MedPAC Recommends Short- and Long-Term ACO Changes – In a comment letter sent to CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner on June 16, 2014, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) outlined certain challenges associated with CMS’s Accountable Care Organization model and told CMS that these issues need to be resolved through regulatory or legislative action. To view the MedPAC letter, click here.
OMB Reviewing Proposed Rule On Physician Payment Rates for 2015 – According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) website, on June 18, 2014, OMB received a proposed rule from CMS that would set 2015 Medicare payment rates for physicians and other Part B providers. To view the OMB notice, click here.
CMS Seeks Comments on Disclosure Rule For Referring Patients for Ancillary Services – According to a Notice published in the Federal Register on June 13, 2014, CMS is seeking comments on the burdens of extending a requirement for physicians self-referring imaging services to create disclosure notices for patients. Comments are due July 14, 2014. To view the CMS Notice, click here.
CMS Announces Plans For New Five-Star Ratings for Hospital, Home Health, and Dialysis Providers – On June 18, 2014, CMS announced plans to create a five-star rating system for hospitals, home health agencies, and dialysis providers. According to the CMS blog post, in late 2014 and early 2015, CMS will add the five-star rating system to the Hospital Compare, Dialysis Facility Compare, and Home Health Compare websites on Medicare.gov. To view the CMS blog post, click here.