Hospital groups push back against stiffer penalties for failing to publish prices
Robert King | Sep 20, 2021 Hospital industry groups are pushing back against a proposal to jack up fines for health systems that don’t publish their prices, arguing that facilities are putting all their resources behind combating the COVID-19 pandemic. The groups wrote in comments to the 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) rule strongly opposing…
CMS delays enforcement of key interoperability requirement of payer-to-payer data exchange
Robert King | Sep 17, 2021 The Biden administration has delayed enforcement of payer-to-payer data exchange included in a May 2020 final interoperability rule until future regulations are finalized. The decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced Wednesday, comes after the insurance industry has warned that the final rule was hastily constructed. “CMS’…
Providers balk at MIPS value program, Medicare rate in physician pay rule comments
Shannon Muchmore | September 15, 2021 While providers strongly support the telehealth coverage increases, they asked the agency to go further by putting the services that are now to be covered until the end of 2023 on the permanent list. Providers pushed back on CMS’ plans to overhaul the Quality Payment Program with a new…
Senate takes first step toward crafting $3.5T package that includes new Medicare benefits, drug pricing reforms
Robert King | Aug 11, 2021 Senate Democrats’ efforts to give Medicare drug pricing negotiation authority and add benefits to the program cleared a major hurdle on early Wednesday morning. The Senate passed 50-49 with one senator not voting a budget resolution that sets up a $3.5 trillion infrastructure package expected to include key health priorities focusing…
Senate passes infrastructure bill that restarts sequester cuts, delays rebate rule
Robert King | Aug 10, 2021 The Senate passed a roughly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package paid for in part by delaying a controversial rebate rule and restarting Medicare payment cuts. The package, which passed the chamber by a 69 to 30 vote on Tuesday, now heads to the House which is expected to approve it. The…