The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) met to vote on updated recommendations to improve transparency in Medicaid and CHIP financing as well as optimizing state Medicaid agency contracts. All recommendations were approved as drafted. Recommendations for Improving Transparency in Medicaid and CHIP Financing: Recommendation 1.1: In order to improve transparency and enable analyses of net Medicaid payments,… (Marceno, April 13, 2024) #Coverage Decisions, #COVID-19, #Health Equity

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) convened a session to discuss various approaches to updating payments under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). Under current law, starting in 2026, eligible clinicians engaged in advanced alternative payment models (A-APMs) will see their payment rates under the physician fee schedule rise by 0.75 percent annually, while all other clinicians will experience a 0.25 percent increase. However,… (Colocho, April 12, 2024) #Insurance Reform, #Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), #Physicians, #Primary Care, #Quality

The Senate Finance Committee convened a hearing to begin discussions on a potential overhaul of the Medicare physician payment system. The hearing highlighted concerns regarding low physician adoption rates for Medicare reimbursements related to advance care planning, administrative burdens like prior authorization, and disparities in Medicare Advantage (MA) payments compared to traditional Medicare. Committee members heard from the following witnesses… (Colocho, April 12, 2024) #Accountable Care Organizations, #Chronic Diseases, #Costs, #Demonstration Programs, #Insurance Reform, #Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), #Medicare Advantage, #Physicians, #Prevention, #Primary Care, #Rural Health, #Telehealth, #Transparency, #Value-Based Insurance Design