May 2018 – Recent Policy Changes Relating to Medicare Advantage & Other Issues

• Welcome and Housekeeping  (David Lipschutz, Moderator) 
• Recent Policy Changes Relating to Medicare Advantage  (David Lipschutz)
  • New Medicare Advantage “Flexibilities”
  • Impact on Beneficiary Choice/Decision-Making
  • Forthcoming CMA Report
• Proposed Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Rule  (Toby Edelman)
  • Overview of Proposed Rule – Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) (CMS-1696-P)
    • See:  https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-05-08/pdf/2018-09015.pdf    
    • Comments due June 26
• Other Policies/Proposals Open for Comment  (David Lipschutz)
  • CMS Request for Information (RFI) – Direct Provider Contracting (Comments due May 25)
    • See CMS press release: https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Press-releases/2018-Press-releases-items/2018-04-23.html
  • Energy & Commerce – Long-Term Care Proposal (Comments due June 15)
    • See Ranking Member Pallone press release: https://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/pallone-unveils-proposal-for-medicare-long-term-care-benefit
  • Other Proposed Rules, including Inpatient Hospital, Long-Term Acute Hospital, Inpatient Rehabilitation, Hospice, and Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Payment
    • See CMS press releases:
      • https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2018-Fact-sheets-items/2018-04-24.html
      • https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Press-releases/2018-Press-releases-items/2018-04-27.html   
• Home Health Update (Judy Stein)
  • Medicare is not a short-term benefit
• ACA Sabotage Update (Ben Belton)
• Litigation Update  (Wey-Wey Kwok, Judy Stein)
  • Alexander (formerly Barrows/Bagnall) (Hospital Observation Status)
  • Other Updates
•  Oral Health Update (Wey-Wey Kwok)
• Miscellaneous
  • Upcoming webinars – see: https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/webinars/

Recurring Skilled Nursing Facility Issues (Older Americans Month topic)

May 23, 2018 @ 3 p.m.ET
Presenters: Sr. Policy Attorney Attorney Toby Edelman, Policy Attorney Dara Valanejad

Enhancing the Promise of Medicare – Oral Health, Audiology, Vision Benefits

July 18, 2018 @ 3 p.m.ET
Presenters: Attorneys David Lipschutz, Wey-Wey Kwok, Guest Speakers

• General Medicare Q&A (Moderator)
• Wrap-up  (Moderator)

REMINDER: Other information available at: https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/take-action/national-medicare-advocates-alliance/medicare-advocates-alliance-issue-briefs/