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Byline: Michael Brady Congress created the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation under the Affordable Care Act to design, test and expand new payment and care delivery models that cut [...]

The article reports on the possible recommendation by the U.S. congressional panel Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) as of March 2021 for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to enhance coordination among its alternative payment models and lessen their numbers. Among the models are the bundled payments and accountable care organizations. Also cited is the comment of MedPAC's Brian DeBusk on the developments.

The article reports on the issues tackled by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary nominee Xavier Becerra during his confirmation hearings as of March 2021, including Medicare Advantage, drug pricing, and the 340B program.

The article reports on the move by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as of February 2021 to delay the implementation of a rule that will ban pharmacy go-betweens from keeping rebates paid by drug manufacturers under Medicare Part D.

The article discusses the possible health care regulatory actions that can still be imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump before his term ends in January 2021, including the Medicare's physician fee schedule, the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and the Medicare's outpatient services payment rule.

The article reports that the executive order of U.S. President Donald Trump on surprise billing directs U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to update the Hospital Compare website within six months to inform Medicare beneficiaries about hospital billing practices. Topics include itemized list of services received by patients at discharge, thoughts from Patient Rights Advocate founder Cynthia Fisher on surprise billing, and Trump's attempt to increase market competition in healthcare.

The article explains why an accurate census count in 2020 is important. Topics mentioned include the areas of application for census data including the distribution of federal funds for Medicaid and child care for low-income families and the execution of population health management strategies, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on census accuracy, and the implications of inaccurate census data.

The article discusses the executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on July 24, 2020 that are aimed at lowering the prices of prescription drugs (PD) in the U.S. These include the 340B drug discounts, international reference pricing, and a plan to allow the importation of some PD from Canada by states and drugmakers.

The article reports on the statement by Michael Chernew, the new chairman of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), that it is important for the commission to continue to provide the U.S. Congress with unbiased analysis of big issues facing Medicare. Topics covered include his views on becoming chairman, the impact of COVID-19 on the organization and the challenge faced by MedPAC regarding setting up payment systems.

The article reports on the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) finalization of temporary Medicare and Medicaid changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including those that are favorable to accountable care organizations (ACO). The changes include ordering of COVID-19 serology tests, collection of specimens for testing under the physician fee schedule, and exceptions for the hospital value-based purchasing program.

The article discusses the concept of direct-contracting entities and voluntary alignment in the process of an alternative payment system called Direct Contracting Model, introduced by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services in the U.S.

The article looks at the potentials of an alternative payment system called Direct Contracting Model which was introduced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in the U.S. as of April 2020. Topics discussed include comparison to Medicare Advantage, a health insurance plan that provides benefits via a private-sector health insurer, its objective to reduce expenditures and enhance quality of care for beneficiaries, and the implications for cost and the quality of care.

The article mentions 2020 research which shows that medical specialists have significant chances to participate in alternative payment models and accountable care organizations as of March 9, 2020.

The article describes steps that policymakers can take to make life easier for Medicare patients and providers. Suggestions include improving the reliability of information available to beneficiaries, providing more funding for state health insurance assistance programs, primarily for benefits counselors, and requiring the federal government to notify people about their Medicare eligibility before they turn age 65.

The article describes difficulties facing healthcare providers and patients caused by senior confusion over Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. An online poll conducted for the Better Medicare Alliance found that most seniors do not understand the differences between Medigap and MA plans. The effects of consumer confusion about Medicare coverage are increasing because the U.S. population is aging, thanks to the baby-boomer generation.

The article describes the steps to take in enrolling in a Medicare plan.

The article reports on a proposal by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to increase baseline Medicare Advantage payment rates for 2021. Topics discussed include the claim that the change would increase access to care for rural seniors and lower the costs of Advantage plans and the estimated amount that the federal government could save from the rule.

The article reports that the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has voted unanimously in January 2020 to recommend hospitals receive a 3.3% raise for inpatient and outpatient services in 2021. Topics covered include the aim of the pay boost to close the gap between reimbursement rates for physician offices and hospital outpatient departments, and other recommendations of MedPAC, such as the elimination of current quality penalties.

The article reports on the plan of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to vote in January 2020 against a pay increase for ambulatory surgical centers for not providing cost data. Topics mentioned include an increase in ambulatory surgical centers' growth in Medicare revenue from 2017 to 2018, the need for U.S. Congress to eliminate the update for the calendar year 2021, and the reason why MedPAC could not calculate profit margins for ambulatory surgical centers.

The article reports that the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided to move forward its site-neutral payments for doctor's visits despite a federal court ruling against the policy. CMS estimated that the change will cut copays for people on Medicare and slash federal spending by 800 million dollars in 2020. Tom Nickels, vice president of the Amercan Hospital Association said that the CMS action undermines the foundation of care for the most vulnerable people.

The article reports on the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) postponement of an alternative primary-care payment model and its call for providers to apply and move towards value-based care, as of October 28, 2019.

The article reports on the concern by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission that patients' access to care has been affected by a continued decline in the rate of new physicians.

The article discusses the outcome of the Medicare Care Choices Model conducted by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The trial enabled beneficiaries to enroll in hospice care while receiving curative care for their terminal illness at the same time. A study revealed lower hospitalization rates among Medicare fee-for-service patients who receive hospice care.

The article reports on the opposition of oncology providers to a proposed rule to bundle Medicare payments for radiation therapy. Topics include services that would be required to accept bundled payments under the proposed rule, reason that providers and suppliers have financial incentives to provide prolonged courses of radiation therapy under the existing payment model, and concern of providers and suppliers on fixed, site-neutral payments for radiation therapy.

The article reports on the call by the U.S. Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) for a unified prospective payment system across home health, long-term care, rehabilitation and skilled-nursing settings. Topics discussed include proposed incentive program by the commission, reason there is a lot of room for improvement for each of the measures according to MedPAC, and finding of MedPAC on a high Medicare Advantage (MA) market share.