The final rule for calendar year 2023 continues certain flexible telehealth policies, overhauls the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and revises the Quality Payment Program.
view more »CMS Issues CY 2023 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Nov. 4, 2022 ||The rule finalizes the conversion factor and includes reimbursement provisions for telehealth and behavioral health services, the Quality Payment Program, and the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
view more »Association Comments on CY 2023 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
Sept. 12, 2022 ||The association urged CMS to adequately reimburse off-campus, provider-based departments; refine physician quality reporting; and codify a definition of essential hospitals.
view more »A proposed rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2023 would extend telehealth regulatory flexibility, make changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and revise the Quality Payment Program.
view more »CMS Issues CY 2023 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
July 12, 2022 ||CMS proposes to decrease the conversion factor determining physician payment rates for specific services by $1.53. The proposed rule also includes provisions related to Medicare reimbursement of telehealth services, vaccine administration, and the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
view more »CMS Announces ACO Model With Health Equity Focus
March 1, 2022 ||The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation will release a request for applications for the Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health accountable care organization model, which will focus on promoting health equity and mitigating health disparities for underserved communities.
view more »Final rules for Medicare’s OPPS and PFS for CY 2022 continue Medicare Part B drug payment cuts to hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program; continue site-neutral payment policies; and halt elimination of the inpatient-only (IPO) list.
view more »CMS Issues CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Nov. 3, 2021 ||The rule adjusts the conversion factor used to determine physician payment rates and includes provisions related to appropriate use criteria, Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services, vaccine payment rates, the Quality Payment Program, and the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
view more »Association Comments on CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
Sept. 21, 2021 ||The calendar year 2022 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule includes provisions on Medicare payment for telehealth services, the Quality Payment Program, and more. The association also responded to a request for information on improving health equity through data collection.
view more »CMS Releases FY 2022 IPPS Final Rule
Aug. 9, 2021 ||CMS on Aug. 2 released its fiscal year 2022 Inpatient Prospective Payment System final rule, which includes payment and quality reporting provisions. The rule does not finalize provisions related to new residency slots, organ acquisition costs, or Section 1115 waiver days.
view more »Proposed rules for Medicare’s Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Physician Fee Schedule would continue Medicare Part B cuts, continue site-neutral policies, and halt the phase-out of the inpatient-only list. Both rules also contain an information request on closing the health equity gap.
view more »CMS Issues CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
July 19, 2021 ||The rule includes provisions related to telehealth, vaccine payment rates, the Quality Payment Program, and the Medicare Shared Savings Program; comments are due to CMS by Sept. 13.
view more »A proposed rule from CMS includes numerous changes for Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2022, including a 2.8 percent increase in inpatient payment rates and updates to quality reporting programs and the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
view more »CMS Releases FY 2022 IPPS Proposed Rule
April 28, 2021 ||The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed fiscal year 2022 Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule would increase operating payment rates by 2.8 percent, repeal market-based data collection, and add 1,000 new graduate medical education teaching slots, among other provisions.
view more »CMS Finalizes CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Rule
Dec. 3, 2020 ||CMS establishes a conversion factor of $32.41 — a decrease of $3.68 from CY 2020. The final rule also includes provisions related to Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services, the Quality Payment Program, and the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
view more »CMS Issues CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
Aug. 4, 2020 ||CMS proposes to decrease the conversion factor determining physician payment rates for specific services by $3.83. The proposed rule also includes provisions related to Medicare reimbursement of telehealth services, the Quality Payment Program, and the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
view more »The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on April 30 issued a second round of waivers and rule changes to provide flexibility to hospitals and improve access to testing for beneficiaries. These changes update waivers issued March 30 to address patient surge.
view more »The final rules for Medicare’s Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2020 also expand access to opioid use disorder treatment and establish a prior authorization process for certain services.
view more »CMS Issues CY 2020 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Nov. 4, 2019 ||The final rule includes provisions related to the Quality Payment Program, evaluation and management services, telehealth services, and the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
view more »Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Released
July 30, 2019 ||The calendar year 2020 proposed rule includes updates to the Quality Payment Program, a request for information on the creation of Merit-based Incentive Payment System Value Pathways, and other topics of interest to essential hospitals.
view more »MedPAC Issues June Report to Congress
June 18, 2019 ||The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission outlines issues of importance to essential hospitals, including Medicare payment strategies for Part B drugs, the Medicare Shared Savings Program,and Medicare fee-for-service spending for emergency department services.
view more »CMS Requests Letters of Intent for Direct Contracting Models
May 21, 2019 ||Providers interested in the professional or global options under the new Primary Cares Initiative must submit a nonbinding letter of intent by Aug. 2.
