailey #providencecollege #jeahjung (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - April 15, 2024 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
' Miracle' weight-loss drugs could have reduced health disparities. Instead they got worse
Wegovy is part of a new generation of weight-loss medications that made some doctors optimistic about reversing longstanding racial and ethnic disparities in obesity. So far, the pricey drugs seem to have made those disparities worse. Science magazine anointed them the “2023 Breakthrough of the…#science #mounjaro #laureneberly #wegovy #fda #medicare #medicaid #rociopereira #denverhealth #blackamericans (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - April 15, 2024 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
CMS: Medicare Program; Application by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for Continued CMS Approval of Its Home Infusion Therapy (HIT) Accreditation Program
Announcement from the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS) of the approval of the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) as a national accrediting organization providing home infusion therapy services that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. The approval is effective April 23, 2024, through April 23, 2030. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 15, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
HHS, Treasury: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2025; Updating Section 1332 Waiver Public Notice Procedures; Medicaid; Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan Program; and Basic Health Program
Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) setting parameters for risk adjustment and user fees for state and federal-based exchanges for 2025. This rule also addresses requirements related to the auto re-enrollment hierarchy, essential health benefits, the Insurance Affordability Program enrollment eligibility verification process, network adequacy, prescription drug benefits, and more. These regulations are effective June 4, 2024. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 15, 2024 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
