Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
With New Records Regulation, CMS Wants To Empower Patients To Control Their Health Care
Modern Healthcare: CMS, ONC Officials Hit HIMSS To Tout Interoperability Rules
A day after releasing two significant proposed regulations, leaders from the CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology spread out across HIMSS19 in Orlando to talk up what they say will finally put patients in the driver's seat. ...Through the two proposed rules—724 pages from ONC and 250 from the CMS—regulators intend to push the industry to make use of application programming interfaces to speed up how patients can access information on their mobile devices. (Weinstock, 2/12)
Modern Healthcare: CMS Innovation Center May Ramp Up Data Exchange Plans
The CMS may use its innovation center to push early adoption of newly proposed transparency and data-blocking rules. While there are many ways to encourage transparency, HHS Deputy Administrator Adam Boehler said the center's models could "drive that sooner" with their advanced models. ...In his dual roles—heading CMMI and deputy administrator—Boehler has a comprehensive view of how the department can take on the cost problem. He noted that HHS has been studying kidney care, which could be addressed in CMMI or by looking at how the Health Resources and Services Administration impacts organ transplant. (Weinstock, 2/13)
And in Maryland —
Politico Pro: CMS Set To Roll Back Nursing Home Arbitration Ban
A looming CMS final rule is expected to make clear that long-term care facilities can require residents or their families to agree — before a dispute arises — to settle complaints through arbitration rather than litigation. The rule, which late last month arrived at the White House budget office for review, could mark the end of a lengthy fight over legal protections for some of the most vulnerable patients in the health care system. (Roubein, 2/13)
