The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released on its website an interim final rule with comment (IFC) related to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The IFC has not yet been released in the Federal Register. The IFC revises requirements for long-term care (LTC) facilities and strengthens CMS enforcement to ensure compliance [...] Read More
On October 3-4, 2019, the Medicare Payment and Access Commission (MedPAC) held their second public meeting of the current term. Topics discussed include restructuring the Medicare Part D benefit, population-based outcome measures, and the methods used to assess the adequacy of Medicare payments. MedPAC Explores Restructuring the Part D Benefit The meeting began with the [...] Read More
This evening, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule entitled “Modernizing Part D and Medicare Advantage to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Expenses.” In total, the agency estimates that beneficiaries will save $62 million over 10 years in out-of-pocket spending, and Medicare program costs will be reduced by an [...] Read More
Overview This evening, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule entitled “Modernizing Part D and Medicare Advantage to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Expenses.” CMS believes that the changes proposed in this rule will give plans more tools to negotiate lower drug prices. The proposed rule discusses the definition [...] Read More
Today, the White House Office of Management and Budget released An American Budget, the fiscal year 2019 budget for the US Government. Concurrently, the Department of Health and Human Services released its FY 2019 Budget in Brief. Together, these documents propose significant savings while making a number of changes to federal healthcare programs. A brief summary […]
Read MoreFor the first time in three years, CMS has proposed a formal regulation concerning the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit programs. Typically, the agency has managed both benefits via the annual Call Letter process, which is subregulatory guidance. The proposed rule garnered a lot of speculation while it was under […]
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 […]
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