澳门六合彩 Insights: Your source for healthcare news, ideas and analysis.
澳门六合彩 Insights 鈥 including our new podcast 鈥 puts the vast depth of 澳门六合彩鈥檚 expertise at your fingertips, helping you stay informed about the latest healthcare trends and topics. Below, you can easily search based on your topic of interest to find useful information from our podcast, blogs, webinars, case studies, reports and more.
Former Speaker of the House Tip O鈥橬eill made famous the phrase 鈥渁ll politics is local,鈥 meaning electoral success is related directly to a politician鈥檚 understanding of and ability to address the local issues that matter most to constituents. This concluded that local knowledge of health care challenges and collaboration among local organizations to find solutions were major contributors to communities鈥 improvement on scorecard rankings.
One state-level decision that can boost responsiveness to local needs is whether to establish a state-based marketplace (SBM) for health insurance. Health insurance marketplaces are required in every state under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Under the ACA, states were given a choice about whether to establish an SBM and receive some federal funding to do so or rely on the federally facilitated marketplace (FFM) to serve their residents. Marketplaces are designed to do two basic things: (1) enroll individuals and families who do not have access to Medicaid, Medicare, or employer-sponsored health insurance coverage in private coverage and (2) connect eligible individuals with financial assistance (premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions) to reduce their cost of coverage. To date, 19 states have established SBMs and others continue to entertain the possibility of establishing one.
Why would states want to establish and operate a new agency of government to administer coverage for people who are receiving federal tax credits for their health insurance coverage? Surely this could create redundant and/or uncoordinated functions between states and the federal government and place an unwanted burden on capacity-strapped state governments. However, states that have established SBMs have not found this to be the case. Instead, in evaluating the FFM versus SBM decision, and in operating SBMs, states have found that SBMs offer distinct advantages over the FFM. These include:
Lower Costs: States have historically demonstrated that they can operate SBMs at a lower overall cost than they would pay in fees through the FFM which has led, in part, to the recent reductions to the Healthcare.gov user fee. States also directly benefit through their ability to retain marketplace revenue and spend it locally. Lastly, SBMs can claim federal financial participation for functions they perform supporting and facilitating Medicaid enrollment.
Better Service: States have an almost 60-year history of enrolling low-income individuals and families enroll in and stay enrolled in Medicaid. Many of these individuals cycle in and out of Medicaid eligibility due to changes in income. States can coordinate between SBMs and Medicaid to reduce gaps in coverage. They also can simplify eligibility and enrollment through SBMs that deliver a better customer experience through knowledge of their markets and residents and on the ground enrollment assistance and initiatives.
More Policy Influence: SBMs can be launchpads for access and affordability innovations not possible with the FFM. State innovations to date include public option plans, state-funded subsidies such as premium and cost-sharing wraparound support, basic health plans, undocumented immigrant coverage programs, and collaborative enrollment initiatives with Medicaid agencies, unemployment programs, and tax departments.
In addition to states, managed care organizations (MCOs), particularly local and regional MCOs, can also reap the benefits of an SBM:
Local Governance: With governance for an SBM taking place at the state level (versus the federal level), MCOs have the opportunity for more thorough engagement with state officials around operational and policy decisions and issues.
Aligned Market Expectations: MCOs participating in both the marketplace and Medicaid will benefit from a higher probability of aligned expectations and priorities across both markets with those expectations and priorities being uniformly set at the state level with an SBM.
Local Market Sensitivity: MCOs that operate and are rooted locally can count on market-specific dynamics being better reflected in decision-making with an SBM.
Establishing a SBM is not an easy or straightforward decision, but state policymakers and MCOs should consider the benefits that have accrued to other states and the role that SBMs can serve in addressing local health priorities.
If you have questions about how 澳门六合彩 can support your state or MCO related to SBMs, please contact Managing Director Zach Sherman, Principal Lauren Ohata or Principal Anya Wallack.
Regulatory policy changes finalized by CMS aim to increase the percentage of dual-eligible individuals enrolled in integrated plans
This week, our In Focus section delves into important and complex regulatory policy changes that affect coverage and services for the 12.9 million individuals who are dually enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. These 鈥攚hich were finalized as part of a broader that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released on April 4, 2023鈥攁re designed to increase the percentage of dually eligible people who are enrolled in integrated Medicare Advantage (MA) Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs). The modifications will be phased in gradually, with certain provisions affecting D-SNPs starting in 2025. These adjustments forge a stronger connection between state-level policy and operational decisions, shaping the future landscape of D-SNPs.
Overview
Amid rapid growth of D-SNP plan offerings and increased enrollment of dually eligible individuals into D-SNPs, CMS has finalized an interconnected set of regulatory policy changes to increase enrollment in integrated plans while simplifying coverage and plan options for this population.
By promoting enrollment in integrated plans, CMS seeks to improve the care experience and outcomes for dually eligible individuals, with the ultimate goal of making integrated plan enrollment the standard. Integrated D-SNP plans, which consolidate Medicare and Medicaid services under one managed care organization, offer uniform consumer protections (including unified grievance and appeals process), integrated plan materials, and more coordinated care.
Key policy changes include:
Replacing the current quarterly special enrollment period (SEP) with a monthly SEP for dually eligible and other low-income subsidy (LIS) individuals to enroll into a standalone prescription drug plan (PDP)聽
Establishing a new integrated care SEP that will enable dually eligible individuals to choose an integrated D-SNP plan on a monthly basis聽
Restricting enrollment in certain D-SNPs to individuals also enrolled in an affiliated Medicaid managed care organization (MCO)聽
Limiting the number of D-SNPs an MA organization can offer in the same service area as an affiliated Medicaid MCO to reduce and simplify plan offerings for dually eligible individuals.聽
What Issue is CMS Trying to Solve?