view more »CMMI Announces New Primary Care Models
April 25, 2019 ||The Primary Cares Initiative comprises five new voluntary payment model options under two paths. The new models build on the experience of the Medicare Shared Savings Program and Next Generation Accountable Care Organization model.
view more »CMS Toolkit Highlights ACO Care Coordination Work
April 16, 2019 ||The new Care Coordination Toolkit showcases the work of accountable care organizations (ACOs) participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program and Next Generation ACO Model. The agency also released a set of case studies describing innovation ACO initiatives.
view more »ACO Application Deadlines for Shared Savings Program
April 16, 2019 ||The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced notice of intent to apply and application deadlines for a Jan. 1, 2020, start date for the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
view more »CMS Updates QPP Participation Status Tool
Jan. 22, 2019 ||The tool includes 2018 Qualifying Alternative Payment Model (APM) Participant and Merit-based Incentive Payment System APM status.
view more »A final rule for the Medicare Shared Savings Program overhauls the program and creates a pathway for accountable care organizations to more rapidly transition to performance-based risk models with the potential for greater shared savings.
view more »CMS Finalizes MSSP Redesign
Dec. 21, 2018 ||The Medicare Shared Savings Program final rule creates a pathway for accountable care organizations to transition more rapidly to performance-based risk.
view more »Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule Released
Nov. 2, 2018 ||The rule includes updates to the Quality Payment Program and documentation and payment changes for evaluation and management services.
view more »Association Comments on Proposed MSSP Changes
Oct. 22, 2018 ||America's Essential Hospitals encouraged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to promote stability in the Medicare Shared Savings Program and allow essential hospitals more time to stay in savings-only tracks.
view more »Association Comments on 2019 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
Sept. 12, 2018 ||The association urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to adequately reimburse off-campus, provider-based departments and refine physician quality reporting to account for costs of care and the unique needs and patient populations served by essential hospitals.
view more »CMS: ACOs Saved Medicare $314M in 2017
Sept. 10, 2018 ||New data show 472 accountable care organizations in the Medicare Shared Savings Program cared for 9 million program beneficiaries in 2017.
view more »A proposed rule for the Medicare Shared Savings Program would overhaul participation tracks to create a "glide path" along which accountable care organizations could transition from a rewards-only model to a two-sided model with risk and the potential for greater rewards.
view more »CMS Proposes Redesign of MSSP
Aug. 13, 2018 ||A new proposed rule would create a pathway for accountable care organizations to more rapidly transition to performance-based risk.
view more »Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Released
July 16, 2018 ||In the rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services continues a policy of reduced payments to new off-campus provider-based departments; the agency also provides updates to the Quality Payment Program.
view more »CMS Announces Performance Year 2018 Medicare ACOs
Jan. 10, 2018 ||This year, there are 124 new participants, including 55 that will take part in the risk-baring Medicare Shared Savings Program Track 1+ model; Accountable care organizations now serve 10.5 million Medicare patients, up 1.5 million from 2017.
view more »CMS Finalizes CY 2018 Updates to Quality Payment Program
Nov. 3, 2017 ||The Quality Payment Program combines and replaces three separate clinician quality programs with a single system for clinicians that bill Medicare Part B.
view more »2018 Physician Fee Schedule Cuts Outpatient Payments
Nov. 3, 2017 ||The rule includes additional cuts to new off-campus, provider-based departments (PBDs), as well as physician payment and quality program changes.
view more »Association Comments on Proposed 2018 Physician Fee Schedule
Sept. 12, 2017 ||The proposed rule would further cut payments to non-excepted provider-based departments to 25 percent of the Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System rate and change certain quality reporting requirements.
view more »Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Cuts Outpatient Payments
July 17, 2017 ||The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule for calendar year 2018 includes physician payment and quality program changes.
view more »CMS Publishes Quality Payment Program Fact Sheet
June 19, 2017 ||The fact sheet gives a general overview of the Medicare Shared Savings Program and Quality Payment Program and explains how the programs work together.
view more »CMS Announces Nearly 100 New Medicare ACOs
Jan. 23, 2017 ||Along with renewing ACOs, the 99 new organizations bring the total number of ACOs nationally to 480 in 2017.
view more »CMS Announces New Medicare ACO Track 1+ Model
Jan. 10, 2017 ||The new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation model aims to boost participation from small rural hospitals and other smaller health care practices.
view more »CMS Releases 2017 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Nov. 7, 2016 ||Of particular interest to members of America’s Essential Hospitals are changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program and provisions related to telehealth.
view more »Medicare ACOs Continue Quality Improvement, Savings
Aug. 30, 2016 ||Hospitals and other providers generated more than $466 million in savings in 2015 through participation in Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs).
