A Fond Farewell: Musings on the End of the Medicare Advantage Hospice Carve-In Demonstration
Counsel That Cares - The Private Payer's Perspective on Value-Based Care
Business Better Podcast Episode: 2024 Advance Notice: Proposed Changes to the Medicare Advantage Risk Adjustment Model
Video: Record-Shattering Year for FCA Recoveries in Health Care - Thought Leaders in Health Law
Hooper, Kearney and Macklin on Cutting Edge Topics in the False Claims Act
Hospice Audit Series: The Latest Developments and Strategies for Success in the Ever-changing Audit Landscape
Podcast: IP(DC): Drug Prices, Political Pressures & Patents
While the Supreme Court decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo was making headlines, other courts were considering recent regulations of another agency—the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)—that are...more
In a recent On the Subject (available here), we reported on the impact of the final rule (final rule) interpreting Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on self-funded group health plans that contract with licensed...more
On April 4, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published its Final Rule amending the existing Medicare Advantage (“MA”) agent broker compensation regulations. The Final Rule has significant...more
Half of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. This extensive growth, which represents a doubling of MA enrollment since 2010, has been driven in part by an extensive network of insurance agents...more
Below is Alston & Bird’s Health Care Week in Review, which provides a synopsis of the latest news in health care regulations, notices, and guidance; federal legislation and congressional committee action; reports, studies,...more
Although I previously declared January 2024 Medicare Advantage (MA) Month, this week has also been filled with news about the MA program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rate announcement...more
On April 1, 2024, the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and D Payment Policies (Rate Announcement). CMS...more
Is Medicare Advantage really a Disadvantage for seniors and taxpayers? Our nation is graying rapidly. Every day, 10,000 baby boomers, members of one of the largest generations in U.S. history, hit the traditional...more
Apparently in light of recent litigation against Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, on February 6, 2024, CMS published responses to frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence in...more
Last week, McDermott+Consulting launched an election 2024 resource page, where you can find a 2024 health policy outlook and other insights into the November election. While regulations aren’t necessarily top-of-mind when...more
Some Medicare Advantage beneficiaries receive Medicare flex cards, pre-paid debit cards for qualifying expenses, as part of their benefits. The U.S. government does not issue Medicare flex cards. This benefit is only...more
On November 15, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule titled Contract Year 2025 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit...more
The Medicare open enrollment period runs through December 7th, 2023. Medicare adjusts costs, coverage, and accepted providers on an annual basis. If you have received “Evidence of Coverage,” or an “Annual Notice of Change,”...more
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has provided new updates on CMS’ planned initiatives to address prescription drug costs in a blog post from Director Liz Fowler. One test, the Accelerating Clinical...more
As if corporate healthcare businesses needed an enforcement reminder, DOJ recently announced a settlement with Cigna Group for $172 million to resolve claims that Cigna exaggerated patient illnesses to extract more money from...more
With the tremendous growth of managed care over the last several years, the Medicare and Medicaid programs have had to transform how they fund health care for approximately 100 million enrollees. According to the Department...more
In July 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) proposed a final rule to address illegal traditional Medicare rates paid in the 340B Drug Pricing Program from 2018-2022. CMS’ proposal would see CMS pay...more
Most states have statutes or common law that allow an insurance policyholder to bring a civil action and seek more than just compensatory damages (e.g., punitive damages) when her insurance company denies coverage in bad...more
On June 5, 2023, CMS’s Final Rule regarding, among other things, “Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program” will become effective – refer to the CMS Fact Sheet and the Final Rule as published in the Federal...more
On March 31, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced the finalized capitation rates and payment policies for the 2024 Medicare...more
CMS published the Calendar Year (“CY”) 2024 Medicare Advantage (“MA”) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (“Rate Announcement“) on March 31 and, five days later, issued the MA and Part D final rule for...more
In what passes for neon lights in the regulatory world, CMS said Medicare Advantage (MA) plans must follow the two-midnight rule, its case-by-case exception and the inpatient-only (IPO) list, according to the final 2024 rule...more
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans now cover about half of Medicare beneficiaries, and with that enrollment growth has come increased scrutiny from federal and state regulators. As federal regulators complete a busy season of...more
The Health Data Corner compiles the latest state health care data capacity innovations and policy developments and showcases select novel data use cases emerging from states. ...more