Monday, October 17, 2016

Regulators Gone Wild


Long-term care:

Two weeks ago DHHS-CMS issued long-awaited updates on nursing home regulations.

The package, 700+ pages, is largely updates and clarifications, plus the new compliance standards (which were due March 23, 2013).


https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-23503.pdf

Physician Medicare Reimbursement:

Last week the new regulations on physician reimbursement dropped, all 2, 398 pages. Gasp.

The regulations begin a phase-in of the MACRA reimbursement system, replacing the failed SGR.  

In brief the system will evolve from a failed fee-for-service system to a value-based system. Essentially this is a good idea - if it can be implemented.

The feds have already admitted that small and rural physician practices are in a bad spot, and there are phase-in rules.

Much heavy lifting. Stay tuned.

https://qpp.cms.gov/docs/CMS-5517-FC.pdf

https://qpp.cms.gov/education

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DHHS-CMS  = Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

MACRA = Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015

SGR = sustainable growth rate

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