The Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees annual review of the programs finds Medicare is projected to have sufficient funds four years longer than what was projected last year; and reports no change from the 2013 report’s projection that Social Security funds will be exhausted in 2033. The new projection for the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) […]
Category: CMS
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has scaled back its restrictions requiring all hospice drugs to be approved before they can be dispensed. Now, prior authorization will only be necessary for four categories of prescription drugs: analgesics, anti-nauseants, laxatives and anti-anxiety medications, according to a recent CMS memorandum. “We recognize that the operational […]
Last week, CMS announced plans to re-compete the supplier contracts awarded in Round 2 of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. By law, CMS is required to re-compete contracts under the DMEPOS bidding program at least once every three years. Under the program, DMEPOS providers bid against each […]
In an industry rife with funding cuts, it will be sink or swim for home health and hospice providers who want to continue operating under thinning margins and rising regulations. Those providers who can diversify their service offerings, however, can find the lifesaver they need to survive in the current Medicare home health environment marked […]
In an effort to improve patient care and reduce costs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a $100 million initiative to provide federal tools and resources to state Medicaid programs. The Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program (IAP), developed with input from the National Governors Association, is CMS’ latest effort to support payment and […]
Legislative efforts to reform payment cuts to the home health industry continue to gain support on Capitol Hill with Tuesday’s introduction of a new bill that aims to reform recent rebasing rules laid forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Securing Access Via Excellence (SAVE) Medicare Home Health Act , introduced by […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a rule that would cut Medicare reimbursements for durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) by more than $7 billion from 2016 to 2020. The proposed rule would create significant changes to Medicare coverage and payment policies for DMEPOS, including a methodology for adjusting […]
Medical supply company CardioSom, LLC has prevailed in its lawsuit against the U.S. government, paving the way for some 300 other providers to follow suit, HME News reports. Chief Judge Patricia Campbell-Smith of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims recently ruled that the government was in breach of contract when it rescinded contracts in the original […]
In response to growing pressure from health care organizations to revise its face-to-face encounter regulations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed changes Tuesday that would eliminate the narrative requirement in 2015. The proposed changes come on the heels of a lawsuit filed by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), which […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed changes Tuesday that would reduce Medicare payments to home health agencies by 0.3% in 2015. The proposed rule for 2015 cuts the Medicare home health prospective payment system (HH PPS) by $58 million, and reflects the effects of the 2.2% home health payment update percentage — […]
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