The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released two patient resources to explain the privacy and security risks to patient’s protected health information (PHI) when using telehealth services and strategies to mitigate potential risks. The first resource, “Educating Patients about Privacy and Security Risks Related to Protected Health Information when Using Remote Communication Technologies… (Marceno, October 18, 2023) #Privacy, #Telehealth

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced 2024 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for Medicare Parts A and B in the Federal Register. The announcement came ahead of Medicare Open Enrollment, which began Sunday, October 15 and will end on Thursday, December 7, 2023. Medicare Part A Per this notice, the Medicare Part A deductible for inpatient services furnished to beneficiaries admitted to… (Testa, October 16, 2023) #Cost-Sharing, #Hospitals, #Physicians, #Skilled Nursing Facilities

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report describing potential Medicare savings from hospital transfers to post acute care (PAC) if the transfer policy were extended to all Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Groups (MS-DRGs). Background: The hospital transfer policy reduces hospital payments for discharges from hospitals to PAC settings that are made… (McClurg, October 13, 2023) #Hospitals, #Post-Acute Care

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) provided a one-year update on President Biden’s Executive Order on Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans, which includes new details on the three selected models aimed at improving prescription drug affordability and access. CMMI notes that since the release of the three models the Innovation Center has been focusing on further developing the models by: 1) conducting… (Slifer, October 12, 2023) #Demonstration Programs, #Drug Pricing, #Medicare Part D, #Prescription Drugs

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to implement strong rules against digital discrimination. These rules are intended to prevent Internet service providers (ISPs) from engaging in discriminatory practices that harm vulnerable communities. The Biden Administration is focused on closing the digital divide in America, and strong rules are seen as essential for achieving… (Colocho, October 11, 2023) #Health Equity, #Health Information Technology

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the creation of the Digital Health Advisory Committee, which is tasked with exploring issues related to digital health technologies (DHTs), including artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), augmented reality, virtual reality, digital therapeutics, wearables, remote patients monitoring, and software. More specifically, the Committee will advise on FDA policies and regulations about DHTs, provide relevant expertise and perspective… (Slifer, October 11, 2023) #Food and Drug Administration, #Medical Devices

The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury, along with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), released guidance documents explaining changes to the implementation of the No Surprises Act (NSA), in light of district court decisions vacating certain regulations and guidance documents.   As of October 6, 2023, the Federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) portal is… (Llamas, October 10, 2023) #Hospitals, #Insurance Reform, #Physicians

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to discuss long-term considerations for payment under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). This work is separate from the Commission’s annual payment adequacy work which will begin in December. MedPAC staff, including Principal Policy Analyst Geoff Gernhardt and Senior Analysts Brian O’Donnell and Rachel Burton, detailed the evolution of Medicare’s approach… (Testa, October 6, 2023) #Costs, #Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), #Physicians, #Program Integrity

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) held a meeting to discuss its research on an alternative method to establish Medicare payments for conditions treated in inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs). Following MedPAC’s chapter on an aligned post-acute care (PAC) payment system earlier this year, the Commission decided to pursue smaller-scale site neutral payments. Chair Michael Chernew summarized the discussion by saying… (McClurg, October 6, 2023) #Post-Acute Care, #Skilled Nursing Facilities, #Therapy

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) jointly issued a second temporary rule that extends the full set of COVID-19 telemedicine flexibilities for prescription of controlled medications through December 31, 2024. What is it. The agencies note that as the DEA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continue to… (Slifer, October 6, 2023) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Prescription Drugs, #Telehealth