CMS proposes changes related to participation in the merit-based incentive payment system or Advanced Alternative Payment Models tracks.

New Medicare cards will include a randomly generated Medicare beneficiary identifier instead of the Social Security-based health insurance claim number.

The fact sheet gives a general overview of the Medicare Shared Savings Program and Quality Payment Program and explains how the programs work together.

America’s Essential Hospitals encourages CMS to improve transparency, risk adjust, and reduce regulatory burden for essential hospitals.

CMS aims to eliminate or change outdated, costly, or inconsistent regulations for marketplaces established under the Affordable Care Act.

The webinar on June 28 will focus on the Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program's Reducing Substance Use Disorders program area.

States have until June 12 to complete an expression of interest form for the Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program track.

The Vital Signs report notes ways to prevent the bacterial lung infection, which is fatal in 25 percent of people who contract it at a health care facility.

The deadline for Medicare- and Medicaid-providers and suppliers to meet applicable requirements of the rule, including training and testing, is Nov. 15.

Overall star ratings now will be released in October because of issues with data on three measures; hospitals can preview the ratings in July.

CMS predicts nearly all clinicians in advanced alternative payment models in 2016 would qualify for a 2019 incentive payment for participating in 2017.

A new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guide highlights technical resources for clinicians participating in the Quality Payment Program under MACRA.

The nine-month program will link up to eight state Medicaid agencies with local housing systems to aid Medicaid beneficiaries.

The first performance year for new cardiac episode payment models and the effective date of joint replacement regulation amendments now starts Jan. 1, 2018.

The new checklist tool helps states compile the necessary documents to apply to waive ACA provisions and pursue alternative reforms.

Clinicians enter their national provider identifier into the tool to determine whether they must submit data to the merit-based incentive payment system.

The update for the 2018 performance year aligns electronic clinical quality measure specifications with current clinical guidelines and code systems.

A vote on the bipartisan bill could come Wednesday in the House, followed by Senate consideration before continuing resolution appropriations expire Friday.

CMS updated the Hospital Compare website with new data, including health care–associated infections and HCAHPS survey data.

America’s Essential Hospitals expressed support of the delay of episode payment models to allow selected hospitals more time to prepare for participation.

The rule would raise inpatient operating payment rates, revise Medicare DSH payment methodology, and apply a transitional methodology for HRRP penalties.

The rule contains provisions on the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, Medicare DSH, the Inpatient Quality Reporting program, and more.

It requires Medicare payments for beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicaid, and other third-party payments be included in uncompensated care calculations.

Over a five-year period, CMS will test the three-track AHC model, which aims to support health-related social needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

Hospitals have until May 5 to review overall Hospital Compare star rating and until May 10 to review value-based purchasing hospital-specific reports.

CMS finalizes the agency's interpretation that, in determining hospital-specific DSH payment limits, the total costs of care for Medicaid inpatient and outpatient services must account for all third-party payments.

The delay, which applies to certain hospital outreach labs, comes after stakeholders expressed concerns about the March 31, 2017, deadline.

The webinar and listening session, on April 4 and 5, will focus on MIPS' advancing care information performance category and cost measure development.