view more »CY 2017 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Issued
July 18, 2016 ||The rule, released July 7, updates physician payment rates for Medicare services and makes changes to physician quality programs.
view more »CMS Finalizes Changes to Medicare Shared Savings Methodology
June 8, 2016 ||The new rule aims to help more accountable care organizations successfully participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
view more »Join us April 20 to hear key lessons learned from a hospital currently operating an accountable care organization.
view more »HHS Announces More Than 120 New Medicare ACOs
Jan. 13, 2016 ||New ACOs are eligible for risk-bearing tracks with increased savings for positive patient outcomes and penalties for negative outcomes. A total of 477 ACOs will care for almost 8.9 million beneficiaries in 2016.
view more »Medicare ACOs Improve Quality, Save Money
Aug. 28, 2015 ||Pioneer and MSSP ACOs showed improvement in at least 27 of 33 quality measures in last reporting period. More than 420 Medicare ACOs have been established, coordinating care for more than 7.8 million patients.
view more »CMS Proposes CY 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
July 11, 2015 ||Proposed rule would update physician payment rates for Medicare services, change physician quality programs, and solicit comment on MACRA requirements.
view more »New ACO Investment Model Offers Upfront Savings
June 30, 2015 ||Upfront and ongoing savings aim to encourage providers to form ACOs in rural and underserved areas and promote participation in models with greater financial risk. Applications accepted July 1 to July 31.
view more »CMS Extends Savings-Only Risk Model for ACOs
June 9, 2015 ||The agency also finalized a new risk/reward model that offers a greater share of savings for providers who take on more financial risk.
view more »Pioneer ACOs See Millions in Savings, Higher Quality Scores
May 26, 2015 ||Roughly 48 percent of participating ACOs produced $121 million in total shared savings in 2013, with a net shared savings of $99 million
view more »MSSP Application Process Provider Call June 9
May 18, 2015 ||The call will provide an overview of the materials required for applying to the Medicare Shared Savings Program and lessons learned from previous program year application periods. Notices of intent due May 29, applications due July 31.
view more »Pioneer ACOs See Big Savings, Will Expand beyond Pilot
May 8, 2015 ||The model saved $384 million over a two-year time period and is the first alternative payment pilot to meet criteria for expansion to additional sites.
view more »Medicare Shared Savings Program Call April 7
March 23, 2015 ||CMS will host a national provider call for ACOs interested in the 2016 program year.
view more »Association, Others Urge CMS to Ensure MSSP Sustainability
Feb. 10, 2015 ||Recommendations include establishing greater balance between risk and reward for participating ACOs.
view more »CMS Proposes Changes to MSSP
Dec. 4, 2014 ||The proposals seek to add flexibility for participants and encourage participants to assume more risk to be be rewarded with greater shared savings.
view more »Topics of member interest include payment updates, the OQR Program, and the MSSP.
view more »CMS Finalizes CY 2015 OPPS and PFS Rules
Nov. 4, 2014 ||The rules, released Oct. 31, finalized a number of provisions regarding payments, data collection in outpatient departments, quality programs, and the MSSP.
view more »CMS Announces $114 Million ACO Initiative
Oct. 20, 2014 ||The funding will be allocated to up to 75 ACOs participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program to bring better care coordination to rural and underserved areas.
view more »Association Comments on CY 2015 PFS Proposed Rule
Sept. 3, 2014 ||America's Essential Hospitals urged CMS to ensure any changes to the MSSP encourage and emphasize quality of care for beneficiaries.
view more »CMS Proposes Changes to MSSP in PFS Proposed Rule
July 8, 2014 ||CMS proposes to update how participants in the MSSP capture and submit quality metric data to gauge improvements to quality of care. The proposed update includes changes to the measure set and the benchmark time period.
view more »OMB received June 26 a CMS proposed rule regarding the second round of the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
view more »CMS Accepting Applications for 2015 MSSP
April 8, 2014 ||Providers interested in participating in an ACO through the MSSP must submit a notice of intent to CMS by May 30 and a final application to CMS by July 31.
view more »Accountable Care Organizations Rules and Comments
Nov. 25, 2013 ||ACOs are responsible for quality, cost, and overall care of Medicare beneficiaries
view more »CMS Issues Guidance on Medicaid Shared Savings Models
Sept. 4, 2013 ||Agency provides methodological considerations, questions for states to address in program proposals
view more »Pioneer ACOs Improve Quality, Mixed on Lowering Costs
July 23, 2013 ||CMS says all 32 pioneer ACOs improved quality, performed better than published rates in fee-for-service Medicare
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