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
CMS’ 340B Rate Cut Continues to Dampen Hospital Outpatient Expansion Efforts - Hospitals hoping to benefit from favorable 340B drug pricing when acquiring independent physician practices for conversion to hospital...more
For relocations that occurred between 11.2.15 and 12.31.16, providers must submit relocation requests by 1.31.2017. The CY 2017 OPPS Final Rule brought significant changes to the way Medicare reimburses hospitals for...more
CMS recently finalized sweeping changes to the way Medicare pays hospitals for services furnished in “new” off-campus provider-based departments (referred to as “off-campus PBDs”). CMS revealed the changes on November 1...more
On November 1, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2017 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Final Rule. One aspect of this rule is the implementation of payment decreases for...more
In early July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) reimbursement rule changes that will impact reimbursement payment amounts and requirements for...more
On November 2, 2015, President Barack Obama signed into law a bill that significantly changes how Medicare pays for outpatient services furnished at certain hospital locations. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (“BBA”)...more
On November 2, President Obama signed into the law the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (the “Act”), which contains language that will significantly change how hospital-based outpatient care is reimbursed....more
On October 30, 2015, CMS issued its final rule with comment period (Final Rule) for the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and the Medicare ambulatory surgical center (ASC) payment system for...more
On November 2, 2015, President Obama signed into law H.R. 1314, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (the "Act"), which significantly changes Medicare reimbursement for off-campus hospital services. The Act, which Congress...more
Ways & Means Leadership Changes – Health Policy Implications Looming: As Congress pushes forward with a two-year budget deal, and new Speaker Paul Ryan begins his tenure as the top Republican in the House of...more
On October 28 and 30, 2015, the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate approved the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (the Act)—a measure designed to raise the limit on Federal borrowing that would also have significant...more
On October 30, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year 2016 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule (2016 OPPS Final Rule). In the 2016 OPPS Final Rule, CMS finalizes...more
On November 2, 2015, President Obama signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, a two-year budget deal with a key provision affecting hospitals and other health care providers. Effective January 1, 2017, the Act decreases the...more
Tips on preserving the provider-based status for existing clinics. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (H.R. 1314) was signed into law on Monday, November 2. Notwithstanding significant concerns raised by the hospital...more
Without fanfare or any significant discussion, the Bipartisan Budget Act (Act) contains the first legislative action related to provider-based status—and it is a sweeping action with negative financial consequences to many...more
On October 28, 2015, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that, if enacted, would, among other things, substantially alter how and how much Medicare pays for outpatient services furnished by hospitals. The...more
Legislation being drafted as part of a budget deal between members of Congress and the White House includes language that will significantly alter the future of hospital-based outpatient care. The “discussion draft” of the...more
On October 26, 2015, Congressional and White House budget negotiators released the legislative text of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. The Act is aimed primarily at lifting the Federal debt limit and avoiding a looming...more
On July 8, 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a Proposed Rule regarding the 2016 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (“OPPS”). The Proposed Rule, in addition to proposing updates...more
This Week: Bipartisan Senate Letter Questions HHS and CMS on Details of State ACA Waivers...OMB Is Reviewing Final Medicaid-Covered Outpatient Drug Rule...Delaware Forgoes Transition to State-Based Exchange....more
On July 8, 2015, CMS published in the Federal Register [PDF] its proposed changes and updates to the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System policy...more
This Week: CMS Releases Guidance on Fast Track Process for 1115 Waivers for Medicaid and CHIP... Healthcare.gov CEO Sends Letter to State Insurance Commissioners Concerning 2016 Premium Decisions... Medicare Board of Trustees...more
CMS and AMA Announce Efforts to Help Providers Get Ready for ICD-10 – On July 6, 2015, CMS and AMA announced efforts to continue to assist providers to get ready for the upcoming October 1 switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 coding...more
This Week: Senate Reauthorizes Older Americans Act; Bill Heads to the House... White House Holds 2015 Conference on Aging and Launches Several New Administration Healthy Aging Initiatives Enveloping Alzheimer’s, Dementia,...more