On January 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rolled out a new website that it hopes will facilitate value-based care (VBC) uptake and education.
CMS Innovation Center Director Liz Fowler has previously noted that the parameters for "value-based care" have remained elusive to industry stakeholders. In response,...Arizona News
Hospices in Arizona and three other states are now facing a "period of enhanced oversight" from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for new hospices, following reports of unethical or illegal business practices including "fraud, waste and abuse."
The agency will require a medical review of claims before a Medicare...National News
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced they would pay the 1,600 hospitals that participate in the 340B drug discount program a total of $9 billion in lump sum payments in response to the Supreme Court decision that found the program underpaid for prescription drugs. But the Medicare program also announced that it...National News
On Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of the Actuary posted projections for national health expenditures (NHE) through 2031. The report projects health spending will represent 20% of the U.S. economy and spending will surpass $7 trillion annually by 2031.
The CMS release states that the NHE and health...National News
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released its Fiscal Year 2023 Budget, which focuses on investments in public health, behavioral health, health disparities, child care and advancing research. Coupled with the HHS announcement, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also released the 2021-2030 National...National News
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), along with the Biden administration, has announced a series of steps intended to help Americans sign up more easily for affordable health coverage.
The plan involves extending the open enrollment period (OEP), expanding services provided by Federally-facilitated Marketplace...Arizona News
On July 12, AHCCCS submitted a proposal to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) detailing its plan for reinvesting federal funding made available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The spending plan includes strategies that aim to strengthen AHCCCS’ existing home and community based services (HCBS) program...National News
The CMS proposal is getting mixed reactions from providers; some are expecting payment increases, others are anticipating losses and almost everyone is expecting the expansion of telehealth will be here to stay.
On Monday, August 3, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed the physician fee schedule (PFS), which...National News
CMS Administrator Seema Verma announces that value-based payment models are important to the future of the US healthcare system and that they will be flexible regarding their financial models, reporting requirements and timelines.
The CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) celebrates its tenth year of driving new...CMS Rules
Accountable care organizations (ACOs) are asking for more support from the Trump administration amid the pandemic. ACOs want more time to decide on whether to voluntarily exit the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) as coronavirus-related financial losses and balance sheet deficits pile up.
With payments tied to spending and...CMS Rules
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized requirements seeking to increase access to telehealth for seniors in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The changes made to MA and Medicare Part D also expand supplemental benefit options for beneficiaries with chronic diseases.
CMS will grant MA plans more flexibility to...CMS Rules
Along with an increase to Medicare inpatient payment rates, a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule released on Monday is suggesting price transparency requirements that include hospitals disclosing median payer-specific rates negotiated with Medicare Advantage organizations and third-party payers.
CMS is...Arizona News
President Trump announced the formation of an independent commission last week to address the troubling number of coronavirus cases in nursing homes across the country. The Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the nursing home response to the pandemic.
The...Arizona News
Lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 60 and forgiving student debt for low-income and middle-class individuals are two steps the now presumptive Democratic nominee for president Joe Biden has in mind to help ease the economic burden on working people.
The former Vice President took to Medium last week to unveil his plans in...Arizona News
As the novel coronavirus wreaks havoc on global economic data, risk-bearing Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are worried the pandemic could threaten a decade-long shift to value-based payment models. Many facilities are struggling to stay in business as a fast-approaching May 31 deadline to give notice to the Administration in...Arizona News
In a March 24 ruling, U.S. District Judge Michael Shea granted Medicare patients the constitutional right to challenge hospital decisions putting them on observation status. The class action case favored beneficiaries who had their status changed by hospitals to observation, despite having initially been admitted by...CMS Rules
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is expanding its accelerated and advanced payment program for Medicare providers to support hospitals and doctors on the front lines of the rapidly spreading, global pandemic.
Taking advantage of the recently established Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security...Arizona News
Director Jami Snyder's March 17 letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services asks the agency to waive certain Medicaid and CHIP requirements. Arizona's Medicaid agency also added a new webpage with a list of resources for addressing COVID-19 and a handy FAQ section.
Among the many asks to CMS, the Arizona Health Care Cost...CMS Rules
Following last year’s controversial price transparency rule mandating that hospitals disclose the rates they negotiate with insurers online for specific services, payers have decided to counter the rule with an initiative of their own.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) revealed the list of 70 mandated services...Arizona News
Terms of a settlement agreement will allow Hacienda Healthcare to keep its state license and Medicaid contract under several conditions, including the mandatory hiring of a quality improvement expert.
In June 2019, the Arizona Department of Health Services issued a notice of intent to revoke the facility's license following the...
