- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year 2026 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; and Other Policy Changes; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly; Correction
- CMS: Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- CMS: Medicare Program; FY 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Fiscal Year 2026 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
- Public Inspection: CMS: Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments; and Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status; Corrections and Correcting Amendment
- CMS: Request for Information; Health Technology Ecosystem
- CMS: Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments; and Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status; Corrections and Correcting Amendment
- VA: Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program Funding Opportunity
- State: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application
- HHS: Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again
- Public Inspection: CMS: Request for Information: Health Technology Ecosystem
Pennsylvania Governor’s Administration to Distribute $255,000 in ‘Farm to Food Banks’ Funding, Redirect Agricultural Surplus to Address Food Insecurity
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced that Pennsylvania has been awarded $255,373, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm to Food Bank Program, which the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will distribute to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to reimburse farmers for costs associated with harvesting, packing, processing, and distributing donated agricultural surplus.
Farm to Food Bank is a product of the 2018 federal Farm Bill – based on legislation introduced by Senator Bob Casey and championed by Congressman Glenn Thompson – and was modeled after the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS), which was enacted into law in 2010 and first funded by Governor Tom Wolf in 2015. Pennsylvania’s funds are equitably distributed through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, a Feeding Pennsylvania member, and their 13 subcontractors to procure surplus agricultural products from Pennsylvania farmers and food processors, he department’s $1.5 million Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System serves as a match for the federal Farm to Food Bank Program.
States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions – Updated WalletHub Study
With most states partially reopened after closing down non-essential businesses earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released updated rankings for the States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions, as well as accompanying videos.
To identify which states have the fewest coronavirus restrictions, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 11 key metrics. Our data set ranges from whether child-care programs and restaurants have reopened to the presence or absence of a “shelter-in-place” order. Below, you can see highlights from the report, along with a WalletHub Q&A.
|
States with the Fewest Restrictions |
States with the Most Restrictions |
| 1. South Dakota | T-41. Connecticut / Michigan |
| 2. Wisconsin | T-41. New York |
| 3. Idaho | T-44. New Mexico |
| 4. Missouri | T-44. Washington |
| 5. Utah | 46. Hawaii |
| 6. Wyoming | 47. Vermont |
| 7. Montana | 48. Massachusetts |
| 8. Arizona | 49. District of Columbia |
| 9. North Dakota | 50. Rhode Island |
| 10. Iowa | 51. Illinois |
Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30 p.m. ET on Monday, May 18, 2020.
Biggest Changes in Rank from the Previous Report
- Wisconsin moved from 34 to 2, up 32 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state has lifted all restrictions on large gatherings, had closed but fully re-opened restaurants and bars, has child care programs open and has fully reopened all non-essential businesses.
- Arizona moved from 32 to 8, up 24 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state has lifted all restrictions on large gatherings and has lifted all stay-at-home mandatory restrictions.
- Georgia moved from 11 to 28, down 17 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state requires wearing a face mask in public and that the state still has its legislative sessions postponed.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-fewest-coronavirus-restrictions/73818/
CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 5/18/20
CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the healthcare community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts.
Call details are below. Conference lines are limited so we highly encourage you to join via audio webcast, either on your computer or smartphone web browser. You are welcome to share this invitation with your colleagues and professional networks. These calls are not intended for the press.
Calls recordings and transcripts are posted on the CMS podcast page at: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/PodcastAndTranscripts
CMS COVID-19 Office Hours Calls (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern)
Office Hour Calls provide an opportunity for hospitals, health systems, and providers to ask questions of agency officials regarding CMS’s temporary actions that empower local hospitals and healthcare systems to:
- Increase Hospital Capacity – CMS Hospitals Without Walls;
- Rapidly Expand the Healthcare Workforce;
- Put Patients Over Paperwork; and
- Further Promote Telehealth in Medicare
This week’s Office Hours:
Tuesday, May 19th at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 1908409
Thursday, May 21st at 5:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 9984433
Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19 (Fridays at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern)
Lessons from the Front Lines calls are a joint effort between CMS Administrator Seema Verma, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Physicians and other clinicians are invited to share their experience, ideas, strategies, and insights with one another related to their COVID-19 response. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters.
This week’s Lessons from the Front Lines:
Friday, May 22nd at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 877-251-0301;
Access Code: 6086125
Weekly COVID-19 Care Site-Specific Calls
CMS hosts weekly calls for certain types of organizations to provide targeted updates on the agency’s latest COVID-19 guidance. One to two leaders in the field also share best practices with their peers. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters if time allows.
Home Health and Hospice (Tuesdays at 3:00 PM Eastern)
Tuesday, May 19th at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 6477704
Nursing Homes (Wednesdays at 4:30 PM Eastern)
Wednesday, May 20th at 4:30 – 5:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 4879622
Dialysis Organizations (Wednesdays at 5:30 PM Eastern)
Wednesday, May 20th at 5:30 – 6:00 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 3287645
Nurses (Thursdays at 3:00 PM Eastern)
Thursday, May 21st at 3:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Toll Free Attendee Dial-In: 833-614-0820;
Access Passcode: 2874976
To keep up with the important work the White House Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19 click here: http://www.coronavirus.gov/. For information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.
