Tag: RFI

Tell CMS How to Improve Efficiency, Advance Equity

NAHC will be submitting comments; GO HERE to submit your own comments to CMS To make comment suggestions to NAHC, please email tom@nahc.org Deadline for comments is November 4 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a Request For Information (RFI) seeking public input on accessing health care and related challenges, understanding…

NAHC Submits Comments to CMS on Medicare Advantage

On August 31, 2022, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) submitted comments in response to a request for information (RFI) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) about the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. It is projected that over 50 percent of Medicare beneficiaries will be enrolled in an MA plan…

CMS Seeks Public Feedback to Improve Medicare Advantage

  • NAHC will be submitting comments & we encourage our members to do the same

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Request for Information seeking public comment on the Medicare Advantage program. CMS is asking for input on ways to achieve the agency’s vision so that all parts of Medicare are working towards a future where people with Medicare receive more equitable, high quality, and person-centered care that is affordable and sustainable.

“Medicare Advantage is a critical part of CMS’ vision to advance health equity; expand access to affordable coverage and care; drive high quality, person-centered care; and promote affordability and sustainability of Medicare,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Medicare Advantage plans are essential partners in this work.”

“We see a huge opportunity for partnership with as many stakeholders as possible to better understand how care innovations are changing outcomes and costs and how Medicare Advantage is working for enrollees,” said Dr. Meena Seshamani, CMS Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare. “It’s important that CMS engage as many stakeholders as possible to achieve our collective vision of equity, access, quality and affordability.”

The CMS Strategic Pillars prioritize increased engagement with the agency’s partners and the communities we serve throughout the policy development and implementation process. CMS is committed to creating additional opportunities to engage the public and drive innovation in ways that best serve people with Medicare.

In the Medicare Advantage program – also known as Medicare Part C – Medicare contracts with private insurers that must offer all Traditional Medicare services to people with Medicare and may offer added supplemental benefits, such as vision or dental benefits. Most Medicare Advantage Plans also include prescription drug coverage (Part D).

CMS encourages the public to submit comments to the Request for Information. Feedback from plans, providers, beneficiary advocates, states, employers and unions, and other partners to this Request for Information will help inform the Medicare Advantage policy development and implementation process.

The Request for Information can be accessed from the Federal Register at:
https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2022-16463/request-for-information-medicare-program

Hospice Proposed Rule Listening Session – Health Equity RFI and Payment

  • REGISTER NOW for these listening sessions!
  • Friday, May 20

On March 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed FY2023 hospice rule containing a Request for Information (RFI) on health equity, a proposed cap on wage index losses from year to year and providing guidance on projected payment rates. 

NAHC invites you to participate in one or more of the following listening sessions to provide input on the RFI and proposals. This input will help inform comments NAHC submits at the end of the month.

The RFI has two components:

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Hospice Proposed Rule Listening Sessions – Health Equity RFI and Payment

REGISTER NOW for these listening sessions! Tuesday, May 17 Wednesday, May 18 Friday, May 20 On March 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed FY2023 hospice rule containing a Request for Information (RFI) on health equity, a proposed cap on wage index losses from year to year and providing guidance on…

Hospice Proposed Rule Listening Sessions – Health Equity RFI and Payment

  • REGISTER NOW for these listening sessions!
  • Thursday, May 12
  • Tuesday, May 17
  • Wednesday, May 18
  • Friday, May 20

On March 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed FY2023 hospice rule containing a Request for Information (RFI) on health equity, a proposed cap on wage index losses from year to year and providing guidance on projected payment rates. 

NAHC invites you to participate in one or more of the following listening sessions to provide input on the RFI and proposals. This input will help inform comments NAHC submits at the end of the month.

