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CMS Updates Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Ratings

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Federal Regulations
August 19, 2016
On August 10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated the popular Nursing Home Compare Five-Star Quality Ratings to incorporate new measures. These new measures look at successful discharges, emergency visits, and re-...

Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice: Public Comment Period Ends September 1

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Observation Status, Federal Regulations
August 19, 2016
The public has until September 1 to comment on the revised Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The information collection requirements are not effective until approved under a valid Office of...

Open Payments: Limited Time for Physicians to Dispute 2015 Data

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
August 19, 2016
Open Payments 2015 data was published on June 30; however, you can still review and dispute it. Check your data every year, even if you think nothing was reported about you. If drug or device companies submitted new data from previous years, you can...

Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

Policy Snapshot
Care Settings/Types, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
August 19, 2016
The Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a Medicare and Medicaid program that provides comprehensive medical and social services that enable older adults to live in the community instead of a nursing home or other care facility...

CMS Announces Cardiac Rehabilitation Incentive Payment Model and Other Changes to Episode Based Payment Models

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Practice Management
August 12, 2016
The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced a model that will test the effects of payments that encourage the use of cardiac rehabilitation services. The cardiac rehabilitation incentive payment model would test the impact of...

SNFs: Final FY 2017 Payment and Policy Changes

Policy Snapshot
Skilled Nursing Care, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Federal Regulations
August 12, 2016
On July 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule (CMS-1645-F) outlining FY 2017 Medicare payment policies and rates for the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS), the SNF Quality...

CMS Announces Next Phase in Largest-Ever Initiative to Improve Primary Care in America

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Practice Management
August 12, 2016
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently opened the application period for practices to participate in the new nation-wide primary care model, Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+). CPC+ is a five-year primary care medical...

LAN: White Paper on Clinical Episode Payment Models Released

Policy Snapshot
Payment, Alternative Payment Models (APM)
August 12, 2016
The Health Care Payment Learning & Action Network (LAN) recently released their final White Paper on Clinical Episode Payment (CEP) models. The paper, developed by the Clinical Episode Payment Work Group, provides guidance for the design and...

Physician Compare: 2014 Quality Data Available

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Practice Management, Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS)
August 12, 2016
Two new datasets are available through the Physician Compare Downloadable Database : 2014 Physician Quality Report System (PQRS) clinical quality of care performance rates for six measures collected via claims for over 37,000 individual Eligible...

CMS PQRS Feedback Reports and Informal Review Process for Program Year 2015 Results Call — August 10

Policy Snapshot
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Payment, Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS)
August 5, 2016
Wednesday, August 10 from 1:30 to 3 pm ET To register or for more information, visit MLN Connects Event Registration . Space may be limited, register early. Learn about Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) negative payment adjustments, feedback...