The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS’ intention to reinstate the information collection for the Hospital Conditions of Participation (CoPs) and Supporting Regulations (Office of Management and Budget control number 0938- 0328) that expired in 2017 and update the annual hourly burden.  The previous iteration of this document and supporting materials can be found here.

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule for the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long-term Care Hospital payments (LTCH-PPS) for fiscal year 2025. Effective October 1, 2024, the IPPS rates will increase by 2.9% for hospitals that successfully report quality measures and are meaningful electronic health record users. CMS finalized policies to extend the low wage index adjustment; provide a separate payment to small, independent IPPS hospitals to establish and maintain a buffer stock of essential medicines for use during future shortages; distribute an additional 200 Medicare-funded residency payment slots to train physicians as required by statute; adjust hospital payments when patients have inadequate housing and housing instability; and extend certain COVID-19 and influenza data reporting requirements for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).  They did not finalize a proposal to define ‘new’ in the context of residency training programs.

In this rule, CMS also finalized a new, mandatory Innovation Center episode-based payment model entitled Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM). For this model, acute care hospitals in select geographic areas will be accountable for ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries receive coordinated, high-quality care during and after five surgical procedures: coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), lower extremity joint replacement (LEJR), major bowel procedure, surgical hip/femur fracture treatment (SHFFT), and spinal fusion.  Additionally, within TEAM, CMS finalized a voluntary Decarbonization and Resilience Initiative, in which participants will collect and share greenhouse gas emissions data with CMS and CMS will provide technical assistance to enhance climate sustainability for their organizations.

The FDA approved the Guardant Health, Inc. Shield, a test intended to screen for colorectal cancer (CRC) using blood collected in the Guardant Shield Blood Collection Kit. The test is used for CRC screening in individuals at average risk for the disease who are 45 years of age or older. Patients with positive test results should have a colonoscopy since the test is not a replacement for diagnostic colonoscopy or for surveillance colonoscopy in high-risk individuals. Shield has limited detection (55%-65%) of Stage I colorectal cancer and does not detect 87% of precancerous lesions.

The Biden administration is overhauling its health IT functions to address the proliferation of cyberattacks on the sector and the growth of data and artificial intelligence in medical settings. Why it matters: The goals include setting an AI policy and strategy for HHS and streamlining critical infrastructure protection within the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, or ASPR, per a notice to be published in the Federal Register. Click here to learn more.

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) celebrated the 59^th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid programs. Signed into law in 1965, Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson formally established the Medicare program, which provides health insurance coverage for those over 65, people with disabilities and those with end stage renal disease. Medicaid is a federal and state program that provides health coverage for low-income children, pregnant women, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is the single largest source of health coverage in the United States covering 82+ million Americans including over 2.9 million Pennsylvanians. Over the years additional services and benefits have been added to both programs including Medicaid Part D Prescription Drug Coverage and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Resources for Health Centers webpage provides a comprehensive set of resources and links to their Emergency Information Kit. Resources include some on CMS’ emergency preparedness rule and a full list of Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) resources. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently introduced a new Heat and Health Index, which helps identify communities where people are most likely to feel the effects of heat on their health. Visit CDC’s website to access the index and other Centers for Disease Control tools. HHS’ Catalytic Program aims to connect safety net health care providers to Inflation Reduction Act funding for resilient and renewable infrastructure. Learn more on HHS’ website, which includes an entire set of webinars for health centers (scroll a little over halfway down the page).

A new report from Capital Link and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council aims to provide practical guidance for Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) health centers. It provides a thorough examination of financial and operational benchmark trends, empowering HCHs to leverage their data resources to effectively address health equity concerns. Visit Capital Link’s site to download.