Nov 13, 2019 | ESRD, Medicare
CMS has finalized a payment update of +1.7% to the ESRD PPS, with limited adjustments from the proposed rulemaking. Click to read more.
Nov 12, 2019 | Drugs, Medicare, Physician Fee Schedule, Physicians
CMS finalized changes to new Medicare coverage of substance use disorder services under the physician fee schedule, including medication-assisted therapies for opioid treatment, starting January 2020. CMS made changes to the original proposal, including substantially increasing rates for opioid treatment providers. Click to read more.
Nov 11, 2019 | Hospitals, Inpatient, Medicare
Just over half of hospitals will receive payment increases under Medicare’s hospital value-based purchasing initiative, CMS recently announced. All hospitals have 2% of payments withheld – or nearly $1.9 billion total – which is returned to hospitals based on quality achievements and improvement scores. Click to read more.
Nov 8, 2019 | Managed Care Friday
1. 174 of 221: Middle schools in our poll this week who said they hoped to add psych and mental health programming and staff into their 2020 offering, including experimentations with telepsych in some districts and partnerships with local mental health groups, but have ‘struggled to staff and recruit’ due to a shortage. Only 86 of the 174 say they filled their slots and started programming. 2. Extenders Win: In an effort to increase access to healthcare, Anthem Virginia now contracts directly with NPs and PAs for its Medicaid beneficiaries under new state regulations that took effect...
Nov 7, 2019 | Medicare, Physician Fee Schedule
CMS has finalized the 2020 update to the Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS). In general, the rule finalizes many of the changes included in the proposed rule, including a major restructuring of E/M codes. This brief provides highlights of the final rule. Click to read more.
