The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report revealing that while end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients benefited from telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, medical records documented limited information related to these services. In response to the public health emergency, Medicare allowed waivers and modifications to enable telehealth services for… (Colocho, August 2, 2023) #End-Stage Renal Disease, #Telehealth

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a final recommendation statement on folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defects. The Task Force issued a grade ‘A’ recommendation that all person planning to or who could become pregnant take a daily supplement containing 0.4 to 0.8 mg of folic acid. This recommendation is a reaffirmation of the USPSTF 2017… (Colocho, August 2, 2023) #Pediatrics, #Prevention, #Women’s Health

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the establishment of the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice to coordinate the response to Long COVID across the federal government. Long COVID affects millions of Americans with long-term symptoms after COVID-19 infection. The office, located within HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, aims to improve the lives… (Colocho, August 2, 2023) #COVID-19, #Public Health

Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the fiscal year (FY) 2024 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital prospective payment system (LTCH PPS) final rule (press release, fact sheet), which applies to acute care hospital and LTCH payments beginning Oct. 1, 2023. Under the final rule, acute care hospitals will receive a 3.1 percent… (Testa, August 1, 2023) #Graduate Medical Education (GME), #Health Equity, #Hospitals, #Long-Term Care Hospitals, #Quality, #Social Determinants of Health

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bipartisan fiscal year 2024 (FY 24) Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill by a vote of 26-2 (summary). The bill provides $224.4 billion in total funding with $117.0 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Additionally, no new controversial riders were added to any… (Lewis, August 1, 2023) #Budget

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the fiscal year (FY) 2024 skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) final rule (fact sheet). What it is. The final rule addresses payment rates and parity adjustment for SNFs for FY 2024, along with updates to the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program,… (Colocho, July 31, 2023) #Health Equity, #Quality, #Skilled Nursing Facilities

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the fiscal year (FY) 2024 hospice payment rate update final rule (fact sheet). What it is. The final rule addresses the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for FY 2024, along with updates from the hospice quality reporting program. Why it’s important for you. CMS finalizes a 3.1… (McClurg, July 28, 2023) #Hospice

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it has allocated nearly $11 million to 15 recipients through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to enhance the health workforce by establishing new medical residency programs in rural communities. The aim is to address the shortage of doctors in underserved areas, particularly rural regions facing physician shortages, poverty, and… (Colocho, July 28, 2023) #Graduate Medical Education (GME), #Physicians, #Rural Health, #Workforce

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the fiscal year (FY) 2024 inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) prospective payment system (PPS) final rule. What it is. The final rule includes updates on the payment rate, outlier thresholds, and wage index decreases, along with proposals for the quality reporting program. Why it’s important for you. CMS proposes a payment rate… (McClurg, July 27, 2023) #Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the fiscal year (FY) 2024 inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) prospective payment system (PPS) final rule. What it is. The final rule addresses the wage index, payment rates, and outlier threshold for IPFs for FY 2024, along with changes to the IPF quality reporting program. Why it’s important for you. CMS finalizes a 3.3 percent payment… (Slifer, July 27, 2023) #Mental and Behavioral Health, #Quality