Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Low Inflation May Leave High Earners With Steep Rise In Medicare Premiums
The Wall Street Journal: Why High Earners Are Likely To See Higher Medicare Premiums In 2017
Low inflation, generally good for purchasing power, is likely to leave some high earners facing higher Medicare premiums next year. When the Social Security Administration on Tuesday releases its annual cost-of-living adjustment for retirement benefits, Americans whose health-care costs are covered by Medicare will be watching to gain insight into how their premiums will rise in 2017. This is because the so-called COLA figure plays a big role in determining premiums for Medicare Part B, which covers doctor visits and other types of outpatient care. (Tergesen, 10/17)
Modern Healthcare: CMS Touts Savings, Quality Under Primary-Care Initiative
An experiment to comprehensively redesign advanced primary care is showing signs of progress, the CMS said Monday in announcing the results of the second performance year of its Comprehensive Primary Care initiative. Of the 481 participating practices, 95% met quality of care requirements and four of seven regions shared in savings, according to the CMS. (Whitman, 10/17)
Morning Consult: AHCA Challenging CMS Nursing Home Arbitration Regulation
The American Health Care Association on Monday filed a lawsuit challenging part of a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulation that would ban nursing homes from entering arbitration agreements. ... The plaintiffs say the regulation, which CMS finalized last month, goes too far in prohibiting skilled and nursing care facilities from entering into pre-dispute arbitration agreements with residents. The regulation also oversteps the Federal Arbitration Act, which mandates that arbitration agreements can only be changed by Congress, they say. (McIntire, 10/17)
