Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Hospitals Must Report COVID Data Or Risk Medicare, Medicaid Funding
The New York Times: Trump Administration Orders Hospitals To Report Data Or Risk Losing Funding
The Trump administration threatened hospitals on Tuesday with revoking their Medicare and Medicaid funding if they did not report coronavirus patient data and test results to the Department of Health and Human Services. The threat was included in new emergency rules, announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, that make mandatory what has until now been a voluntary reporting program. Seema Verma, the centers’ administrator, said the changes “represent a dramatic acceleration of our efforts to track and control the spread of Covid-19.” (Gay Stolberg, 8/25)
FierceHealthcare: CMS To Require Hospitals To Report Critical COVID-19 Data On Bed Capacity, PPE And Cases
The agency also posted new requirements for lab reporting and revised a policy for physician and pharmacist orders for COVID-19 tests.“While many hospitals are voluntarily reporting this information now, not all are,” CMS said in a release. “The new rules make reporting a requirement of participation in the Medicare & Medicaid programs.” (King, 8/25)
In other Medicare news —
Modern Healthcare: Medicare Advantage Data Is Missing Key Info Needed For Oversight, OIG Finds
Medicare Advantage insurers seldom include identification numbers for clinicians who order certain medical services in the patient records they submit to CMS, the HHS Office of Inspector General found. According to a report issued Wednesday, 60% of 2018 Medicare Advantage encounter records for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies, clinical laboratory, imaging, and home health services were missing a national provider identifier for an ordering clinician. (Livingston, 8/26)
CNBC: One Week Left To Reverse Retirement Withdrawal, Cut Medicare Costs
Assuming you don’t need the money, replacing the RMD can help you cut down your tax bill for this year, as the withdrawal is subject to income tax. But there’s a benefit for individuals on Medicare: Replacing the funds can reduce your modified adjusted gross income, which can lower the cost of your premiums for Medicare Part B (medical insurance) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) in 2022. (Mercado, 8/24)
