On Friday, October 23, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an expansion of the 3-year Medicare Prior Authorization Model for Repetitive Scheduled Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport in accordance with section 515(a) of … [Read more...] about Update: Medicare Coverage for Ambulance Services
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Proposed Revisions to Requirements for Discharge Planning for Hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and Home Health Agencies (HHAs)
On November 3, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), published in the Federal Register (80 Fed. Reg. 68126), proposed revisions to requirements for discharge planning for hospitals, CAHs, and HHAs. The proposed rule is also … [Read more...] about Proposed Revisions to Requirements for Discharge Planning for Hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), and Home Health Agencies (HHAs)
2016 Cost-Sharing Announced
This week the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the Medicare premium, deductible and co-pay amounts for 2016. As the Center for Medicare Advocacy has extensively reported, the Part B Premium, which was feared to spike … [Read more...] about 2016 Cost-Sharing Announced
Budget Deal Averting Steep Part B Premium & Deductible Increases Signed Into Law
On Monday November 2, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. As reported in last week’s CMA Alert, this wide-ranging budget agreement includes provisions that will mitigate, but not eliminate, Part B premium … [Read more...] about Budget Deal Averting Steep Part B Premium & Deductible Increases Signed Into Law
House Passes Budget Agreement That Would Reduce Dramatic Rise in Part B Costs for Beneficiaries – Bill Moves to Senate; Advocates Remain Concerned About Underlying Causes
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. Broadly speaking, this agreement avoids a pending government default by raising the nation’s debt ceiling, and prevents relief from budgetary … [Read more...] about House Passes Budget Agreement That Would Reduce Dramatic Rise in Part B Costs for Beneficiaries – Bill Moves to Senate; Advocates Remain Concerned About Underlying Causes
CMS Proposed Rules for Nursing Facility Requirements of Participation: Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments
On July 16, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published proposed rules to revise the Requirements of Participation (RoPs) for nursing facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid, or both.[1] Since most nursing … [Read more...] about CMS Proposed Rules for Nursing Facility Requirements of Participation: Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments
Kaiser Family Foundation Report on Income and Assets of Medicare Beneficiaries
The Kaiser Family Foundation recently released an issue brief that describes the income and assets of Medicare beneficiaries in 2014. It is essential to place proposals making changes to the Medicare program within the context of this data in order … [Read more...] about Kaiser Family Foundation Report on Income and Assets of Medicare Beneficiaries
Solution to Medicare Part B Cost Increases? Look at “Outpatient” Observation Status
If Congress and the Administration truly seek ways to limit Medicare premiums and deductibles, they ought to look at CMS's hospital Observation Status policy.A major cause of the Part B increase is likely the parallel increase in … [Read more...] about Solution to Medicare Part B Cost Increases? Look at “Outpatient” Observation Status
Part B and the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
Today the Social Security Administration announced that, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation numbers released today, there will be no Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2016. The announcement makes official the assumption underlying the … [Read more...] about Part B and the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
Kaiser Family Foundation Releases Reports on MA and Part D in 2016
In a report entitled “Medicare Part D: A First Look at Plan Offerings in 2016” (October 2015), the Kaiser Family Foundation analyzed the Part D market in 2016 and found, among other things, that:In 2016, beneficiaries in each … [Read more...] about Kaiser Family Foundation Releases Reports on MA and Part D in 2016