CMS Alerts114 posts

December 17, 2020 Contact: CMS Media Relations CMS Media Inquiries  CMS Announces New Model Opportunity for Medicaid Managed Care Organizations Serving Beneficiaries Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid New opportunity offers a more holistic approach to care for individuals, while aiming to reduce overall spending across both programs The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation is announcing a new opportunity to enable Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to better serve enrollees who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

December 16, 2020 Contact: CMS Media Relations (202) 690-6145 | CMS Media Inquiries CMS Office of the Actuary Releases 2019 National Health Expenditures Total national healthcare spending in 2019 grew 4.6%, which was similar to the 4.7% growth in 2018 and the average annual growth since 2016 of 4.5%, according to a study conducted by the Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and published today ahead of print by Health Affairs.

December 10, 2020 Contact: CMS Media Relations CMS Media Inquiries CMS Proposes New Rules to Address Prior Authorization and Reduce Burden on Patients and Providers Improving patient and provider access to medical records and reforming prior authorization processes critical in a public health emergency Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would improve the electronic exchange of health care data among payers, providers, and patients, and streamline processes related to prior authorization to reduce burden on providers and patients.

December 3, 2020 Contact: CMS Media Relations (202) 690-6145 | CMS Media Inquiries CMS Announces New Model to Advance Regional Value-Based Care in MedicareGeographic Direct Contracting Model Builds on CMS’ Long-Standing Commitment to Improving Quality and Lowering Costs for Medicare Beneficiaries Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a new and transformative voluntary payment model that builds on CMS’ focus to deliver Medicare beneficiaries value through better care and improved quality.

December 1, 2020 Contact: CMS Media Relations CMS Media Inquiries Trump Administration Finalizes Permanent Expansion of Medicare Telehealth Services and Improved Payment for Time Doctors Spend with Patients Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the annual Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule, prioritizing CMS’ investment in primary care and chronic disease management by increasing payments to physicians and other practitioners for the additional time they spend with patients, especially those with chronic conditions.

November 25, 2020 Contact: CMS Media Relations (202) 690-6145 | CMS Media Inquiries CMS Announces Comprehensive Strategy to Enhance Hospital Capacity Amid COVID-19 Surge Agency outlines flexibilities to maximize Acute Hospital Care at Home, Ambulatory Surgical Centers to decompress hospitals treating COVID-19 patients Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) outlined unprecedented comprehensive steps to increase the capacity of the American health care system to provide care to patients outside a traditional hospital setting amid a rising number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations across the country.

November 20, 2020 Contact: CMS Media Relations (202) 690-6145 | CMS Media Inquiries CMS Announces Historic Changes to Physician Self-Referral Regulations Unprecedented additions to regulations that interpret “Stark Law” opens avenues for healthcare providers to ensure patients receive highest quality of care Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized changes to outdated federal regulations that have burdened health care providers with added administrative costs and impeded the health care system’s move toward value-based reimbursement.

November 18, 2020 Contact: CMS Media Relations (202) 690-6145 | CMS Media Inquiries CMS Urging Nursing Homes to Follow Established COVID Guidelines This Holiday Season Today, in advance of the approaching holiday season, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is urging nursing home staff, residents and visitors to follow established guidelines for visitation and adherence to the core principles of infection prevention.

November 17, 2020 Contact: CMS Media Relations (202) 690-6145 | CMS Media Inquiries CMS Releases Nursing Home COVID-19 Training Data with Urgent Call to Action Agency thanks nursing homes whose staff have completed free CMS training, but urges remaining homes to take advantage of this resource Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is publicly recognizing the 1,092 nursing homes at which 50% or more of their staff have completed CMS training designed to help staff combat the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in nursing homes.

November 16, 2020 **Updated 11/17/20** Contact: CMS Media Relations (202) 690-6145 | CMS Media Inquiries Trump Administration Announces Medicare Fee-For-Service Estimated Improper Payments Decline by $15 Billion Since 2016Continued reduction marks fourth year Medicare FFS improper payment rate has been below 10% The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that the Medicare Fee- For-Service (FFS) improper payment rate has continued to decline, reinforcing the Trump Administration and CMS’ commitment to strengthening Medicare and protecting taxpayer dollars.