Medicare, Workforce Pay Rulings Questioned In A Post-Chevron World

MedPAC Recommends 7% Reduction in Home Health Payments

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) last week released their March,2024 Medicare Payment Policy Report to Congress. Based on the Commission’s review of the payment and cost indicators, the MedPAC recommends that the Congress should reduce the 2024 Medicare base payment rates for home health agencies by seven percent. MedPAC, once again, has concluded that […]

New Legislation Would Expand Access to Occ Therapy

In a promising bipartisan effort, the Medicare Home Health Accessibility Act, H.R. 7148, has been introduced by a coalition of legislators including Reps. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11), Dr. John Joyce (R-PA-13), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37). This crucial bill aims to revolutionize home health care by allowing occupational therapy (OT) to be ordered as […]

What Home Health Providers Need To Know About CMS’ Medicare Enrollment Changes

CMS Finalizes Changes to Prior Authorization Requirements

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the final rule: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes for Medicare Advantage Organizations, Medicaid Managed Care Plans, State Medicaid Agencies, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Agencies and CHIP Managed Care Entities, Issuers of Qualified […]

Tomorrow! Provider Enrollment Changes in Medicare

Numerous provider enrollment changes were finalized for implementation in 2024 and a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS)-855A was implemented last year. The changes impact providers when newly enrolling, while maintaining enrollment, and at the time of revalidation.  Providers that are Medicare-certified but serve only Medicaid and non-Medicare recipients are also impacted. Revisions encompass everything […]

Medicare Cost Report E-Filing System Webinar

Target Audience:  Learn about new and upcoming functionality for Medicare Part A cost reports in the Medicare Cost Report E-Filing (MCReF) system:  You may send questions in advance to OFMDPAOQuestions@cms.hhs.gov with “MCReF Webinar” in the subject line. We’ll answer your questions during the webinar, or use them to develop educational materials.

Provider Enrollment Changes in Medicare

Numerous provider enrollment changes were finalized for implementation in 2024 and a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS)-855A was implemented last year. The changes impact providers when newly enrolling, while maintaining enrollment, and at the time of revalidation.  Providers that are Medicare-certified but serve only Medicaid and non-Medicare recipients are also impacted. Revisions encompass everything […]

NAHC Submits Comments on CMS’ Proposed Policy Changes to Medicare Part C and Part D 

On November 5, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Contract Year 2025 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Health Information Technology Standards and Implementation Specifications, proposed rule. On January 5, […]

MedPAC Recommends Home Health Payment Rate Cut, Hospice Update Freeze

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) unanimously voted Thursday, January 11, 2024, to recommend cutting the home health base payment rate by seven percent in CY2025 and freezing the hospice update to 2024 Medicare base payment rates for FY2025. MedPAC, which advises Congress on Medicare payment issues, previously released draft recommendations for these reductions in December 2023. If accepted […]

MedPAC draws fire with draft recommendations for massive home health cut, hospice rate freeze

MedPAC Draft Recommendation for Hospice Eliminates Rate Update

Late last week, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) held a meeting to discuss their draft recommendations for various Medicare programs for their upcoming annual report to Congress, which will be released in March 2024 (slides from the hospice discussion can be found HERE). The Chair’s draft recommendation for the Medicare hospice program, which most […]