Strengthening Oversight of Accreditation Organizations 

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A recently proposed rule would set forth several provisions to strengthen oversight of accrediting organizations (AOs) by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In this proposed rule CMS also solicits comments from stakeholders and AOs to refine and revise the AO oversight standards and processes. In addition, this proposed rule includes a request […]

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CMS and HUD Announce Participants in Housing and Services Partnership

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On Friday, February 9, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that eight states and the District of Columbia will participate in the, “Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator.” The project is intended to support states implement housing-related supports and services for older adults and people with disabilities […]

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Next CMS Open Door Forum is Thursday

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The next Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forum is scheduled for Thursday, February 22, 2024, PM at 3:30 PM- 4:30 PM Eastern Time (ET). Please log on at least 15 minutes prior to the forum start time. **This Agenda is Subject to Change** Chair – Brian Slater, Center for Medicare, CMS Co-Chair- Kelly […]

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CMS Releases Updated Medicaid Telehealth Toolkit

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On Thursday, February 8, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an updated version of the Medicaid and CHIP Telehealth Toolkit. The toolkit is a comprehensive piece of subregulatory guidance that clearly articulates the policies associated with delivering Medicaid services via telehealth. In the toolkit, CMS espouses broad flexibility and authority for states […]

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Hospices: Report All Managing Employees

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The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently clarified that hospice medical directors and administrators are always considered managing employees for Medicare provider enrollment purposes. You must report all current managing employees. If you haven’t reported a medical director or administrator, report them now. See the Medicare Program Integrity Manual: CY 2024 Home Health Prospective Payment System […]

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Senate GOP Letter Expresses Concerns about Medicaid Access Rule

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On Thursday, February 15, eleven Senate Republicans sent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) a letter expressing concerns about the Medicaid Access rule its consequences. In the letter, the Senators write that they, “have significant concerns that the proposal could and will likely harm access for seniors and people with disabilities, particularly in rural […]

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Post-Acute Care Quality Reporting Programs: Expanded HHVBP

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Expanded HHVBP Model Performance Feedback Reports January 2024 Interim Performance Reports (IPRs) are Available on iQIES The January Preliminary Interim Performance Reports (IPRs) for the expanded HHVBP Model have been published on the Internet Quality Improvement Evaluation System (iQIES).  The quarterly IPRs provide HHAs with the cohort assignment, performance year measure data for the 12 […]

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Webinar: Medicare and the Hospice Benefit

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Join the Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA) and special guest presenters for a discussion of the Medicare hospice benefit, combining the practical – an overview of the Medicare hospice benefit, common beneficiary challenges, and advice on how to choose a hospice – with policy updates, including recent oversight efforts by the Centers for Medicare & […]

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CMS Seeks Input on MA Plan Data

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input from the public regarding various aspects of Medicare Advantage (MA) data. Feedback from stakeholders to past CMS issued RFIs on MA plans reflected a strong desire for more comprehensive high quality MA programmatic data to increase MA program […]

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CMS Finalizes Changes to Prior Authorization Requirements

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the final rule: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes for Medicare Advantage Organizations, Medicaid Managed Care Plans, State Medicaid Agencies, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Agencies and CHIP Managed Care Entities, Issuers of Qualified […]

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NAHC partners with the University of California on Home Health Tech

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The landscape of home health care is marked by challenges – from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) exerting downward pressure on Medicare payment rates to states doing the same with Medicaid rates. Simultaneously, labor shortages are driving wages upward, presenting a daily struggle for many agencies in the home health industry. As […]

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