CMS allows pharmacies to bill Medicare for COVID-19 tests
Maia Anderson | May 12, 2020 CMS implemented a temporary policy that allows pharmacies to bill Medicare for COVID-19 tests, a move that could increase the number of pharmacies able to offer diagnostic testing, Bloomberg Law reported. Pharmacies can apply for waivers letting them enroll as independent clinical diagnostic laboratories, which are regulated by CMS. Before the new policy was…
Hospitals balk as CMS doubles down on price transparency
Shannon Muchmore | May 12, 2020 Dive Brief: CMS is adding a new element to controversial price transparency regulations, suggesting it will continue to collect data on hospital median payer-specific negotiated rates and consider how that information could be used to set relative Medicare payment rates. Hospitals immediately blasted the idea. In the draft of…
CMS’ proposed inpatient payment rule for 2021: 8 things to know
Ayla Ellison | May 12, 2020 CMS released its annual Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule May 11, which would raise Medicare payment rates for acute care hospitals. Here are eight key takeaways from the 2021 proposed rule: Payment rate update. Under the proposed rule, acute care hospitals that report quality data and are meaningful…
Surprise billing banned for providers that get CARES Act grants
Rachel Cohrs | April 09, 2020 The White House announced Thursday that providers receiving grants from the $100 billion aid fund in Congress’ third stimulus package will be banned from balance billing patients for COVID-19 treatment. Providers that receive grant funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act will have to certify that they will not…
CMS to allow providers to practice at top of license, across states
Michael Brady | April 9, 2020 The CMS on Thursday will allow providers to practice across state lines and at their top of license. The new flexibilities allow doctors to treat patients at rural hospitals via telehealth, even if they’re out-of-state. Nurse practitioners will also be allowed to perform select medical exams for Medicare patients…