Policy

On Friday, Oct. 9, CMS announced new repayment terms for Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) loans made to providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Continuing Appropriations Act of 2021 and Other Extensions Act amended the repayment terms for all providers and suppliers who requested and received AAP loans during the COVID-19 PHE. Repayment for such…

Last Thursday, CMMI released technical and operational guidance to support hospice and Medicare Advantage Organization (MAO) participation in the upcoming hospice carve-in component of the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model demonstration. The guidance is focused on operational and programmatic issues, and is meant to help ensure the implementation of the Hospice Benefit component meets the…

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have released new Medicare Advantage (MA) statistics. While the new numbers flag a general rise in MA enrollment and drop in premiums, they also reveal a significant expansion of the supplemental benefit programs. According to CMS’ statistics, there will be 730 MA plans offering expanded, primarily health related supplemental…

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on August 3 issued a proposed rule that would update physician fee schedule (PFS) payments for calendar year (CY) 2021, and C-TAC submitted comments this week in response. C-TAC was pleased that the agency included several proposals that would increase telehealth and scope of practice flexibilities. However, we were…

CMS has released additional clarifying information on coverage and payment for COVID-19 testing in nursing and skilled nursing facilities. The guidance outlines the specific instances that are covered under Medicare and clarifies which diagnostic viral testing is covered. It also includes information on coverage for COVID-19 testing for those who are uninsured or have coverage…

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued revised guidance providing detailed recommendations on ways nursing homes can safely facilitate visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. After several months of visitor restrictions designed to slow the spread of COVID-19, CMS recognizes that physical separation from family and other loved ones has taken a significant toll…

Last week, two new models were launched by CMS that have the potential to improve the quality of care for cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and reduce Medicare expenditures for patients with chronic kidney disease. CMS finalized the mandatory End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Treatment Choices (ETC) Model which is consistent with President Trump’s Advancing Kidney Health Executive…

The Coalition to Transform Advanced Illness (C-TAC) remains strongly committed to and supportive of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation’s (CMMI) forthcoming implementation of the Seriously-Ill Population (SIP) component of the Primary Care First (PCF) demonstration, set to begin on April 1, 2021. “The devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on individuals with…

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model. The CHART Model is consistent with the President’s Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access and aims to improve health care quality and reduce Medicare and Medicaid expenditures within rural…

Last week, C-TAC submitted comments on the annual Home Health Rule released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Key areas of focus included: The Use of Technology under the Medicare Home Health Benefit: We supported the use of telehealth for those living with advanced illness as a way to improve access to…