Communications

(July 7, 2023) – CMS Releases Proposed CY 2024 Home Health PPS Payment and Policy Updates
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released the proposed calendar year 2024 Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System payment and policy updates. The rule proposes a permanent, prospective adjustment to the CY 2024 HH payment rate to account for the impact of the implementation of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model, the proposal to rebase and revise the HH market basket, revise the labor-related share and recalibrate the PDGM case-mix weights. CMS estimates the Medicare payments for CY 2024 will decrease by 2.2 percent or $375 million. Comments about the proposed rule are due Tuesday, Aug. 29.  

CMS Releases Revised Guidance for Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released revised guidance with details about the new Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. The program is intended to strengthen Medicare's ability to serve beneficiaries by increasing the affordability of health care and prescription drug costs. The first round of negotiations will occur during 2023 and 2024, and affect pricing for 2026. The revised guidance includes the following:

• Clarification about how CMS will identify selected drugs
• Revises and clarifies the process applicable for participating drug companies of selected drugs
• Additional opportunities for drug companies and members of the public to engage with CMS during the negotiation process on selected drugs
  

MLN Connects Provider eNews Available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the following updates to MLN Connects Provider eNews:

• Calendar year 2024 Home Health Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesAnnounces Actions to Lower Health Care Costs and Allow Medicare to Negotiate Lower Drug Prices
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Roundup (June 30, 2023)
• Skilled Nursing Facility: COVID-19 Enforcement Discretion for Pharmacy Billing Ended June 30
• Medicare Providers: Deadlines for Joining an Accountable Care Organization
• Help People with Disabilities Get the Care They Need

Before You Go ...

• The American Hospital Association recently released a resource on strategies and tactics hospitals and health systems can adopt to prevent and control health care-associated infections. The resource draws from success stories from across the field, touching on leadership, training, communication, patient engagement and helpful tools.
• In The Works has released a free e-course, Taking Action on Racial Equity in Drug User Health Programs. The goal of this course is to increase provider comfort with addressing racial disparities in overdose and substance use treatments.