On Wednesday, August 2, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) rule for Fiscal Year 2018. The rule outlines how hospitals are paid for inpatient Medicare stays, starting October 1, 2017. This rule finalizes a number of changes proposed in the IPPS proposed rule issued in April, but does […]
Read MoreCMS Finalizes Payment Increases for SNFs and IRFs Both Seeing a 1% Bump, Advances Move from Volume to Value within SNF VBP Program On Monday, July 31, 2017 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued two final rules updating the following payment systems for federal fiscal year (FY) 2018: the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility […]
Read MoreOn July 25, 2017, CMS released the CY 2018 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update and Proposed CY 2010 Case-Mix Adjustment Methodology Refinements; Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model; and Home Health Quality Reporting Requirements. CMS is projecting that Medicare payments to Home Health Agencies in CY 2018 will be reduced by 0.4 percent, estimated […]
Read MoreOn July 13, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2018 proposed rule. The proposed rule updates payment policies, payment rates, and quality provisions for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule on […]
Read MoreToday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a final implementation date for several bundled payment models that were finalized in December 2016. A final rule that included three new episode payment models (EPMs), plus an incentive payment model for cardiac rehabilitation services, and administrative changes to the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement […]
Read MoreOn Thursday, April 13, 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a final rule aimed at shoring up the Marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). HHS released a proposed rule in February 2017 that included several provisions generally supported by health insurers that participated in the Marketplaces. One open question […]
Read MoreOn Monday, April 3, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the final Call Letter for the 2018 Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit plan year. The Call Letter establishes requirements for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D plan sponsors for the 2018 benefit year. The draft call […]
Read MoreToday, CMS announced a delay in the implementation of a recently-finalized regulation that would have created three new episode payment models for inpatient hospital care, established the Cardiac Rehabilitation Incentive payment model, and also made technical changes to the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model. The final regulation, which was released in December 2016 […]
Read MoreOn February 1, 2017, CMS released the CY 2018 draft Call Letter for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D plans. The Call Letter includes requirements and benefit parameters for plan year 2018. CMS announced a proposal to delay two different proposals that would lead to payment cuts for Employer Group Waiver Plans (EQWP), as […]
Read MoreNew Payment Models Are MIPS Eligible Advanced Alternative Payment Models On December 20, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Advancing Care Coordination through Episode Payment Models (EPMs); Cardiac Rehabilitation Incentive Payment Model; and Changes to the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model (CJR) final rule. These new models add to […]
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