The RFI has two components:

  1. CMS is soliciting public comment on the following questions:
    • What efforts does your hospice employ to recruit staff, volunteers, and board members from diverse populations to represent and serve underserved populations? How does your hospice attempt to bridge any cultural gaps between your personnel and beneficiaries/clients? How does your hospice measure whether this has an impact on health equity?
    • How does your hospice currently identify barriers to access in your community or service area? What are barriers to collecting data related to disparities, social determinants of health, and equity? What steps does your hospice take to address these barriers?
    • How does your hospice collect self-reported data such as race/ethnicity, veteran status, socioeconomic status, housing, food security, access to interpreter services, caregiving status, and marital status used to inform its health equity initiatives?
    • How is your hospice using qualitative data collection and analysis methods to measure the impact of its health equity initiatives?
  2. CMS is seeking information on publicly reporting a composite structural health equity quality measure; displaying descriptive information on Care Compare from the data hospices provide to support health equity measures; and the impact of the domains and quality measure concepts on organizational culture change.
    • Domain 1: Hospice commitment to reducing disparities is strengthened when equity is a key organizational priority. Candidate domain 1 could be satisfied when a hospice submits data on their actions regarding the role of health equity and community engagement in their strategic plan. Hospices could self-report data in the reporting year about their actions in each of the following areas, and submission of data for all elements could be required to qualify for the measure numerator
      • Hospice attests whether its strategic plan includes approaches to address health equity in the reporting year.
      • Hospice reports community engagement and key stakeholder activities in the reporting year.
      • Hospice reports on any attempts to measure input from patients and caregivers about care disparities they may experience and recommendations or suggestions
    • Domain 2: Training board members, leaders, staff and volunteers in culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS)27, health equity, and implicit bias is an important step hospices take to provide quality care to diverse populations. Candidate domain 2 could focus on hospices’ diversity, equity, inclusion and CLAS training for board members, employed staff, and volunteers by capturing the following self-reported actions in the reporting year. Submission of relevant data for all elements could be required to qualify for the measure numerator.
      • Hospice attests whether employed staff were trained in CLAS and culturally sensitive care mindful of social determinants of health (SDOH) in the reporting year. Example data include specific training programs or training requirements for staff.
      • Hospice attests whether it provided resources to staff and volunteers about health equity, SDOH, and equity initiatives in the reporting year. Examples include the materials provided, webinars, or learning opportunities.
    • Domain 3: Leaders and staff could improve their capacity to address disparities by demonstrating routine and thorough attention to equity and setting an organizational culture of equity. This candidate domain could capture activities related to organizational inclusion initiatives and capacity to promote health equity. Examples of equity-focused factors include proficiency in languages other than English, experience working with populations in the service area, experience working on health equity issues, and experience working with individuals with disabilities. Submission of relevant data for all elements could be required to qualify for the measure numerator.
      • Hospice attests whether equity-focused factors were included in the hiring of hospice senior leadership, including chief executives and board of trustees, in the previous reporting year.
      • Hospice attests whether equity-focused factors were included in the hiring of hospice senior leadership, including chief executives and board of trustees, is more reflective of the services area patient than in the previous reporting year.
      • Hospice attests whether equity-focused factors were included in the hiring of direct patient care staff (for example, RNs, medical social workers, aides, volunteers, chaplains, or therapists) in the previous reporting year.
      • Hospice attests whether equity focused factors were included in the hiring of indirect care or support staff (for example. administrative, clerical, or human resources) in the previous reporting year.

REGISTER NOW for these listening sessions!

Hospice Proposed Rule Listening Sessions – Health Equity RFI and Payment

REGISTER NOW for these listening sessions! Thursday, May 12 Tuesday, May 17 Wednesday, May 18 Friday, May 20 On March 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed FY2023 hospice rule containing a Request for Information (RFI) on health equity, a proposed cap on wage index losses from year to year…

CMS Stakeholder Call on Medicaid and CHIP Access

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking feedback on topics related to health care access in the Medicaid program. Specifically, CMS is interested in hearing from a broad array of stakeholders on topics relating to: enrolling in and maintaining coverage, accessing health care services and supports, and ensuring adequate provider payment rates…

HHS Wants Your View on Regulatory Changes

Which reg changes made during the pandemic should be permanent? Tell HHS now! The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has  issued a request for information (RFI) soliciting input from a broad array of health care stakeholders on the costs and benefits of the regulatory changes the agency has made in response to the…

Tell CMS Your Innovative Approaches & Best Practices

We want your solutions! Send your responses to katie@nahc.org ASAP! The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted a request for information (RFI) on innovative approaches and best practices in health care in response to the COVID19 pandemic. CMS recognizes that providers have rapidly reengineered their policies and programs for both COVID–19 and non-…