CMS is proposing to give Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans the option to limit coverage of drugs in six categories — known as the “protected classes” — in a bid to lower pharmaceutical costs. The agency posted a proposed rule in the Federal Register on Nov. 30, available for public comment through Jan. 25, that would give health plans the ability to exclude protected class drugs from medication prescription lists in certain instances.
Policy
December 20, 2018
“What I have learned more than anything else, is that if you get talented and committed people from different backgrounds together, then wonderful and impactful things just seem to happen.” Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, FASN, ASN Co-Chair for the Kidney Health Initiative
December 11, 2018
New survey results published in the medical journal Health Affairs provide the first-ever nationally representative estimates of telemedicine use by U.S. doctors. Telemedicine use was more common at larger, multi-speciality practices and hospitals — evidence that financial burdens continue to be a barrier for smaller physician-owned practices, according to the study authors.
December 6, 2018
Program Year 2017 Open Payments data is available for review and dispute through December 31, 2018.
November 27, 2018
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule yesterday, November 26, 2018, that includes changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D. Medicare says its proposal will give Part D drug plans more power to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies, but some patient and provider groups say that it will reduce access and shift costs onto beneficiaries.
November 21, 2018
Please see more information on telehealth in a recent Kidney News Online post by David White, the ASN Policy and Advocacy Specialist.
November 9, 2018
Results of state ballot initiatives in this week’s US elections involving healthcare in Idaho, Nebraska, Utah, Alabama, West Virginia, Maine, Massachusetts, and California.
November 9, 2018
Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released finalized 2017 performance data for the Quality Payment Program (QPP) that will be used to determine clinician reimbursement adjustments for calendar year 2019 – the first year for adjusted payments under the new program.
November 2, 2018
Thursday afternoon, November 1, Medicare released the final Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rule containing some revisions to evaluation and management (E&M) codes in terms of documentation requirements but no changes in reimbursement levels for the next two years – but year three is another matter.
October 30, 2018
To inspire creative solutions that will improve the treatment of kidney diseases, the first KidneyX Innovators Showcase was held on Saturday, October 29, 2018 at the American Society of Nephrology’s annual Kidney Week conference.
