By Andy Slavitt & Niall Brennan – Just over a month ago, HHS convened a forum that brought together consumers, providers, employers, manufacturers, health insurance companies, representatives from state and federal government, and other stakeholders to discuss ideas on how our country can meet the dual imperatives of encouraging drug development and innovation, while ensuring access and affordability.
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By Donald Moulds PhD – Six years ago, as a new president was taking office and the prospect of significant health care reform was moving from pipe dream to possibility, the city of McAllen, Texas, was thrust into the national spotlight.
By Dr. Patrick Conway – Almost a year ago, the Administration announced a vision for the future of the Medicare program, including clear goals and a timeline for shifting Medicare payments from volume to value. CMS is continually working to turn this vision into reality through annual rulemaking and the CMS Innovation Center, building on bipartisan ideas, initiatives and legislation from both Congress and the states.
CMS released the Calendar Year 2016 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System policy changes, quality provisions, and payment rates final rule with comment period on October 30, 2015.
By Patrick Conway – As part of its ongoing work to identify more effective ways to serve Medicare beneficiaries, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Center announced the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model.
CMS issued 2014 quality and financial performance results showing that Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) continue to improve the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries, while generating financial savings.
The Medicare Trustees projected that the trust fund that finances Medicare’s hospital insurance coverage will remain solvent until 2030, unchanged from last year, but with an improved long-term outlook from last year’s report.
This summer will mark the 50th anniversary of the enactment of Amendments to the Social Security Act that established the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Over the next 50 days, CMS will recognize the impact these two programs have had in transforming our nation’s health care system.
In December, the CMS, and the OMB published a lengthy notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to improve the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP).