CMS issues guidance on MIPS information blocking component
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued new guidance designed to offer clarity on the Merit-based Incentive Payment System’s (MIPS) data blocking component, the October 30 Healthcare Informatics reports. The guidance outlines how MIPS-eligible clinicians can show they are fulfilling the information blocking requirement, which…
CMS moving MU attestation to QualityNet Secure Portal
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is moving submission of 2017 meaningful use (MU) data from the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System to the QualityNet Secure Portal (QNet), effective January 2, 2018, the October 4 EHR Intelligence reports. QNet is currently…
Editorial
Since July, when repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) stalled, healthcare reform has been somewhat overshadowed by events such as natural disasters and concerns about national security. Now, with insurers due to announce rates for the coming year, Congress is working on a bill to stabilize the…
CMS proposes delay for mandatory implementation of OAS CAHPS Survey
Responding to industry concerns, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a delay in the mandatory implementation of the patient experience of care satisfaction survey requirement known as the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Survey® (OAS CAHPS). CMS announced the proposed…
CMS granting exemptions for providers affected by Hurricane Irma
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is granting exemptions under Medicare quality reporting and value-based purchasing programs for certified providers (eg, acute care hospitals, long-term care hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers) affected by storms and flooding from Hurricane Irma. Providers will be granted exemptions without having to…
Can HAI data be useful in differentiating US hospitals?
Editor's Note There are enough healthcare-associated infection (HAI) data reported on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare website to meet minimal criteria for useful hospital comparisons in many geographic areas; however, it varies by type of HAI, this study finds. The analysis included data from 4,561…
CMS grants exceptions for quality reporting to ASCs in Harvey’s path
Editor's Notes The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will grant exceptions for quality reporting requirements for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) located in the path of Hurricane Harvey, the September 1 ASCA News reports. ASCs in affected counties and parishes in Texas and Louisiana will get exceptions without having…
Voluntary bundled-payment models shifting to outpatient procedures
Editor's Note Though the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is rolling back mandatory bundled-payment programs, it is expected to release more voluntary, outpatient-focused programs, which shifts power from hospitals to physicians, the August 21 Healthcare Finance News reports. Physician-focused does not require a hospitalization, which creates a complete…
CMS proposes canceling two bundled payment models, scaling back a third
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on August 15 announced a proposed rule that would cancel two bundled-payment models and reduce the number of providers required to participate in a third. The proposed rule would cancel the Episode Payment Models and the Cardiac Rehabilitation incentive payment…
Survey: Half of practices spend $40K per physician to comply with federal regs
Editor's Note A new Medical Group Management Association survey of 750 physician group practices finds that nearly half spend more than $40,000 per physician each year to comply with federal regulations, the August 10 FierceHealthcare reports. Respondents say the most burdensome regulation is Medicare’s new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)…
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