CMS intends to make it easier for dually eligible people make enrollment decisions. Simplified plan options and more integrated care could prevent beneficiaries from inadvertently selecting plans that fail to provide the comprehensive Medicare and Medicaid benefits they need.
This shift toward aligned enrollment could improve beneficiary experiences, enhance outcomes, and streamline administrative processes for CMS. The introduction of a monthly SEP specifically for dually eligible individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed care plans underscores CMS鈥檚 commitment to facilitating enrollment in affiliated D-SNP plans throughout the year. 澳门六合彩 (澳门六合彩) experts expect these changes to affect the sales cycle for dual eligibles and potentially increase member satisfaction, expand access to care, and improve overall health outcomes for this population.
Timeline of Regulatory Changes
Considerations for Health Plans
The impact on individual health plans hinges on state-specific approaches to dually eligible beneficiaries and D-SNPs, as well as each plan鈥檚 strategy for integrating Medicare and Medicaid services. 澳门六合彩 experts identified the following key factors as essential for understanding and monitoring these interconnected dynamics:
Does the state administer managed Medicaid, and if so, does it include the dually eligible population?聽
Does the Medicare D-SNP (or an affiliated/ related company) hold a state Medicaid contract that covers dually eligible individuals?聽聽
What is the state鈥檚 vision regarding duals and D-SNPs?聽
Does the state require its Medicaid contractors to offer a D-SNP?聽
Does the state currently or plan to restrict D-SNPs to their Medicaid contractors?聽
Is the state moving toward an exclusively aligned enrollment model?聽
What鈥檚 Next
The changes in D-SNPs present opportunities and risks for beneficiaries, MA and Medicaid health plans, and states. Successful navigation of these changes requires proactive planning and anticipation of forthcoming federal and state regulations. Health plans operating within the D-SNP space must actively engage with state Medicaid agencies to understand and potentially help shape this evolving environment. For example, health plan strategies may include:
Understanding the state鈥檚 priorities and its current and planned approach to integrated care for dually eligible individuals聽
Participating in and/or advocating for stakeholder meetings with the state regarding dually eligible members and D-SNPs to ensure the opportunity to shape regulations聽
Developing internal integration strategies that align product design, operations, quality, clinical, and member experience capabilities for D-SNPs and Medicaid聽
Strategically planning actions, such as participating in Medicaid procurements, to achieve the plan鈥檚 objectives聽
Connect with Us
These regulatory changes significantly affect dually eligible beneficiaries, states, and both Medicare and Medicaid health plans. Though some changes may disrupt the duals鈥 market, others align state objectives with plan strategies. Ultimately, dually eligible individuals with full benefits will gain the most, experiencing improved opportunities to choose suitable plans, access necessary care, and achieve optimal health outcomes and well-being.
For further insights into these upcoming changes, view the聽D-SNP Growth and Integration: Key Implications of the 2025 CMS Final Rule聽webinar, featuring the 澳门六合彩 team鈥擠ara Smith, Holly Michaels Fisher, Greg Gierer, and Tim Murray. Join these and other experts at 澳门六合彩鈥檚 Fall Conference to stay informed about the strategic directions plans and states are pursuing.
澳门六合彩 is hosting its 2024 Fall Conference October 7鈭9 in Chicago, IL. promises to enhance your ability to navigate and shape healthcare programs and systems, focusing on improving health and well-being.
In a landscape dominated by endless video meetings, the offers a refreshing change. Join us for an enriching experience featuring:
Engagement with healthcare experts and thought leaders who are actively collaborating with stakeholders
Participation in face-to-face discussions to exchange ideas and receive valuable feedback
Opportunities to connect with peers who are committed to strengthening public programs and enhancing health outcomes
Keynote Address and Sessions
, from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), will deliver the Keynote Address. He and other speakers will inspire attendees to explore innovative healthcare programs and their potential impacts on healthcare delivery, reimbursement, and health outcomes.
The conference will feature a diverse array of speakers and participants, including C-suite executives from national, regional, and local health plans. Federal and state leaders joining panels will include:
State Medicaid directors from New York, Iowa, New Mexico and Alabama
State insurance commissioners
Behavioral health agency officials
State housing agencies
Leaders from the US Interagency Council on Homelessness
The conference will include a revamped pre-conference workshop on October 7, featuring hands-on exercises and interactive sessions led by 澳门六合彩 leaders. Sessions will include a value-based care contracting exercise, a value-based purchasing assessment discussion for providers, tips and tricks on navigating Medicaid section 1115 demonstrations, AI applications in healthcare, and more.
View the , including speakers confirmed to date.
Registration
is open until July 31. Don鈥檛 miss this opportunity to gain actionable knowledge, forge valuable connections, and discover fresh insights and best practices. Register now to secure your spot at the forefront of healthcare innovation.
As 澳门六合彩 has grown, we have added significant breadth and depth to our Medicare team to better offer our clients comprehensive expertise on Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Dual-Eligibles, payment systems, pricing, and more. When looking for a partner to help navigate the complexities and changes of Medicare, our clients know that by engaging 澳门六合彩 experts they are engaging former CMS officials, former plan executives, payment system and coding experts, policy analysts, and many others. We draw on the resources of experts from our 澳门六合彩 companies to provide comprehensive and end-to-end solutions, including and for actuarial services, and for political and policy engagement. Together we bring considerable expertise in all things Medicare and can leverage our more than 700 consulting colleagues across HMA.
Our world-class Medicare team partners with clients to meet their needs, address their challenges and improve their bottom line. We provide a variety of services such as:
Significant support for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and stakeholders seeking to understand MA policy and operational issues including strategy, market assessment, models of care, evaluation, and audit support.
Support MA special needs plans (D-SNP, I-SNP, C-SNP, etc.) and programs for dual eligible beneficiaries.
Medicare regulatory, analytics and thought leadership consulting services for MA plans, providers, suppliers, value-based organizations, associations, and foundations.
Design, implementation, evaluation and analysis of Medicare value-based payment systems and policy issues.
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) strategy and operations.
Strategic advice, policy development, and budgetary analysis for clients seeking assistance with Medicare reform efforts.
Medicare coverage and reimbursement for device, drug and biotechnology manufacturers and other stakeholders in the life sciences community.
Assistance for clients seeking to commercialize new technologies.
MA and fee-for-service claims analysis and actuarial services with support from actuaries within 澳门六合彩 plus actuaries from Wakely Consulting Group and Cirdan Health Systems and Consulting.
Consulting and federal policy analysis, including Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scoring and legislative policy development with our colleagues from Leavitt Partners.
In 2021, 澳门六合彩 acquired The Moran Company (TMC), which provides extensive expertise in the design, implementation, and evaluation of various healthcare payment systems, with a particular focus on the Medicare program. As we approach the 26th anniversary of TMC鈥檚 founding and the third anniversary of joining the 澳门六合彩 portfolio, we want to honor the history and contributions of The Moran Company and remember the late Donald Moran who founded TMC in July 1998. He spent almost 50 years in the health policy community, including many years in government service, serving as executive associate director for Budget and Legislation at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget during the Reagan Administration.
Many of our TMC colleagues worked with Moran for more than a decade, benefiting from his mentoring and exhaustive knowledge of the industry. Since joining, TMC consultants have worked closely with our 澳门六合彩 colleagues and the Medicare team in particular.
As of July 1, we are retiring the Moran brand and logo and fully integrating the company into 澳门六合彩 as part of the Medicare team. We may be dropping the Moran brand name, but not the approach and diligence for which TMC is well known. In particular, 澳门六合彩 will continue to use the same methodologies for Congressional Budget Office scores and Medicare data analyses that have characterized Moran鈥檚 work for more than 25 years.
View some of our recent work from our combined team:
A public health crisis is growing more acute in rural America, disproportionately impacting individuals with both Medicaid and Medicare (the 鈥渄ually eligible鈥). Dually eligible individuals residing in rural areas represent about 5 percent of all rural residents. They reside at the intersection of a public health crisis and a fragmented Medicaid and Medicare care delivery system. , this small population is at risk of falling through the cracks of this crisis and suffering a steep rural mortality penalty.
With support from Arnold Ventures, 澳门六合彩 prepared 鈥淭he Health Equity & Access for Rural Dually Eligible Individuals (HEARD) Toolkit: Raising Rural Voices from New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to Create Action. The toolkit contains eight actionable solutions for federal and state policymakers to use and tailor to states鈥 needs. Ellen Breslin, Samantha Di Paola, and Susan McGeehan authored the toolkit, with research contributions from Rebecca Kellenberg and Andrea Maresca.
In 2022, 澳门六合彩 convened stakeholder roundtables in three states 鈥 including New Mexico, North Dakota, and Tennessee to identify the challenges facing dually eligible individuals living in rural areas and to propose solutions to these challenges. Informed by this process, 澳门六合彩 developed the Health Equity & Access for Rural Dually Eligible Individuals (HEARD) Toolkit.
The toolkit is structured around three domains used to organize eight solutions. For each solution, 澳门六合彩 provides a description of the rural access challenge, the proposed solution, and the proposed tool. Each tool is powered by some type of lever available to the federal and state government. We anticipate that policymakers will build upon this toolkit through continued dialogue with rural communities. The toolkit鈥檚 framework, goals, and actionable solutions are summarized in the figure below.
澳门六合彩 Principal聽Ellen Breslin, Consultant聽Samantha Di Paola, and Senior Consultant聽Susan McGeehan聽authored the toolkit, with research contributions from 澳门六合彩 Principals聽Rebecca Kellenberg聽and聽Andrea Maresca. Download the toolkit.
On February 2, 2023, 1pm ET, 澳门六合彩 will host a webinar on the HEARD toolkit. During this webinar, 澳门六合彩 experts and panelists including Dr. Kevin Bennett (USC-SOM Columbia, SC CRPH), Dennis Heaphy (DPC), Pam Parker (SNP Alliance), and Tallie Tolen (New Mexico Medicaid) will summarize and discuss the toolkit鈥檚 actionable solutions for improving rural dually eligible individuals鈥 health and social outcomes.
A public health crisis is growing more acute in rural America, disproportionately impacting individuals with both Medicaid and Medicare (the 鈥渄ually eligible鈥). The rural health crisis is a health equity concern that affects all rural residents, including dually eligible individuals. There are 47 to 60 million people residing in rural areas. Twenty-one percent of dually eligible individuals live in rural areas鈥攖hat鈥檚 about 2.6 million people. Based on these numbers, the authors calculate that the dual eligible population residing in rural communities accounts for about 5 percent of the total rural population. Dually eligible individuals living in rural areas are at risk of falling through the cracks.
Dually eligible individuals lack access to adequate medical, behavioral health, home-and community-based services (HCBS) and other social services; those living in rural areas face even steeper challenges. Since dually eligible individuals are among the poorest of all individuals covered under Medicare, they are at significant risk of paying a steep rural mortality penalty.
With these challenges there are opportunities for innovation for the dually eligible population living in rural communities. The US can reverse the mortality-disparity rate trajectory. Public and private entities are interested in revitalizing rural America, confronting the rural health crisis, and harnessing the power of rural communities. Investment in the rural health care sector is essential given it is a major economic driver of rural communities.
澳门六合彩 is creating a toolkit with actionable solutions to improve access to services and integrated care and health equity for individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid who live in rural areas across the country. 鈥婽his project is a follow-on project to a previous 澳门六合彩 project supported by Arnold Ventures. 鈥婭n 2021, 澳门六合彩 prepared a brief, Medicare-Medicaid Integration: Essential Elements for Integrated Care Programs for Dually Eligible Individuals, to increase and promote enrollment in integrated care programs (ICPs) meeting dually eligible individuals鈥 needs and preferences. Interviewees including dually eligible individuals helped 澳门六合彩 to identify 鈥渁ccess to needed services in rural areas鈥 as an essential element of ICPs. In response, 澳门六合彩 started a new project to create a toolkit with actionable strategies to improve access to needed services and improve integrated care opportunities, specific to dually eligible rural residents鈥 needs.
澳门六合彩 designed the toolkit around four values: 1) rural health equity is an imperative for dually eligible individuals, 2) actionable solutions and innovations must come from the community, 3) there is no single pathway to integration, and 4) Medicare and Medicaid flexibilities are critical to inspiring innovations to advance health equity, access, and integration. The toolkit will provide actionable solutions for states with and without integrated care programs for dually eligible individuals to increase access to needed supports and services, care coordination, and integrated care programs. We expect that states and rural communities will use the toolkit as a foundation for mapping a holistic plan to advance access to care coordination and integrated programs for dually eligible individuals residing in rural communities. Other states may employ contractual tools listed in the toolkit to expand access to providers and new services; strengthen partnerships among entities serving the community such as community-based organizations, providers, and health plans; and increase community-wide accountability for meeting dually eligible individuals鈥 whole person-centered needs. The toolkit is scheduled for an early 2023 release.
Today鈥檚 blog is the next in our series highlighting significant developments in the Medicare program. In our first article we covered the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services鈥 (CMS) calendar year 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule. This week we are highlighting a few key policy developments in the proposed rule that governs payment levels and policy updates for hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs).
As we discussed last week, this is a pivotal moment for the Biden Administration鈥檚 Medicare policy agenda. Because the rulemaking cycle takes about 18 months, CMS needs to begin the process of collecting input on new proposals this year if it intends to finalize proposals before the end of the President鈥檚 first term. Additionally, the CY2023 rule represents an important transition year for CMS as it navigates the COVID-19 related anomalies in the data used to calculate payment levels.
Health care plans, providers, and facilities are continuing to transition to value based payment strategies, making it increasingly important to assess the entire environment of Medicare payment rules as these payment systems are the basis of financial benchmarks, quality incentives, and other key components of value-based payments. In addition, these payment rules provide insight into the cost pressures, incentives, and areas of misalignment throughout the health care system.
澳门六合彩 experts are analyzing and closely tracking several issues in the CY 2023 hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) proposed rule. A brief summary of some of the most important proposed policy changes for the outpatient hospital setting are included below and highlight many of the Administration鈥檚 top health care priorities.
Policies to sustain access and address health disparities in rural communities.
Enhancing Medicare鈥檚 behavioral health payment and access policies beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Uncertainty in the hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) rate increase due to future implementation of changes in 340B payment.
Increasing transparency of consolidation and mergers in the marketplace to help advance quality and affordability.
The remainder of our post delves into these issues and other notable proposals. Our post also includes analysis of the implications of these policies for stakeholders deserving.
Key Action Items for Stakeholders
The CY 2023 OPPS Proposed Rule was published on July 15, 2022, and all comments from stakeholders are due to CMS by September 13, 2022. We anticipate CMS will release their Final Rule in late fall 2022, before the new rules are implemented January 1, 2023.
The public comment period is also an important window of opportunity during which stakeholders can analyze the impact of CMS鈥檚 proposed policies, assess the proposals against other applicable pending federal and state payment policies, and consider how the proposals may impact business decisions. Further, the public comment period is essential for CMS to deepen its understanding of the impact of its policies on stakeholders. The agency benefits from hearing stakeholder鈥檚 perspectives, viewing their quantitative and legal analyses, and understanding the general stakeholder environment.
Rural Emergency Hospitals: Definition and Payment
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) established a new provider type called Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) beginning in 2023. REHs are facilities that convert from either a critical access hospital (CAH) or a rural hospital with less than 50 beds, by choosing to close their inpatient capacity. Instead, these facilities provide emergency department services, outpatient services, post-hospital extended care services, and other defined services.
While the statute specifies many foundational aspects of REHs, CMS was given the authority to further define REH eligibility status and to specify the unique reimbursement mechanisms for REHs. All of these components will be vital to a provider or entity鈥檚 decision to pursue REH status.
On June 30, CMS the first component: Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for REHs, which defined REH status within the Medicare program. Within the CY 2023 OPPS Proposed Rule CMS proposed to define reimbursement and several other key components of REHs. Below we detail the key elements of REH reimbursement. In 澳门六合彩鈥檚 blog next week we will offer greater detail on the COP and reimbursement policies.
REH policies proposed in the CY 2023 OPPS Proposed Rule:
REHs will receive a monthly facility payment of approximately $268,000 (or more than $3 million per year) beginning in CY 2023.
REHs will receive a 5 percent payment increase for all services covered under the Medicare OPPS.
REHs may provide outpatient services that are not otherwise paid under the OPPS (e.g., the Clinical Lab Fee Schedule) as well as post-hospital extended care services furnished in a unit of the facility that is a distinct part of the facility licensed as a skilled nursing facility (SNF).
Beneficiaries served at REHs will not be charged a copayment on the additional 5 percent OPPS payments, but standard OPPS cost-sharing requirements would still apply.
REHs must comply with all applicable provider enrollment provisions in order to enroll in Medicare.
REHs will have a unique quality reporting program distinct to REHs, in order to reduce reporting burden on these smaller facilities. CMS seeks feedback from stakeholders on the measures used for the REH quality reporting program.
REHs will be provided an exception from the Physician Self-Referral Law (commonly known as the 鈥淪tark Law鈥).
Takeaway: The creation of REHs is both a significant change for the Medicare program and potentially a unique opportunity for small rural hospitals and health systems which own/operate rural hospitals. The Congress and CMS believe this model will address access to care concerns and health disparities present in rural communities. Many assert that under the REH approach, hospitals and health system providers serving rural communities may have greater flexibility to support the rural communities they serve.
Look for our additional analysis of the set of proposed REH policies next week.
Mental Health Services Furnished Remotely by Hospital Staff
For CY 2023, CMS proposes several updates to its remote services policy to plan for a transition from temporary policies enacted during the PHE to when the PHE is declared over. CMS proposes to:
Allow clinical staff of a hospital to conduct remote mental health and substance abuse services and to designate these services as hospital outpatient department services for purposes of reimbursement. Patients will be permitted to be in the homes and hospital clinical staff must conduct the service from inside the hospital facility. Further, CMS proposes new hospital outpatient codes for these services, and CMS will not permit these outpatient services to be conducted (and billed) in tandem with physician fee schedule services.
The agency will require an in-person service within 6 months prior to the initiation of the remote service and then every 12 months thereafter. CMS will allow exceptions to the in-person visit requirement based on beneficiary circumstances.
The agency is also proposing that audio-only interactive telecommunications systems may be used to furnish these services when the beneficiary is not capable of, or does not consent to, the use of two-way, audio/video technology.
Takeaway: As CMS wrote in the proposed rule, many beneficiaries may be receiving mental health services in their homes from hospital or critical access hospital staff during the COVID-19 PHE. The policy update could help minimize disruptions in continuity of care that might otherwise occur following the end of the PHE. The proposals also reflect CMS鈥 desire to adapt to changing beneficiary preferences and new methods of providing services that have evolved during the COVID-19 PHE.
Hospitals and health systems may benefit from these proposals because it will maintain and expand patient-provider access points and care coordination after the patient has left the hospital. Stakeholders will need to continue to assess beneficiary utilization of services furnished remotely, potential staffing changes to support these services, and community-specific access needs for remote mental health services. Stakeholders may have important perspectives to offer CMS through the regulatory comment proceed as the agency determines whether to finalize a requirement that hospital clinical staff be physically located in the hospital when furnishing services remotely using communications technology.
Payment Policies
CMS is proposing to update OPPS payment rates for hospitals and ASCs that meet their respective applicable quality reporting requirements by 2.7 percent. This update reflects the following factors:
Projected hospital market basket percentage increase of 3.1 percent; and
A 0.4 percentage point reduction for projected multifactor productivity.
In the context of the OPPS, CMS proposes to increase the OPPS conversation factor by 2.7 percent from CY 2022 to CY 2023, from $84.18 to $86.79. CMS estimates this will increase OPPS payments to providers from CY 2022 to CY 2023 by $1.8 billion.
In the context of ASCs, CMS estimates a proposed increase to the ASC conversation factor by 2.7 percent from CY 2022 to CY 2023, from $49.91 to $51.31. CMS estimates this change will increase industry-wide payments from CY 2022 to CY 2023 by $130 million. In addition, CY 2023 is the final year in which CMS will apply the productivity-adjusted hospital market basket update to ASC payment system rates for an interim period of 5 years (CY 2019 through CY 2023).
Consistent with CMS鈥檚 methods for updating other Medicare prospective payment systems during the 2023 regulatory cycle, the agency proposes to use claims data from CY 2021 and hospital cost report data from the June 2020 Healthcare Cost Report Information System (HCRIS) to update payment rates for CY 2023. Some stakeholders have expressed concern during this regulatory cycle that claims data continue to include anomalous trends influenced by covid cases and the cost data do not accurately reflect covid-related costs because the data primarily are associated with pre-COVID time period.
340B Payment Policy
CMS鈥檚 proposed rule acknowledges the recent Supreme Court decision in American Hospital Association v. Becerra (No. 20-1114, 2022 WL 2135490), which will have a significant impact on the 340B program. However, given the recency of this decision the agency formally proposed to maintain the current payment rate of Average Sale Price (ASP) minus 22.5 percent for drugs and biologics acquired through the 340B program.
In response to the decision, CMS stated that the agency will adjust 340B payment rates within the CY 2023 final rule. In its recent ruling, the Supreme Court held that HHS may not vary payment rates for drugs and biologicals among groups of hospitals without having surveyed hospitals鈥 acquisition costs. The decision relates to payment rates for CYs 2018 and 2019 but has implications for the CY 2023 rates.
CMS also stated that it anticipates applying a 340B payment rate of ASP plus 6 percent for specified drugs and biologics in the CY 2023 final rule. This would likely result in a budget neutrality reduction approaching 5% in the OPPS conversion factor.
Takeaway: Hospitals and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) receiving 340B reimbursements will view the court ruling and potential increase to 340B payment rates as positive. However, it remains unclear at what exact level 340B payments will be set. Therefore, stakeholders may want to comment on the CY2023 policy options CMS is considering. Additionally, stakeholders should plan for CMS to conduct a survey of acquisition costs as it considers newly proposing changes to the payment rates. It remains possible that CMS will continue to apply the 340B cut for 2023 in light of a 2020 survey of hospital acquisition cost that it conducted. Future budget neutrality adjustments may also be necessary for any payments that are returned to hospitals due to the overturning of the 340B cut for 2018 and 2019.
Additional Issues for Stakeholder Consideration
In addition to the financing and policy issues discussed above, the wide-ranging rule contains numerous other policy proposals with direct and indirect implications on Medicare providers, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders. Table 1 provides a snapshot of some of the issues that warrant further consideration.
Table 1. Other Notable Proposed Changes Impacting Health Care Providers and Stakeholders
Topic
Summary
Provider Transparency
CMS issues a request for information linked to the President鈥檚 July 2021 (E.O.) on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. CMS currently manages a database of nursing homeowners and operators, and the agency has begun to leverage that data to support hospital and nursing home patients and their families. The agency solicits feedback on whether it should release additional data that is already being collected 鈥渢o help identify the impact of provider mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, and changes in ownership on the affordability and availability of medical care.鈥 CMS also invites comments on whether the agency should release similar data for other types of providers. The solicitation represents the next phase in CMS鈥 expansive portfolio of work to address the impact of market consolidation on health care prices, consumer costs, and quality in the healthcare industry writ large. Medicare providers and stakeholders should be tracking how federal health care regulators, including CMS, are working to respond to the E.O. There is a strong likelihood that CMS will begin to include data on other types of providers and stakeholders will need to understand this shifting landscape and how it could impact their current and potential future business decisions.
SaaS
CMS discusses its desire to address the novel and evolving nature of Software as a medical Service (Saas) procedures. The agency is seeking comments on the specific payment approach we might use for these services under the OPPS as SaaS-type technology becomes more widespread. We are also concerned about the potential for bias in algorithms and predictive modeling, and are seeking comments on how we could encourage software developers to prevent or mitigate the possibility of bias in new applications of this technology.
Inpatient Only List
Removes ten services from the Inpatient Only (IPO) list.While the IPO list has previously been targeted for major reforms, this year鈥檚 narrower set of proposed changes signal CMS鈥 is deprioritizing IPO list reform.
Payment for surgical N95 Respirators
CMS recognizes that hospitals may incur additional costs when purchasing domestic NIOSH-approved surgical N95 respirators. CMS is proposing payment adjustments under the IPPS and OPPS that would reflect, and offset, the additional marginal resource costs that hospitals face in procuring domestically made NIOSH-approved surgical N95 respirators. Under this proposal, these payments would be provided biweekly as interim lump-sum payments to the hospital and would be reconciled at cost report settlement. The rule outlines the information providers need to include on the cost report to determine payments for cost reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023.
Ambulatory Surgery Centers
CMS requests stakeholder feedback on methods that could be implemented to collect cost data from ASCs that minimize reporting burden.This could be the beginning of a process to implement cost reports for ASCs.
The 澳门六合彩 Medicare team will continue to analyze these proposed changes. We have the depth and breadth of expertise to assist with tailored analysis, to model policy impacts, and to support the drafting of comment letters to this rule.
On June 30, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed regulation establishing the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for a new hospital provider type, Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs). The REH concept was first developed by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and subsequently mandated by Congress through the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 to address the growing concern over closures of rural hospitals.
REHs provide an opportunity for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural hospitals to improve the way care is delivered in their communities, maintain access, and avert potential closure by choosing to focus on the service offerings that are most essential to their communities, such as emergency services, observation care, and additional medical, behavioral, and maternal outpatient services. Importantly, the REH concept enables facilities to maintain a hospital designation absent inpatient capacity thereby ensuring that rural communities retain access to services. This proposed regulation is a significant milestone in CMS鈥 work to implement the REH designation and their novel payment methodology by their mandated start date of January 1, 2023.
The REH concept is expected to help address the observed health inequities that arise when rural communities lack access to hospitals and other providers. Obtaining an REH designation could be an opportunity for many independent hospitals and delivery systems to strategically reshape themselves in line with their community鈥檚 needs while receiving payments from Medicare for doing so.
Within CMS鈥 proposed regulation, the agency proposes to establish a novel set of REH CoPs which will define the parameters of the REH designation. The REH CoPs closely align with the current CAH CoPs in most cases, while considering the uniqueness of REHs and the statutory requirements. In some instances, the proposed REH policies closely align to the current hospital and ambulatory surgical center standards, such as the polices for outpatient services鈥 requirements and life safety code, respectively.
