- Welcome and Housekeeping (David Lipschutz, Moderator)
- Legislative Update: The IMPACT Act of 2014 (David Lipschutz)
- Overview – signed into law by President Obama on October 6, 2014, the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care for Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act, H.R. 4994) requires reporting of standardized data by post-acute care (PAC) providers across different PAC settings
- Provides funding for the electronic submission of nursing home staffing information (see below)
- Mandates hospice surveys every three years
- Administrative Updates
- Skilled Nursing Facilities (Toby Edelman)
- Changes to nursing home 5-star rating system
- Hospice (Terry Berthelot)
- As of Oct 1, the hospice election statement will indicate that the identified attending physician has been chosen by the patient or the authorized representative
- CMS Requests for Information (RFIs) – comments due November 3rd (David Lipschutz)
- Effect of dual eligibility on Part C and D plan quality ratings
- Health plan innovation initiatives
- Advocacy Update: Observation Status (Terry Berthelot)
- The Center has updated our self-help packet to reflect a CMS ruling.
- 2015 Landscape of Plans: Medicare Advantage and Part D (David Lipschutz)
- Summary of various reports/surveys
- Key changes including “modest” change in the total number of Medicare Advantage plans available for 2015, and the fewest Part D plans nationwide since 2006 (Kaiser Family Foundation)
- Overall MA quality ratings improving (CMS/Avalere)
- Average number of covered drugs decreases while restrictions on drugs increase (HealthPocket)
- Reminder: Starting in 2015 there will be a limited special enrollment period (SEP) for certain MA enrollees following certain provider network terminations
- Litigation and Potential Litigation (Gill Deford and Ali Bers)
- Lessler (ALJ Delay Case)
- Hull (lower level Medicare appeals)
- Jimmo (Improvement standard)
- Bagnall (Observation)
- Other litigation
- General Medicare Q&A (Moderator)
- Register Now for our webinar – DMEPOS: Beneficiary Access to Supplies and Services October 22, 2:00 PM EDT
- This webinar will cut through the confusion faced by beneficiaries and suppliers under the competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS), discuss the problems beneficiaries face, as well as their rights, and offer tips for advocacy.
- Wrap-up (Moderator)
- Keep informed: Myths and Truths, other information and updates on the Center’s Website
- Next Call
- REMINDER: Other information available at: https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/Projects/AdvocatesAlliance/AdvocatesAlliance.IssueBriefs.htm