Letters to OHCA Board Highlight New Data, Caution Against Overly Broad Review Process
What’s happening: Last week, CHA submitted two letters to the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) — one responding to the May OHCA board meeting, and another addressing the office’s proposed changes to the cost and market impact review (CMIR) regulations.
What else to know: The board met June 26 to approve the alternative payment model (APM) standards and discuss the proposed CMIR regulations, the draft workforce stability standards, and the draft primary care investment benchmark.
ONC Finalizes Financial Penalties for Information Blocking
What’s happening: The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued a final rule on provider disincentives for information blocking.
What else to know: CHA is disappointed in the finalized policies and remains concerned about the selective application of penalties to certain health care providers, as previously outlined in comments.
CMS Proposes Inadequate Home Health Payment Update
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a proposed calendar year (CY) 2025 home health prospective payment system.
What else to know: CMS estimates payments to home health agencies, as a result of the changes in the proposed rule, will decrease by $280 million (1.7%). Other key provisions of the proposed rule include:
CHA Summarizes Finalized Changes to 340B ADR Process
What’s happening: CHA has issued a detailed summary of the final rule updating the 340B administrative dispute resolution (ADR) process.
What else to know: The final rule became effective June 18.
CFPB Proposes Rule Removing Medical Debt from Credit Reports
What’s happening: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a proposed rule that would remove medical debt from credit reports.
What else to know: Comments on the rule are due on August 12.
CHA Comments on IPPS Proposed Rule
What’s happening: CHA asked the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to increase the payment update in comments on the federal fiscal year 2025 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule.
What else to know: Members are encouraged to use CHA’s letter as a template to submit comments, which are due on June 10.
CMS Proposes New Payment Model to Expand Kidney Transplant Access
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed the new Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model to improve access to kidney transplants.
What else to know: The IOTA Model would be mandatory for six years beginning Jan. 1, 2025.
CHA Comments in Response to IRF, IPF Payment Proposed Rules
What’s happening: CHA submitted comments in response to the federal fiscal year 2025 inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF) and inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF) prospective payment system proposed rules.
What else to know: Comments were due to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by 2 p.m. (PT) on May 28.
Summary: Finalized Skilled-Nursing Facility Staffing Standards
What’s happening: A summary is available of finalized new staffing standards for long-term care facilities, including skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs) and SNFs operated as distinct-part units of acute care hospitals.
What else to know: The regulations are effective June 21, with compliance with overall ratios required beginning May 2026.
Summary: Final Rule Expands Health Care Access to DACA Recipients
What’s happening: A summary is available of the final rule recently issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand access to health care for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
What else to know: All provisions of the final rule are effective on Nov. 1.