On April 5, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the 2024 Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Benefit Programs Final Rule (“Final Rule”), which will be codified at 42 C.F.R. Parts 417, 422, 423,...more
On December 14, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that contemplates several changes to, and clarifications of, guidance for the Medicare Advantage (MA) program in coverage year 2024....more
The battle to safeguard the elderly, sick, and injured residents of the nation’s nursing homes and other long-term care facilities is far from over - and the fight may be even tougher than advocates for the vulnerable may...more
Five Star Quality Rating System Changes - On March 23, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it was temporarily postponing routine facility inspections for nursing homes so it could...more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released three items relating to the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs: a proposed rule, Part II of the Advance Notice and Rate Announcement for Calendar Year...more
On August 19, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced plans for two updates to its Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings (“Star Ratings”). The first, in early 2020, to “refresh” the Star Ratings...more
On April 11, 2019, CMS announced updates to Nursing Home Compare and the Five-Star Quality Rating System. The Nursing Home Compare website contains data, including quality measures and staffing information, for more than...more
On February 28, 2019, CMS issued a 48-page request for public comment (the Request) on several potential updates to and future considerations for the methodology used in the Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating. As explained...more
Part C and Part D Quality Rating System - The November 1, 2018 proposed rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) includes enhancements and substantive changes to the Star Rating System in order...more
Medicare Part C and Part D Star Ratings are used by CMS to measure the quality of and reflect the experiences of beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage (“MA”) and Prescription Drug Plans (“PDPs”). Below is a summary of CMS’...more
On November 16, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule that would revise regulations and clarify requirements for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit...more
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently finalized meaningful Medicare Advantage policy changes in response to industry concerns, including those regarding data integrity, the Star Ratings and encounter data....more
The 21st Century Cures Act encourages biomedical research investment and facilitates innovation review and approval processes, but also serves as a vehicle for a wide variety of other health-related measures, including...more
On July 27, 2016, the Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings were released on Medicare’s Hospital Compare website. The Star Ratings represent a summary compilation of individual hospital performance on 64 measures designated...more
CMS Releases Evaluation of Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings – On July 21, 2016, CMS released high-level data regarding the national distribution of Overall Hospital Star Ratings based on certain hospital characteristics....more
To help residents and their families find a quality Medicare or Medicaid certified nursing home and to encourage nursing homes to achieve high quality by public reporting of quality measures, in 1988 the Centers for Medicare...more
CMS Extends Participation in Bundled Payments for Care Improvement by Two Years – CMS has offered awardees the opportunity to extend participation in Models 2, 3, and 4 of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement program...more
In a brief memorandum dated March 8, 2016 (available here), CMS announced the suspension of its policy providing for automatic reduction of star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans operating under a CMS-imposed intermediate...more
Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2017 Advance Rate Notice and draft Call Letter (“2017 Draft Call Letter”) for the Medicare Advantage (“MA”) and Part D programs. With the final 2017...more
The federal government will soon kick off the all-important annual sub-regulatory cycle for the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D programs, issuing proposed policy changes and payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2017. The...more
In yet another move emphasizing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) focus on quality health care, the agency has released the first patient experience of care star ratings on Home Health Compare. ...more
On September 10-11, 2015, MedPAC held a meeting to discuss several issues related to the Medicare program, including (1) improving the Open Payments program, which makes public the payments from drug and device manufacturers...more
This Week: Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Explores Post-Acute Bundling…CMS Releases First-ever Hospital Compare Star Ratings…Fiscal Year 2016 Proposed Inpatient and Long-term Care Hospital Policy and Payment Changes....more
In its February 20, 2015 Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year (CY) 2016 for Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates, Part C and Part D Payment Policies and 2016 Call Letter, CMS addressed a variety of issues...more