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CMS Releases Second Year of Skilled Nursing Facility Utilization and Payment Data

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
January 20, 2017
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the second annual release of the Skilled Nursing Facility Public Use File (Skilled Nursing Facility PUF) with data for 2014. The Skilled Nursing Facility PUF presents summarized...

EHR Incentive Program: Attest to 2016 Program Requirements by February 28

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Practice Management, Electronic Health Records (EHR)
January 20, 2017
The Registration and Attestation System is now open. Providers participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program must attest to the 2016 program requirements by February 28 to avoid a 2018 payment adjustment. The EHR...

CMS Release Chronic Care Management Services Changes for 2017

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Coding, Reimbursement, & Documentation, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes
January 13, 2017
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently approved a number of changes to the payment rules for Chronic Care Management (CCM) services under Medicare Part B for CY 2017 to reduce administrative burden and improve payment...

Post-Acute Care TOH Quality Measures Pilot Study by CMS: Respond by January 17

Policy Snapshot
Post-Acute Care, Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
January 13, 2017
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) contracted with RTI International and Abt Associates to develop and implement two Transfer of Health Information and Care Preferences (TOH) quality measures for skilled nursing facility,...

Medicare Quality Programs: Transitioning from PQRS to MIPS Call — January 24

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS)
January 13, 2017
CMS is hosting the call on Tuesday, January 24 from 2 to 3:30 pm ET T o register or for more information, visit MLN Connects Event Registration . During this call, find out how to complete the final reporting period for the legacy Medicare quality...

OIG Releases Report on Vulnerabilities with Two-Midnight Policy

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Medicare, Observation Status
January 6, 2017
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report in December noting that the two-midnight policy led to limited access to skilled nursing care. According to the report, the policy increased the number of beneficiaries with hospital stays that...

CMS Announces Additional Opportunities for Clinicians under the Quality Payment Program

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Accountable Care Organization (ACO), Alternative Payment Models (APM), Medicare Access and CHIP Re-authorization Act (MACRA), Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS), Quality Payment Program (QPP)
January 6, 2017
On December 15, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced more new opportunities for clinicians to join Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs) to improve care and earn additional incentive payments under the Quality...

HHS Finalizes New Medicare Alternative Payment Models

Policy Snapshot
Cardiovascular Health, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Accountable Care Organization (ACO), Alternative Payment Models (APM), Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS)
January 6, 2017
On December 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized new Medicare alternative payment models that continue the Administration’s progress in reforming how the health care system pays for care. This announcement finalizes...

Apply for Clinical Practice Improvement Activities and Measurement Study by January 31

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Medicare Access and CHIP Re-authorization Act (MACRA), Merit-Based Incentive Program Payment System (MIPS)
January 6, 2017
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is conducting a Clinical Practice Improvement Activities Study, as outlined in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) final rule . Clinicians and groups who are...

Initiative to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations among Nursing Facility Residents – Payment Reform MLN Matters® Article — New

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Change of Condition, Transitions of Care
January 6, 2017
An MLN Matters Special Edition Article on The Initiative to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations among Nursing Facility Residents – Payment Reform is available. Learn about a new payment model for nursing facilities and practitioners to incent early...