Institute Looks at Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Employment in Pennsylvania
Continuing its analysis on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Pennsylvania, the Institute of State and Regional Affairs (ISRA) at Penn State Harrisburg has released a report comparing the economic impact of the pandemic on business sectors in Pennsylvania. The report — which is one tool that may be used to inform decision-making by local officials — found that unemployment claims grew at an alarming rate from the week of March 21 through the week of April 11, totaling nearly 1.7 million cases, and that cases may continue to grow past 2 million.
“As the commonwealth reopens, statewide leaders have many factors to consider. It is important that tools being used to support decision-making related to economic impacts pay attention to the job sectors that were hardest hit,” said Philip Sirinides, director of ISRA.
Using employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s definition of essential businesses paired with data on establishments, employment, and unemployment claims, the new report assesses the economic impact of the pandemic in Pennsylvania. The report found that at least 1.2 million employees worked in industries impacted by business establishment closures.
CMS Modifies Ambulance Services: Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System
CMS is modifying the data collection period and data reporting period, as defined at 42 CFR § 414.626(a), for ground ambulance organizations (as defined at 42 CFR § 414.605) that were selected by CMS under 42 CFR § 414.626(c) to collect data beginning between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 (year 1) for purposes of complying with the data reporting requirements described at 42 CFR § 414.626. Under this modification, these ground ambulance organizations can select a new continuous 12-month data collection period that begins between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, collect data necessary to complete the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument during their selected data collection period, and submit a completed Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument during the data reporting period that corresponds to their selected data collection period. CMS is modifying this data collection and reporting period to increase flexibilities for ground ambulance organizations that would otherwise be required to collect data in 2020- 2021 so that they can focus on their operations and patient care. As a result of this modification, ground ambulance organizations selected for year 1 data collection and reporting will collect and report data during the same period of time that will apply to ground ambulance organizations selected by CMS under 42 CFR § 414.626(c) to collect data beginning between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 (year 2) for purposes of complying with the data reporting requirements described at 42 CFR § 414.626.
MATRC Telehealth COVID-19 Toolkit
The Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center (MATRC) provides technical assistance and other resources to advance the adoption and utilization of telehealth within the mid-Atlantic region and works collaboratively with the other federally funded Telehealth Resource Centers to accomplish the same nationally. Check out the Telehealth Resources for COVID-19 Toolkit for best practices for conducting a telehealth visit, resources to help patients understand telehealth and even a specific section on telehealth and FQHCs. FAQs and new resources are updated frequently.
New I-9 Policies Due to COVID-19
The United States Immigration and Customs Services (USICS) has announced several measures to extend time frames and loosen its requirements. COVID-19 social distancing, government agency closures and remote work requirements have made it impossible for employers to comply with the normal I-9 and E-Verify regulations. These measures include the suspension of the I-9 requirement to review physical documents and acceptance of expired documents for new hires who are unable to update driver licenses and state IDs. Read the release from USICS or check out this blog post by Valentine Brown with Duane Morris LLP.
Merritt-Hawkins Survey Shows Impact of COVID-19 on Physician Workforce
The Merritt Hawkins & the Physicians Foundation pulse survey, conducted in mid-April, showed that 14 percent of physicians plan to change practice settings because of COVID-19, six percent plan to get out of direct patient care, and five percent plan to retire. The survey, completed by about 800 physicians, also demonstrated the growth of telemedicine. Almost 50 percent are now treating patients via telemedicine, compared to 18 percent in 2018. Read the entire survey report.
Health Spending Accounts Get 10% Boost in Rollover
The federal government caps yearly rollover of unspent dollars in a Health-Flexible Spending Account (H-FSAs) at $500. Internal Revenue Service Notice 2020-33 increases the amount that can be carried over from one plan year to the next to $550. This increase reflects indexing for inflation and parallels the indexing applicable to the limit on H-FSA salary reduction contributions ($500 reflected 20% of the initial maximum salary reduction election of $2,500). Please be advised that your Cafeteria Plan must be drafted to reflect that the $500 carryover amount will increase automatically if indexed. If it is not written in that way, then an amendment to increase the carryover limit must be adopted on or before the last day of your plan year. This means that 2020 Cafeteria Plans must be amended before the last day of their 2020 plan year to allow increased carryovers to a 2021 plan year.
New Report Finds Health Insurance Is Another COVID-19 Casualty
Roughly 27 million people have likely lost job-based health coverage since the coronavirus shocked the economy, according to new estimates from the Kaiser Family Foundation. While most of these people will be able to sign up for other sources of coverage, millions will be uninsured during this pandemic. For the 27 million people who are losing their job-based coverage, about 80% have other options, according to the lead author of the report, with roughly half eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program and another third eligible for subsidized health plans on the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces. The remaining 20% are pretty much out of luck because they live in a state that did not expand Medicaid or are ineligible for other kinds of subsidized coverage.