Laws & Policies
AHIP and BCBS Association File Amicus Briefs in Support of the No Surprises Act
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), two groups representing payers, submitted amicus briefs backing the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) against a lawsuit filed by the Texas Medical Association, which take exception to portions of the No Surprises Act. The Texas Medical Association brought a suit…
Read MoreCongress Rescinds 10% Medicare Cuts for 2022
2022 Medicare physician billing rates are now finalized after Congress disallowed most of the proposed 9.75% CMS cuts. The “Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act” passed both Houses last week and was signed by President Biden. This act provides the following relief. Delays the 4% cut for the PAYGO (pay-as-you-go) provision until…
Read MoreMedicare Spending For Diagnostic Radiology $890 Million Below Expected Levels for 2020
Data released by the American Medical Association on December 2, 2021, revealed that Medicare disbursements for diagnostic radiology services fell by $890 million (roughly 16%) below the projected levels in 2020. Not only did diagnostic radiology services reimbursed by Medicare fall — revenue for all physician services in the Medicare system fell significantly — $13.9…
Read MoreAct Now to Help Avert Payment Cuts to Physicians from Medicare
During the largest healthcare crisis in U.S. history, members of Congress continue to negotiate on an end-of-the-year funding bill that does not address the substantial cuts in Medicare reimbursements to all healthcare providers, scheduled to begin on January 1, 2022. Congress must pass the continuing resolution (CR) before the end of 2021 to provide a…
Read MoreCMS Requires COVID-19 Vaccination by January 4th for Facilities that Accept Medicare and Medicaid
CMS announced an emergency order requiring every healthcare facility, who participates in Medicare and Medicaid programs to ensure that all eligible employees receive COVID-19 vaccination by January 4, 2022. The emergency order applies to approximately 76,000 facilities that employ more than 17 million healthcare workers. Applicable facilities include: Ambulatory Surgery Centers Clinics Community Mental Health…
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