CMS Alerts121 posts

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released two tools to assist states and territories in their planning efforts to transition back to regular operations and resolve pending Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Basic Health Program (BHP) eligibility and enrollment actions after the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency (PHE) ends.  These tools were announced in the Planning for the Resumption of Normal State Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Basic Health Program (BHP) Operations Upon Conclusion of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency State Health Official Letter that CMS released on December 22, 2020.

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released preliminary Medicaid expenditure data that states reported to CMS through the Medicaid Budget and Expenditure System (MBES).    This information is summary level data for Medicaid service expenditures reported by states on the Form CMS-64 in MBES for the period of January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 and April 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020.  The data includes a breakout of expenditures associated with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) section 6004 which provides a 100% Federal match to uninsured individuals eligible under the new “COVID-19 testing” optional Medicaid eligibility group and section 6008 which provides a temporary 6.2 percentage point increase to qualifying states and territory’s Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP).        Learn more here: Medicaid CMS-64 FFCRA Increased FMAP Expenditure Data Collected through MBES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 15, 2021 Contact: CMS Media Relations CMS Media Inquiries Changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D Will Provide Better Coverage, More Access and Improved Transparency for Medicare Beneficiaries Final rule continues to strengthen the popular private Medicare health and drug plans. Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that further advances the agency’s efforts to strengthen and modernize the Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug programs.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 15, 2021 Contact: CMS Media Relations CMS Media Inquiries CMS Puts Patients Over Paperwork with New Rule that Addresses the Prior Authorization Process Final rule gives providers access to patient treatment histories, and streamlines prior authorization to improve patient experience and alleviate burden for health care providers Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a signature accomplishment of the new Office of Burden Reduction & Health Informatics (OBRHI).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2021 Contact: CMS Media Relations CMS Media Inquiries CMS unleashes innovation to ensure our nation’s seniors have access to the latest advancements Final rule will strengthen Medicare by bringing new medical technologies to Medicare beneficiaries faster Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that propels innovative technology so Medicare beneficiaries have access to the latest, most advanced devices.

December 22, 2020 Contact: CMS Media Relations CMS Media Inquiries New Measures Under Consideration Mark a Milestone for CMS’s Reimagined Quality Strategy to Increase Digital Innovation and Reduce Burden Measures advance better quality care The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today unveiled its 2020 list of quality and efficiency measures under consideration. Quality measures are tools the agency uses to collect data from providers on the effectiveness, safety, efficiency, and timeliness of care beneficiaries receive.

December 21, 2020 Contact: CMS Media RelationsCMS Media Inquiries CMS Issues Final Rule to Empower States, Manufacturers, and Private Payers to Create New Payment Methods for Innovative New Therapies Based on Patient Outcomes The Final Rule updates provisions to promote value-based payment for prescription drugs, while furthering the Trump Administration’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized regulatory changes to modernize Medicaid prescription drug purchasing and propel payment innovation by providing states, private payers and manufacturers more flexibility to enter into value-based purchasing (VBP) arrangements for prescription drugs.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 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.