Cms Rule Changes
What the final ACO rules will look like
Caught up with legal expert Jeffrey Ruggiero (pictured), a partner at Arnold & Porter, to hear what he had to say about the final rules and what they mean for hospital-physician relationships, mergers, and goals toward better care. Read on to hear why the ACO rules will come in just a few short weeks and what changes CMS will have to make to gain an ACO following.Jeffery Ruggiero: Predictions are somewhat like reading tea leaves.
Given the compression of time here under the statute means the Secretary has to get this up and running by January 1. We would expect the final regs to be coming out sometime soon after Labor Day.
Obviously, the final rule is going to have to be digested by the prospective participants, and then there's going to be an application process to demonstrate compliance with the eligibility requirements. Then CMS has to review those applications and offer contracts. That's an awful lot that to has to happen in a relatively short period of time. We don't see how it can go much beyond the Labor Day or so target and still get this up and running. They're still pretty tight lipped about this. We've talked with them, and they recognize the time compression here, but they're still not giving out any information about a projected publication date.
It's a hurry-up-and-wait syndrome.
FH: There was significant push-back when CMS in March released the proposed ACO rules, especially about the risk model. How close to the final rules resemble the draft rules? The risk model created quite a bit of consternation. Many providers would argue there is a significant financial risk just by deciding to participate in the program. The start-up costs are significant. CMS has estimated that it will take $1.8 million for operations and start-up costs for the first year, but that was based on the demonstration of the practice group, which was really a different kind of animal that
Impose risks in the third year of the first contract period of all providers, we believe, is an undue burden. There was some push-back from industry on this point.
Cms Rule Changes - News
Under the final rule, issued Wednesday and scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Sept. 6, there are additional significant-hardship exemption categories to help providers avoid the Medicare payment cuts they would face beginning in 2012
Concerned about administrative overload and misrepresentation, several physician organizations are recommending changes to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS), proposed rule to implement new statutory
Read on to hear why the ACO rules will come in just a few short weeks and what changes CMS will have to make to gain an ACO following. : When can the public expect the final ACO rules? Jeffery Ruggiero: Predictions are somewhat like
the nation's largest, patient-led dialysis organization, provided comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the Proposed Rule for the Changes to the End Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System for CY 2012,
The American Hospital Association has submitted comments, requesting changes to CMS' proposed 2012 physician fee schedule as well as its proposed rule for the 2012 hospital outpatient prospective payment system. As part of its comments to CMS on the
HHS outlines final proposal to ease regulatory burdens « Medical ...
Washington — Revisions to federal rules governing the health care industry are expected to save the system $3 billion over five years, the Dept. of Health and Human Services said.
HHS issued its final regulatory relief plan as part of the Obama administration’s effort to reduce regulatory burdens across the federal government. Changes to health care regulations, which are expected to save those subject to the rules $600 million annually, will be detailed in a proposed rule in September, HHS said in an Aug. 22 report.
Cutting regulations
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This year, President Obama directed departments to review regulations that could be eliminated or changed so rules are more effective and streamlined. Individual agencies under HHS followed the lead by taking inventory of regulations for an ongoing retrospective review process — identifying regulations that easily could be modified, as well as other rules for further review.
The American Medical Association and others in organized medicine have urged HHS to make changes to federal rules that cost medical practices time and money. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to work on several issues outlined by the organizations, according to the report. For instance, CMS intends to eliminate outdated quality measures and standardize reporting methods by aligning the federal electronic medical record incentive program with other initiatives.
CMS has proposed a rule outlining the changes and intends to publish a final rule in September, HHS said. “This initiative should reduce confusion in the physician community and reduce the reporting and paperwork burdens throughout the industry.”
CMS also will allow for more access to telemedicine services for patients in rural and critical access areas. The agency published a rule permitting hospitals to use telemedicine to obtain services from a credentialed practitioner at a distant hospital as long as the hospital also is participating in Medicare and a written agreement between both facilities exists.
CMS announced Changes to the Medicare Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program for Calendar Year 2011.
CMS releases final rule for changes to 2011 Medicare eRx Incentive Program: 
CMS has released its final rule on the changes to the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program. 
histalk: News 9/2/11: Top News CMS issues its final rule on changes to the e-prescribing incentive prog... 
News 9/2/11: Top News
CMS issues its final rule on changes to the e-prescribing incentive program a... Cms Rule Changes - Bookshelf
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