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Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
is providing an at-a-glance summary of news from around the agency:
Increased Use of Telehealth & Medications for Opioid Use
Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic Reduced Risk of Fatal Overdose
March 29: Collaborative research by CMS, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and National Institute on Drug Abuse
(NIDA) revealed that the expanded availability of opioid use
disorder-related telehealth services and medications during the COVID-19
pandemic lowered the likelihood of fatal drug overdose among Medicare
beneficiaries.
The findings were published in a joint CMS, CDC, and NIDA
manuscript in JAMA
Psychiatry.
Departments Issue FAQs on Coverage of COVID-19 Testing and
Vaccines by Health Plans After the Public Health Emergency Ends
March 29: A set of frequently
asked questions (FAQs) were issued to help group health
plans and health insurance issuers in the private market understand their
obligations under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) related to
coverage for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and vaccines following the
expiration of the public health emergency. The FAQs were issued
jointly by HHS, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Treasury.
CMS Approves Extension of New Jersey’s FamilyCare Section 1115
Demonstration
March 30: CMS approved New Jersey’s request to extend its
FamilyCare Section 1115 Demonstration for five years, effective April
1, 2023, through June 30, 2028. The extension will ensure that people who
are eligible for Medicaid based on their income receive 12 months of
continuous eligibility. Under the demonstration extension, new programs
have also been developed to assist in serving individuals and their
health-related social needs, along with serving the community and advancing
health equity by addressing health care gaps and improving access to care
and overall better health outcomes. The approval letter can be viewed here.
CMS Awards $5.9M in 2023 Connecting Kids to Coverage HEALTHY
KIDS American Indian/Alaska Native Outreach and Enrollment Cooperative
Agreements
March 30: To bolster efforts to increase enrollment of
eligible uninsured American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children in
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), CMS awarded
$5.9 million in funding for seven Connecting Kids to Coverage (CKC) HEALTHY
KIDS American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) 2023 Outreach and Enrollment
Cooperative Agreements. Eligible applicants for this funding included
Indian Health Service providers, Indian tribes, or Tribal entities.
Information on the program and the list of grantees can be found here.
CMS Strengthens Enforcement Against Infection Control
Deficiencies in Nursing Homes
March 30: As part of the President’s initiative to improve the
safety and quality of care in the nation’s nursing homes, CMS has further
strengthened its enhanced enforcement policy for infection control
deficiencies (QSO-20-31-ALL)
with revisions focusing on deficiencies that rise to severe and actual harm
levels. This refocused enforcement will increase civil monetary penalties,
shorten notice for discretionary denial of payment for new admissions, and
require the directed plans of correction to include hiring an external
infection control consultant or working with the Quality Improvement
Organization.
Health Care Facilities May Now Use Clean Energy as an
Alternate Power Source
March 31: CMS released and posted a memo detailing a new
categorical waiver that is available to allow health care facilities to use
clean energy power sources to meet backup power requirements. In addition
to sustainability, these systems can be more reliable, efficient,
redundant, and resilient as energy sources than the traditional fossil
fuel-based generator systems still predominantly used by most facilities.
The memo can be viewed here.
CMS Issues FAQs on Marketplace Health Plan Issuer Coverage of
Abortion
March 31: CMS issued frequently
asked questions reiterating that Qualified Health Plan (QHP)
issuers offering coverage in the individual market through Marketplace
Exchanges may still provide abortion coverage after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health
Organization decision (when not prohibited by state law) and
must comply with existing federal requirements pursuant to Section 1303 of
the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Arizona Extends Postpartum Coverage for Medicaid & CHIP
April 4: Arizona became the latest state to extend postpartum
coverage for individuals enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health
Insurance Program, following CMS’ approval of the state’s postpartum
coverage extension state plan amendments (SPAs). The opportunity to extend
this coverage was made possible by the American Rescue Plan, and this
approval marks 31 states and D.C. that have extended postpartum
Medicaid/CHIP coverage to a full year. Click here
and here
to learn more about Arizona’s approvals in Medicaid and CHIP,
respectively.
CMS Responds to NEJM Catalyst Article on the State of Patient
Safety
April 4: The New England Journal of Medicine’s Catalyst published a
response by Dr. Lee Fleisher, CMS’ Chief Medical Officer to an article on
patient safety and quality. The response outlines the current state of
patient safety, and the toll taken by COVID-19 on the health care system’s
efforts to bolster patient safety, and shares CMS’ perspective on how to
support and drive the nation's health care system toward improved safety
for patients. The article can be found here.
Medicare Advantage Value-Based Design Model Extension Builds
on Success
April 5:
CMS announced policy details regarding the extension of the
Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model through
2025-2030. The model tests innovations within Medicare Advantage intended
to improve health care quality, reduce Medicare spending, and advance
health equity. The model extension and changes build on the model’s
successes to date and encourage an even greater focus on addressing
health-related social needs. The
details can be found here.
CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure Covers the Medicare Basics in
SSA Guest Blog
April 6: CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure covers the
basics of Medicare coverage - outlining when and how to apply for Medicare,
options to consider, and the tools available to help make Medicare coverage
decisions - in a guest blog
on Social Security Matters. This consumer-friendly read helps explain the
Medicare program and underscores the importance of reviewing Medicare
options to help consumers find the one that best meets their individual
health care needs. This is the first part of a two-part blog series on
Medicare basics.
CMS Announces Fiscal Year 2024 Proposed Payment Rules for
Providers and Services
CMS issued Medicare fiscal year (FY) 2024 proposed payment
rules for the following providers and services: Skilled
Nursing Facilities (SNFs), Hospice,
Inpatient Rehabilitation
Facilities (IRFs) and Inpatient
Psychiatric Facilities (IPFs). In addition to details of the
proposed rule, each fact sheet contains a link to where the proposed rule
can be found on the Federal Register.
Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Comment Period
Closing--Comments Due April 14
The deadline for public comments on the initial
guidance for the Medicare Drug Pricing Negotiation program is
closing, with comments due no later than April 14. Public feedback is
critical to ensuring the Negotiation Program works for millions of people
with Medicare, so comments are strongly encouraged and can be submitted to IRARebateandNegotiation@cms.hhs.gov with
the subject line “Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Guidance.” CMS
will issue revised guidance this summer. More information can be found here.
Other Recent Releases
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CMS, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, serves the public as a trusted partner and steward, dedicated to
advancing health equity, expanding coverage, and improving health outcomes.
The agency protects the public health by administering the Medicare program
and working in partnership with state governments to administer Medicaid,
CHIP, and health insurance portability standards.
Get CMS news at cms.gov/newsroom,
sign up for CMS news via email,
and follow CMS on Twitter @CMSgov
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