The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is reporting these events, updates and deadlines for providers and hospitals on payment issues concerning Medicare and Medicaid. Read the latest MLN Connects Weekly Provider eNews.
Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTCH) Proposed Rule Issues for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017
On April 18, 2016 the CMS issued a proposed rule to update fiscal year (FY) 2017 Medicare payment policies and rates under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Prospective Payment System (PPS). The proposed rule, which would apply to approximately 3,330 acute care hospitals and approximately 430 LTCHs, would affect discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2016. CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule until June 16, 2016, and will respond to comments in a final rule to be issued by August 1, 2016. The proposed rule can be downloaded from the Federal Register. Read the CMS Fact Sheet.
CMS – National Provider Call
When: Wednesday, May 4 from 3 to 4:30 pm ET
Register for this event
2016 PQRS Group Practice Reporting Option Call – This call gives a walk through of the Physician Value – Physician Quality Reporting System (PV-PQRS) Registration System, an application that serves the PQRS and Value-Based Payment Modifier (Value Modifier) programs. Learn how to meet the satisfactory reporting criteria through the PQRS Group Reporting Option (GPRO), avoid the CY 2018 PQRS payment adjustment, and CY 2018 Value Modifier automatic downward payment adjustment. A question and answer session follows the presentation.
CMS releases Medicare Advantage quality data for racial and ethnic minorities
Data is first of annual releases on disparities in Medicare Advantage plans. CMS Office of Minority Health released data detailing the quality of care received by people with Medicare Advantage by racial or ethnic group. The data are based on an analysis of two sources of information. The first is part of the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS). HEDIS collects information from medical records and administrative data on how well the needs of Medicare beneficiaries are met for a variety of medical issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung disease. The second part is the Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Survey, which is conducted annually by CMS. CAHPS focuses on the health care experiences of Medicare beneficiaries across the nation.
Next Generation ACO Model Letter of Intent Deadline Extended
The Next Generation ACO Model Letter of Intent (LOI) submission date has been extended to May 20, 2016. All organizations must submit a LOI in order to apply to the Model. A hyperlink to complete the Next Generation LOI can be found on the Next Generation ACO Model web page. Questions regarding the Next Generation ACO Model can be directed to NextGenerationACOModel@cms.hhs.gov. The application deadline remains May 25, 2016 for the narrative portion and June 3, 2016 for the 2017 Participant List.
Check Your 2015 Open Payments Data
CMS continues to publish data from applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations about payments they make to physicians and teaching hospitals. The public has searched Open Payments data more than 6.3 million times. Doctors, teaching hospitals, and others receiving payments or other transfers of value that are sent to us from reporting entities should take steps to ensure that this information about you, your related research, ownership, and other financial concerns are accurate. Doctors and teaching hospitals have the chance to review and dispute the information shared about them before we post the new and updated Open Payments data on June 30, 2016. The data we will post on June 30is available for review through May 15, 2016. See instructions and quick tips.