Tag: CMS

Meaningful Use to end in 2016

Editor's Note The Meaningful Use program will be ending some time in 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services acting administrator, Andy Slavitt, announced January 11. New value-based payment regulations demand a more streamlined regulatory approach, noted Slavitt, speaking at the J P Morgan Healthcare conference in San Francisco.…

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By: Judy Mathias
January 13, 2016
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Bill allowing MU Stage 2 hardship exemptions signed into law

Editor's Note A bill designed to make it easier for healthcare providers to receive hardship exemption from financial penalties for failing to meet Stage 2 meaningful use (MU) electronic health record (EHR) requirements was signed into law on December 28, 2015, the January 4, 2016, iHealthBeat reports. The bill ensures…

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By: Judy Mathias
January 5, 2016
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CMS finalizes rule on prior authorization for durable medical equipment, supplies

Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), on December 30, 2015, published a final rule that establishes a prior authorization process for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies to help reduce unnecessary and fraudulent claims. Under the final rule, the same information necessary to submit…

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By: Judy Mathias
January 4, 2016
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CMS announces ASC quality reporting appeals process

Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on December 16 announced that ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) subject to a reduction in Medicare outpatient payments in CY 2016 because of noncompliance with the ASC quality reporting program may submit a request for reconsideration by March 17, 2016. Eligible…

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By: Judy Mathias
December 17, 2015
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Congress considers MU incentives for ASCs

Editor's Note A Bill in Congress would enable ambulatory surgery center (ASC) physicians to receive the same payment incentives for meaningful use (MU) of electronic health records (EHRs) as physicians in other settings, according to the December 15 Healthcare IT News. Currently, physicians practicing in ASCs are excluded. The Electronic…

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By: Judy Mathias
December 16, 2015
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CMS: Proposed rule on discharge planning focuses on patient preference

Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to revise discharge planning requirements that hospitals, including long-term care hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, critical access hospitals, and home health agencies, must meet to participate in CMS programs. Changes to discharge planning requirements would: bring them into…

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By: Judy Mathias
December 16, 2015
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Medicare penalizes 758 hospitals for patient safety issues

Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on December 9 announced that 758 hospitals will have a 1% reduction in Medicare payments for missing targets for hospital-acquired conditions. More than half (54%) of the hospitals were also penalized last year. Penalties are expected to total $364 million. Among…

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By: Judy Mathias
December 15, 2015
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CMS expands quality data on Physician and Hospital Compare websites

Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on December 10 updated its Physician and Hospital Compare websites to include new data and quality measures. Among the additions: performance scores on preventive care, diabetes, cardiovascular care, and patient safety for approximately 275 group practices and 40,000 individual healthcare…

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By: Judy Mathias
December 15, 2015
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US healthcare spending grew 5.3% in 2014

Editor's Note Overall US spending on healthcare grew 5.3%, and per-capita spending grew 4.5% in 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid reports. The share of gross domestic product allotted to healthcare spending was 17.5%, up from 17.3% in 2013. The increase in spending was primarily driven by coverage expansion…

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By: Judy Mathias
December 9, 2015
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CMS issues notice on ‘two-midnight’ rule payment cut

Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on December 1 published a notice with comment period on the basis for cutting inpatient hospital payments by 0.2% in accordance with its “two-midnight” rule. The notice comes in response to an October 6 court ruling that challenged the payment…

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By: Judy Mathias
December 1, 2015
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