CMS Launches New Medicare.gov Tool to Compare Nursing Home Vaccination Rates
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is making it easier to check COVID-19 vaccination rates for nursing home staff and residents by making vaccination data available in a user-friendly format.
Interim Rule Advances Key Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
An interim final rule with comment period to further implement the No Surprises Act details a process that will take patients out of the middle of payment disputes, provides a transparent process to settle out-of-network (OON) rates between providers and payers, and outlines requirements for healthcare cost estimates for uninsured (or self-pay) individuals.
HHS Announces the Availability of $25.5 Billion in COVID-19 Provider Funding
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is making $25.5 billion in new funding available for healthcare providers affected by the COVID- 19 pandemic.
OCR Issues Guidance on HIPAA, COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Workplace
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued guidance to help the public understand when the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule applies to disclosures and requests for information about whether a person has received a COVID-19 vaccine.
HHS Extends COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
At the end of July, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services extended the national public health emergency declared for the COVID-19 pandemic, which grants COVID-19 payment and regulatory fl exibilities, for another 90 days.
Judge Rules Against Hospitals’ Suit Challenging New Price Transparency Rules
A federal judge ruled against the American Hospital Association and other hospital groups that filed suit in December contesting a finalized rule by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that requires hospitals to disclose price information, including negotiated prices with insurers.
Finalized Rule Gives Patients More Control Over Their Health Data
In March, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized two rules that give patients unprecedented safe and secure access to their health data.
Coronavirus Relief Funds to Pay for Care for Uninsured
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is using a $100 billion hospital and provider relief fund to pay hospitals at Medicare rates for uncompensated COVID-19 care for uninsured individuals.
CMS Launches Healthy Adult Opportunity Demonstration Initiative
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched the Healthy Adult Opportunity (HAO) optional demonstration initiative to give states tools to design innovative health coverage programs for adult beneficiaries, while holding states accountable for results and maintaining strong protections for the most at-risk populations.
Medicare Will Now Cover Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a decision to cover acupuncture for Medicare patients with chronic low back pain.