As a part of this proposed regulation, CMS seeks input from the rural community on a few key aspects of the REH designation, including:
The specific proposed REH standards, including the ability of an REH to provide low-risk childbirth-related labor and delivery services and whether the agency should require REHs to provide outpatient surgical services in the event that surgical labor and delivery intervention is necessary.
Whether it is appropriate for an REH to allow a physician, physician associate, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist, with training or experience in emergency medicine, to be on call and immediately available by telephone or radio contact and available on site within specified timeframes.
Updates to CoPs for Critical Access Hospitals
Also within this draft regulation CMS proposes to update the CoPs for CAHs by: (1) adding a definition of primary roads to the location and distance requirements; (2) establishing a patient鈥檚 rights CoP; and (3) allowing CAHs that are a part of a larger health system (containing other hospitals and/or CAHs) to unify and integrate their infection control and prevention and antibiotic stewardship programs, medical staff, and quality assessment and performance improvement programs (known as QAPI) to ensure consistent and safe care.
What鈥檚 Next
CMS is accepting comments on this rule until August 29, 2022. CMS intends to propose additional policies related to Medicare enrollment, payment, and quality reporting in the upcoming Calendar Year 2023 Outpatient Prospective Payment System/Ambulatory Surgery Center proposed rule. CMS will develop final policies for this program later this year.
For more information about this proposed regulation including how to submit comments and how the REH concept may impact the hospital industry and patients in rural communities please contact our Medicare team who have knowledge in Congressional, MedPAC and CMS policy and operations – Zach Gaumer (澳门六合彩 Principal) ([email protected]), Amy Bassano (澳门六合彩 Managing Director, lMedicare) ([email protected]), or Andrea Maresca (澳门六合彩 Principal) ([email protected]). To access CMS鈥檚 proposed Rural Emergency Hospital and Critical Access Hospital Conditions of Participation, visit: .
This week鈥檚 In Focus section delves into the Next Generation MyCare Ohio managed care program, spotlighting the request for applications (RFA) that the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) released on May 31, 2024. The MyCare Ohio Program, which serves people who are dually eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, is undergoing a substantial transformation. Transitioning from the financial alignment initiative (FAI) demonstration model used in 29 counties, it is evolving into a statewide, fully integrated dual eligible special needs plan (FIDE-SNP) model. This shift is more than procedural; it signifies a pivotal moment of transition to new federal D-SNP requirements.
Background
The MyCare Ohio Program launched in May 2014 as a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) FAI demonstration. MyCare Ohio integrates Medicare and Medicaid benefits for dually eligible members enrolled in competitively selected MyCare Ohio managed care plans, providing one care coordinator and streamlined communication and services. It serves 150,000 individuals in 29 counties.
CMS is sunsetting all FAI demonstration programs on December 31, 2025, prompting ODM to convert to the FIDE-SNP model.
Next Generation RFA
The MyCare Ohio Program will convert to the Next Generation MyCare Ohio Program in January 2026. ODM is modeling portions of the program after the state鈥檚 Next Generation Medicaid managed care program. The Next Generation MyCare Ohio Program initially will be implemented in the 29 currently participating counties and then expand statewide, covering a total of 250,000 eligible individuals. Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) that serve the program will need to become CMS-approved FIDE-SNPs. MCOs awarded a Next Generation MyCare Ohio contract will need to notify CMS of their intent to establish a statewide FIDE-SNP in Ohio by fall 2024 to begin operations in January 2026.
ODM anticipates selecting up to four Next Generation MyCare Ohio MCOs to serve enrollees statewide, though a decision on the number of plans will be finalized as awards are made and based on what is most advantageous to the state.
MCOs will need to develop a member-focused strategy with care coordination as a priority. MCOs will also increase focus on behavioral health coordination. According to ODM, goals for the Next Generation program include:
Focusing on the individual
Improving individual and population wellness and health outcomes
Creating a personalized care experience
Supporting providers in continuously improving care
Improving care for people with complex needs to promote independence in the community
Increasing program transparency and accountability
Next Generation MyCare will advance these goals through a population health approach, designed to address inequities and disparities in care.
The program will enroll dually eligible individuals ages 21 and older. This is a change from the current program, which enrolls dual eligibles who are 18 years old and older. The eligible age increase is being made to align with the Medicaid early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment (EPSDT) benefit.
The new program also will continue to offer all the same services available through Ohio鈥檚 home care, PASSPORT (long-term services and supports), and assisted living waivers.
Evaluation
Applications initially will be reviewed to confirm the applicant meets the mandatory requirements. Applicants who meet the mandatory requirements will proceed to review and evaluation of responses to application questions that fall into seven topic areas, with a total of 1,000 available points (see Table 1). Of note, if an applicant is not currently serving as either a Next Generation MCO or a MyCare Ohio MCO, the applicant will receive zero points for qualifications and experience. Organizations that have yet to participate in at least one of these programs should consider the effect on their total score.
Table 1
Current Market
Five MCOs鈥擟VS/Aetna, CareSource, Centene/Buckeye, Molina, and United鈥攑articipate in the current MCOP, with two or three of them participating in each of the seven regions.
Timeline
MCOs should submit a notice of intent to apply by June 21. Proposals are due August 2, and awards will be issued October 8. Implementation is scheduled for January 1, 2026.
Connect With Us
Ohio is one of several states transitioning from a FAI demonstration at the end of December 2025. Additionally, the 2025 Medicare Advantage Final Rule includes new policies affecting D-SNPs that could reshape the integrated care plan landscape in many states.
