The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has posted an update to the Health Insurance Exchanges Issuer County Map. This map is of projected issuer participation on the Health Insurance Exchanges in 2018 based on the known issuer public announcements through August 23, 2017. Participation is expected to fluctuate and does not represent actual Exchange application … [Read more...] about 2018 Health Insurance Exchanges Issuer County Map
Health care reform
How to determine your MIPS participation status
Are you unsure of your participation status in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS)? Clinicians can now use an interactive tool on the CMS Quality Payment Program website to determine if they should participate in the MIPS track of the Quality Payment Program in 2017. To determine your status, enter your national provider identifier (NPI) into the entry field on … [Read more...] about How to determine your MIPS participation status
Watch for your MIPS participation status letter
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is reviewing claims and letting practices know which clinicians need to take part in MIPS, the Merit-based Incentive Payment System. MIPS is an important part of the new Quality Payment Program. In late April through May, practices will get a letter from the Medicare Administrative Contractor that processes Medicare Part B … [Read more...] about Watch for your MIPS participation status letter
Repeal and Replace has failed. Now what?
By Ron Howrigon bio It's no secret that the healthcare environment is changing on a daily basis. As it stands today, it appears highly unlikely that the Republicans will be able to make good on their promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. This means Obamacare (or some form of it) will continue to be the law of the land. Many physicians and medical … [Read more...] about Repeal and Replace has failed. Now what?
CMS’ Accountable Health Communities Model selects 32 participants to serve as local ‘hubs’ linking clinical and community services
Last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for applications for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation's (Innovation Center) Accountable Health Communities (AHC) model. Over a five-year period, CMS will implement and test the three-track AHC model to support local communities in addressing the … [Read more...] about CMS’ Accountable Health Communities Model selects 32 participants to serve as local ‘hubs’ linking clinical and community services
Nearly $100 million awarded to help small practices succeed in the Quality Payment Program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded approximately $20 million to 11 organizations for the first year of a five-year program to provide on-the-ground training and education about the Quality Payment Program for clinicians in individual or small group practices of 15 clinicians or fewer. CMS intends to invest up to an additional $80 million over the … [Read more...] about Nearly $100 million awarded to help small practices succeed in the Quality Payment Program
CMS extends 2016 PQRS EHR submission deadline
CMS is extending the submission deadline for 2016 Quality Reporting Document Architecture (QRDA) data submission for the Electronic Health Record (HER) reporting mechanism. Individual eligible professionals (EPs), physician quality reporting system (PQRS) group practices, qualified clinical data registries (QCDRs), and qualified EHR data submission vendors (DSVs) now have … [Read more...] about CMS extends 2016 PQRS EHR submission deadline
Six key questions arising from the Trump/ACA executive order
Milliman, Inc., a global consulting and actuarial firm, has compiled six questions for consideration by healthcare stakeholders about the Trump Administration's recent executive order, which gives a sweeping command to the leaders of the new administration to unwind certain aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)—especially those components deemed … [Read more...] about Six key questions arising from the Trump/ACA executive order
Don’t know what MACRA will require of your practice? You’re not alone
According to a recent survey conducted by Kareo, a provider of clinical and business management software for independent medical practices, 84% of independent physicians and staff aren't sure what MACRA's Quality Payment Program (QPP) will require of their practice. Despite this uncertainty, most of these same physicians expect to participate in it to the best of their … [Read more...] about Don’t know what MACRA will require of your practice? You’re not alone
Putting patients over profits: Who do consumers see as champions of the healthcare industry?
Harris Poll recently surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18+ to gauge consumers' attitudes toward the healthcare industry. The results are somewhat disheartening. "We are in the midst of a healthcare maelstrom," said Wendy Salomon, vice president of reputation management and public affairs at Nielsen. "Consumers see no safe port, no place where their interests are truly … [Read more...] about Putting patients over profits: Who do consumers see as champions of the healthcare industry?