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Policy
Trump Administration Proposes Cementing Certain COVID-19 Changes
On August 3, President Trump issued an Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access that focuses on ways to finance rural health care and proposes a permanent extension for some telehealth policies. As part of the order, within 30 days, HHS will launch a new payment model to ensure that rural healthcare providers…
Read MoreImproving Palliative and Hospice Care in Nursing Homes Amid COVID-19
By: Kacy Ninteau, Policy & Advocacy Intern, C-TAC As the COVID-19 cases climb across the country, nursing homes continue to be among the hardest hit communities. Over 40% of COVID-19 deaths nationwide have been residents and workers at these facilities. What puts nursing homes at greater risk for outbreaks are chronic staffing shortages, which have…
Read MoreC-TAC Releases ACP Policy Recommendations In Response to COVID-19
C-TAC has shared policy recommendations focused on removing barriers to advance care panning with Congressional leadership as they continue to craft new legislation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations aim to increase access to these critical conversations, which are more important than ever during the pandemic. The coronavirus can quickly result in serious…
Read MoreCDC Actions Aim to Address COVID-19 Inequities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a plan to promote health equity and address disparities in care amid COVID-19.
Read MoreHHS Seeks Input on Payment Models By July 31
The Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC), which operates within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is seeking input and guidance on which issues should be considered during its review of proposed Physician-Focused Payment Models. The comment period closes on July 31, 2020 and submissions will be made publicly available. This…
Read MoreCMS Administrator Suggests Telehealth Changes Could Become Permanent
Over nine million Medicare beneficiaries have received a telehealth service during the COVID-19 public health emergency and CMS is open to continuing some beyond the pandemic, according to a new Health Affairs blog post written by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma. CMS has issued an array of waivers in response to…
Read MoreRacial Disparities, ACP Key Topics at C-TAC Policy Forum
The National (Virtual) Policy Forum recorded sessions are now available on-demand. To view the sessions, please log in or complete a registration by clicking here. Leaders from across and outside the healthcare field gathered virtually for C-TAC’s second annual National Policy Forum this week to discuss how the policy landscape for serious illness care has shifted during…
Read MoreCMMI Accepting Letters of Intent for Direct Contracting Model
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation has announced that those who have not submitted a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the Direct Contracting Model (Global and Professional options) will now be able to do so until 11:59 PM ET on July 6. The start date of the first performance year will be April 1, 2021.…
Read MoreHow Policy During the COVID-19 Era has Impacted Advance Care Planning, and What Still Needs to be Done
By: Sage Rosenthal, Policy & Advocacy Associate, C-TAC; Kacy Ninteau, Policy & Advocacy Intern, C-TAC Individuals and their families who are at highest risk for complications from this COVID-19 health crisis are feeling especially vulnerable now. No one knows who will get sick, or how sick they will become. Or whether they would want to…
Read MoreMaking Certain COVID-19 Flexibilities Permanent: C-TAC Responds to CMS Rule
C-TAC supported many of the CMS flexibilities designed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and advocated for making some of them permanent, in a letter responding to a CMS interim final rule this week. Our response addressed many areas that serve those with serious illness including: Payment for Medicare Telehealth Services:We supported the variety of…
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