(March 17, 2023) – DEA Requires Continuing Education for Prescribers
The Drug Enforcement Agency has a new one-time requirement requiring prescribers of controlled substances to complete eight hours of continuing education on safe controlled substance prescribing. The requirement, enacted in the Omnibus Bill of 2022, is part of the Medication Access and Training Expansion Act. Prescribers will be required to complete the CEs to receive or renew DEA licenses. A recent article provides additional insight.
CMS Issues Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Correction Notice
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a physician fee schedule correction notice that includes various technical corrections.
CMS Releases Updated QAPI Guidance
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released updated guidance for hospitals related to Quality Assessment Performance Improvement at 42 CFR §482.21. QSO-23-09 identifies QAPI as the third most frequently cited CoPs. CMS encourages hospitals to review and utilize the related resources provided to surveyors in the updated guidance. The changes are effective immediately.
President Releases FY 2024 Proposed Budget
President Joe Biden released a proposed budget for fiscal year 2024 that includes plans "to invest in America, lower costs for families, protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare, and reduce the deficit." Although the budget likely is dead on arrival, it includes notable information that may guide regulating agency action in 2024.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services FY 2024 budget includes a request of $144.3 billion in discretionary funding and $1.7 trillion in mandatory funding. The budget would extend Medicare solvency by at least 25 years, lower drug costs, expand access to health care, transform behavioral health care and expand the health workforce. The budget includes $150 billion for inpatient hospital services, $72 billion for physicians, $72 billion for hospital outpatient services and $127 billion for Part D drug coverage. Funding for Medicare Advantage totaled $458 billion, or 45.8 percent of the total Medicare benefit expenditures. To help fund the budget outlays, the proposal would extend the Medicare sequester at a scored savings of $36.7 billion throughout 10 years, increase the Medicare tax rate on income above $400,000 and credit savings from the prescription drug reforms to the HI Trust Fund.
MLN Connects Provider eNews Available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the following updates to MLN Connects Provider eNews:
Before You Go ...
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is hosting an outreach and education webinar, Hospital OQR Program Cliff Notes: What You Need to Know for Successful Reporting, at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, for hospitals participating in the OQR Program.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is hosting an outreach and education webinar, Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: Management Bundle (Composite Measure) version 5.13 Review & Updates, at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 24, for hospitals participating in the Inpatient Quality Reporting Program.