Jimmo v. Sebelius at 10 Years: A Call for Sustainable ImplementationMake Your Voices HeardWednesday, September 27 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM ETIn 2013, the Center for Medicare Advocacy and Vermont Legal Aid along with additional counsel provided … [Read more...] about Join Your CMA Community For A Jimmo Symposium
Weekly Alert
A Chaotic Week in Nursing Home Reform
As resident and industry advocates alike awaited proposed rules on nurse staffing ratios for nursing facilities – a centerpiece of President Biden’s nursing home reform agenda – a report on nurse staffing written by Abt Associates, which was expected … [Read more...] about A Chaotic Week in Nursing Home Reform
Nursing Facilities: Are Conditions Improving or Is the Sky Falling?
McKnight’s Long-Term Care News simultaneously offers two diametrically opposing views of the state of the nursing home industry today: industry analysts say conditions are improving as staff return, occupancy rates increase, and Medicare and Medicaid … [Read more...] about Nursing Facilities: Are Conditions Improving or Is the Sky Falling?
Medicare Advantage Plans Receive Bloated Bonus Payments with Little to Show for It
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) recently released a report titled “Spending on Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Payments Will Reach at Least $12.8 Billion in 2023” by Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Anthony Damico, and Tricia Neuman (August 9, 2023); … [Read more...] about Medicare Advantage Plans Receive Bloated Bonus Payments with Little to Show for It
Growing Chorus to Protect and Expand Traditional Medicare
As overpayments to MA plans receive increased attention, along with some of the barriers to accessing care faced by MA enrollees, such as inappropriate use of prior authorization, there is growing recognition among both policymakers and the public … [Read more...] about Growing Chorus to Protect and Expand Traditional Medicare
New Studies on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Access Highlight the Need for Parity in Medicare
As our country continues to face a mental health crisis and overdose epidemic, increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment must be a significant priority for policymakers, patients, providers, and advocates. These … [Read more...] about New Studies on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Access Highlight the Need for Parity in Medicare
Make Your Voices Heard!
Please Respond to CMS Request for Information About the Importance of Home Health AidesCMS has provided an important opportunity for beneficiaries, and their advocates, to convey experiences and concerns about the devastating lack of access to … [Read more...] about Make Your Voices Heard!
One-Year Anniversary of Medicare Prescription Drug Law: Beneficiaries Already Saving Money but Drug Industry Fights Progress
August 16, 2023 marked the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) being signed into law by President Biden. As outlined in a previous CMA Alert (March 2, 2023), the IRA law includes historic prescription drug provisions … [Read more...] about One-Year Anniversary of Medicare Prescription Drug Law: Beneficiaries Already Saving Money but Drug Industry Fights Progress
CMS Request for Information Regarding Self-Administered Drugs – Center for Medicare Advocacy Calls for Reform
The Social Security Act permits Medicare Part B to pay for drugs and biologicals that are not usually self-administered by the patient and furnished as “incident to” a physician's service. As a result, drugs that are “usually self-administered” are … [Read more...] about CMS Request for Information Regarding Self-Administered Drugs – Center for Medicare Advocacy Calls for Reform
CMS Reimbursement Rules for Skilled Nursing Facilities Disappoint Residents’ Advocates
In final rules that provide the annual update to Medicare Part A reimbursement for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) increases Part A reimbursement by approximately $1.4 billion (4.0%), a higher … [Read more...] about CMS Reimbursement Rules for Skilled Nursing Facilities Disappoint Residents’ Advocates