澳门六合彩 (澳门六合彩) will host a webinar June 20, 2024, to review the current landscape and federal changes that will affect D-SNPs in 2025 and beyond. The session will feature an analysis of the new regulations and a discussion of the critical strategic and product impacts on Medicare organizations that offer D-SNPs or are considering offering D-SNPs. Attendees also will have the opportunity to engage with the panelists during a Q&A session.
More information on the webinar is available聽here. Contact 澳门六合彩 expert聽Sukey Barnum聽to learn more about the Ohio RFA and聽Holly Michaels Fischer,聽Greg Gierer,聽Dara Smith, and聽Tim Murray聽for details about the nationwide D-SNP rules and landscape.聽聽
This week, our In Focus section considers the increasing emphasis on quality at all levels of our healthcare system, especially for work that affects federally funded health insurance programs.
The Universal Foundation Measure Set
The 2024 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Conference, April 8鈭10, in Baltimore, MD, continued to highlight the harmonizing of quality measures across CMS programs and promotion of CMS鈥檚 universal foundation measures. These metrics capture quality across six domains for adults and four domains for children. By promoting and integrating these well-established measures across all CMS programs, end users can align priorities across programs and help to reduce burden on providers and health plans being assessed.
Medicaid has long been a leader in incorporating the universal foundation measures, having used many of them in managed care contracts, health homes, and other arrangements that include a quality assessment component for the past 20 years. Earlier this year, many universal foundation measures, including those pertaining to behavioral health, became part of the mandatory core measure set that all states must report to CMS as required in the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act鈥攃omprehensive federal legislation that addresses the opioid epidemic. Mandatory reporting will allow Congress, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), and other stakeholders to better understand the impact of federal investments on quality of care for Medicaid and CHIP enrollees.
New Developments in Medicaid鈥檚 Approach to Quality
Forward momentum is evident in other areas of healthcare quality as well. A significant federal milestone in quality of care was included in the Medicaid Managed Care Rule released in April 2024, which required states to design a quality rating system (QRS) and submit their methodology to CMS for approval. The QRS is intended to be user-friendly and help Medicaid members to pick a plan and monitor its quality performance. States will be able to use the QRS as a monitoring and oversight tool to compare plan performance. Not only will a QRS help improve Medicaid鈥檚 accountability to states, enrollees, and policymakers, but it also promotes transparency for all end users and the public. At present, Medicaid quality measures are reported by state rather than by plan. Plan performance in Medicaid is typically captured in a state鈥檚 external quality review organization (EQRO) annual report, which may impede the ability of most users to extract, compare, and digest information.
Another federal initiative is the Medicaid Access Rule, also released in April 2024, to help state Medicaid programs move toward public reporting of quality and compliance measures in home and community-based services (HCBS). In 2022, CMS released more than 90 measures that could be used to assess quality of care in Medicaid HCBS waiver populations. Under the rule, CMS will identify a subset of HCBS quality measures in 2026 and the technical specifications for these measures will be made available publicly and updated as needed. Similar to the CMS Child and Adult Core Sets, states will have an opportunity to implement these measures and CMS can use those outcomes to create HCBS scorecards by state.
Medicare Advantage Star Ratings Program
Finally, CMS is incorporating the health equity index (HEI) into the Medicare Advantage Star Rating system. The HEI contributes to a plan鈥檚 potential bonus and helps level the playing field for plans that enroll and provide services to underrepresented or at-risk populations. The HEI will account for enrollees who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, individuals with disabilities, or members with a low-income subsidy (LIS). The HEI also assesses plan-level performance for these specialized populations. Allowing plans to earn a better bonus for delivering high-quality services to these populations helps to mitigate adverse selection and reward plans for care that may be resource intensive.
What鈥檚 Next
Accountability for quality is beginning to emerge in the form of value-based contracting, incentive payments, and other forms of reimbursement focused on reducing disparities and improving outcomes. Health plans, providers, state agencies, vendors and other interested stakeholders need to have a strategy for quality improvement that reflects evolving federal and state quality priorities, reporting systems, and improvement processes.
澳门六合彩鈥檚 quality and accreditation team includes experts in the quality space from a variety of backgrounds, including National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) surveyors, former HEDIS auditors, health plan and provider senior quality staff (vice presidents and chief quality officers), and former Medicare/Medicaid leaders. To learn more about implementing quality programs or to explore options for leveraging quality measures to maximize your organization鈥檚 value-based contracts, win requests for proposals, increase membership, and optimize member experience, contact聽Caprice Knapp, PhD, Managing Director, Quality Accreditation.聽聽
The Center for Workforce Solutions (CWS) complied more than 400 recommendations for dealing with behavioral health workforce issues, from publicly available reports by federal and state policymakers, national associations, foundations and other partners and stakeholders. The summary of that report can be found below.
The is a partnership between the (National Council), 澳门六合彩 (澳门六合彩) and (CBHL). The CWS is invested in creating a national platform that supports cross-sector partners working at multiple levels of the system to execute solutions in concert to tackle complex recommendations and achieve meaningful impact. They want to elevate workforce solutions that exist and can scale as well as build the pathways for overcoming barriers to implementation.
In an effort to understand what recommendations exist and what initiatives are suggested as solutions for the workforce crisis, the CWS reviewed recommendations and cross-walked them to the CWS levers of change as a way of building an actionable roadmap for addressing the behavioral health workforce crisis and to support cross-sector action towards creating a stronger, more equitable workforce.