In response to the calendar year (CY) 2025 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, America’s Essential Hospitals urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to support essential hospital participation in value-based care models, expand telehealth coverage for vulnerable populations, and ensure that changes to Medicare prescription drug policies do not interfere with the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
In the Sept. 9 letter, the association also asked CMS to:
- Adopt a health equity benchmark adjustment with modifications to better support essential hospitals
- Finalize its proposal to distribute prepaid shared savings to eligible hospitals
- Continue to refine the Quality Payment Program by delaying mandatory reporting under the new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System Value Pathways
- Broaden the scope of telehealth reimbursement and lift barriers to Medicare reimbursement for these services
- Advance access to behavioral health services
- Finalize the proposal to update and expand coverage of colorectal cancer screening
The association also expressed support for the Inflation Reduction Act’s goal to achieve access to affordable medications. America’s Essential Hospitals encouraged CMS to implement IRA provisions in ways that build on the success of the 340B program. In particular, the letter implored CMS to ensure that the new rules do not create more administrative burden and complexity for 340B participating providers.
Contact Director of Policy Rob Nelb, MPH, at rnelb@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
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