Monday Morning Rounds with CMS

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Posted By: HHS/ONC/CMS Communications November 13, 2023

ICYMI, here is recent communication from CMS.

Events

Overview of the Quality Payment Program Policies in the CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule
When: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 2:30pm ET
Register for this event.

Following the release of the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule, CMS will host a public webinar to provide an overview of the changes in policies for the Quality Payment Program.

CMS Innovation Center

MIPS News

Reminder: 2024 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Performance Year Virtual Group Election Period Open
If you’re interested in forming a virtual group for the 2024 MIPS performance year, the election period is open. To form a virtual group, an election must be submitted to CMS via email at MIPS_VirtualGroups@cms.hhs.gov until December 31, 2023 (11:59 p.m. ET).

News

CMS Finalizes Physician Payment Rule that Advances Health Equity
CMS announced it is finalizing policies to support primary care, advance health equity, assist family caregivers and expand access to behavioral and certain oral health care. These policies are included in the calendar year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule, which also provides payment for principal illness navigation services to help patients and their families navigate cancer treatment and treatment for other serious illnesses, supporting the Biden-Harris Administration’s Cancer Moonshot mission to accelerate the fight against cancer.

CMS Makes Hospital Prices More Transparent and Expands Access to Behavioral Health Care
CMS announced it is expanding access to behavioral health services for people with Medicare through coverage of intensive outpatient services and that it is making it easier for the public to learn what a hospital charges for items and services through improved hospital price transparency requirements. These policies are included in the calendar year (CY) 2024 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) final rule with comment period released, which also updates payment rates by 3.1% for hospital outpatient and ASC services for calendar year 2024.

CMS Announces Extension of Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Enhancements
CMS announced on November 1, 2023 that it will extend the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) Expanded Model’s Public Health Emergency Flexibilities for four years. Previously, MDPP suppliers were required to resume in-person delivery of the MDPP set of services after December 31, 2023.

Biden-Harris Administration Launches ‘Birthing-Friendly’ Designation on Web-Based Care Compare Tool
CMS will begin displaying the ‘Birthing-Friendly’ designation icon on CMS’s Care Compare online tool. CMS created the new designation to identify hospitals and health systems that participate in a statewide or national perinatal quality improvement collaborative program and that implement evidence-based care to improve maternal health. The public can use the Care Compare tool — along with a complementary interactive map — to find a hospital or health system with the ‘Birthing-Friendly’ designation in their area. This action is one of many key efforts being implemented as part of the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis and is part of Vice President Harris’ nationwide call to action to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. It also meets a milestone in the CMS Maternity Care Action Plan.

Quality Payment Program

CMS Publishes 2024 Policy Changes for the Quality Payment Program
CMS has released the CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule, which includes policy changes for the Quality Payment Program (QPP) for the 2024 Performance Year (PY) and beyond. This rule will be published on November 16 in the Federal Register.

Administrative Simplification

MLN Matters Articles

Claims, Pricers, & Codes

CMS Innovation Center

New Making Care Primary (MCP) Applicant Resources
The CMS Innovation Center’s Making Care Primary (MCP) Model team has made available a step-by-step Application User Manual to support new user registration, portal navigation, and application submission. The manual includes all application questions, instructions for completion, as well as screenshots of the application portal for ease of use. Materials from the October 24 Office Hours event are forthcoming.