CMS issued two final rules on October 29, 2015 updating the Medicare prospective payment systems (PPS) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and home health services, both effective January 1, 2016.
Under the ESRD final rule, Medicare payments to both hospital-based
On October 29, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed to revise the discharge planning requirements for hospitals, long-term care hospitals, critical access hospitals and home health agencies under the conditions of Medicare participation for each provider
On October 30, the Senate voted to approve the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (Act) that would provide for a two-year budget agreement between the White House and Congress. Notably, section 603 of the Act would reduce Medicare payments to
On October 28, 2015, CMS and OIG jointly issued a final rule for the Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO waivers, which is slated for publication in the Federal Register on October 29. The ACO waivers have been in place since
On October 21, 2015, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition & Forestry held a hearing on the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered crops. The hearing specifically focused on an anti-GMO labeling bill that the U.S. House of Representatives passed
On October 26, House Republican leaders introduced the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (Act) that would provide for a two-year budget agreement between the White House and Congress. Notably, section 603 of the Act would reduce Medicare payments to newly-enrolled
On October 21, 2015, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) released Advisory Opinion No. 15-13, stating that it would not impose administrative sanctions against members of a health system for offering free van shuttle services to certain medical
On October 20, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) held a Town Hall Meeting to further solicit comments and questions concerning proposed changes to the Common Rule, which addresses the
Facing a $237 million verdict for alleged illegal compensation arrangements with doctors, Tuomey Healthcare System has agreed to settle with the government for $72.4 million. According to the government’s press release, Tuomey will be sold to Palmetto Health, a
A bipartisan Senate bill (S. 2153) introduced this week would expand reporting obligations under the Sunshine Act / Open Payments program to cover payments or other transfers of value provided to physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Right now,