Medicare Parts A & B On November 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a rule finalizing changes for Medicare payments under the PFS and other Medicare Part B policies, effective on or after January 1, 2025.The CY 2025 PFS final rule is one of several final rules that reflect a broader […]
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced it is finalizing new policies in the calendar year (CY) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule to strengthen primary care, expand access to preventive services, and further access to whole-person care for services […]
On November 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) final rule, which updates Medicare payment policies and rates for Home Health Agencies (HHAs). This rule also updates the intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) items and services’ payment rate for CY […]
A bipartisan group of 45 elected officials asked congressional leadership to include a short-term extension of Medicare services in government funding legislation. By Kat Jercich January 31, 2022 02:54 PM Dozens of U.S. senators and representatives urged congressional leadership this past Friday to safeguard Medicare telehealth services. Led by Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and […]
Several organizations have asked CMS to revise its proposed 2022 Physician Fee Schedule to permanently expand Medicare coverage for telehealth. By Eric Wicklund September 20, 2021 – Telehealth advocates are asking the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to amend the proposed 2022 Physician Fee Schedule to permanently extend emergency measures on telehealth access and coverage that were […]
What’s the news: There are some major health care issues the massive budget-reconciliation package that Congress is working on this month must not overlook. Most important, these two policy concepts deserve to be included in the final legislation: Medicare program sustainability and postponement of impending physician payment cuts set to take effect in January. Continued access to telehealth in order […]
As of late March 2021, 475 million people worldwide have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Although a return to normalcy is drawing closer, it is unclear how state and federal governments will regulate and reimburse for telehealth services when temporary telehealth policies expire at the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). This alert summarizes […]
A new bipartisan House bill would ensure beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans can get access to audio-only telehealth services, a major ask from insurers. The bill, introduced Tuesday, aims to build on flexibilities given to providers by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reimburse for telehealth services in light of the […]
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently updated its 2021 Work Plan in January to include audits of Medicare Part B and home health telehealth services by OIG’s Office of Audit Services (OAS). OAS conducts independent audits of HHS programs, HHS grantees, and contractors to examine their performance in carrying out their responsibilities […]
CMS released or proposed five rules since Oct. 28 concerning new payment reforms, price transparency regulations and coverage of a COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s a breakdown of the five rules and proposals, beginning with the most recent: 1. CMS released a final rule Nov. 2 that updates payment rates for dialysis services. It takes effect Jan. 1. The […]
The public health emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 has brought about many changes to the way healthcare is practiced, delivered, and reimbursed. This article will discuss some of the major recent changes to telehealth on the federal level. Disclaimer: For consistency, the term “telehealth” is used throughout this article and is intended to include telemedicine, telepsychiatry, and […]
COVID-19 has dramatically accelerated the adoption of digital health, and a new analysis from Deloitte finds that trend extends similarly to Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries. Deloitte researchers surveyed executives at MA plans, as well as digital health companies, and found that through April 2020 more MA members used telehealth than did so in all of […]