Health Information Management

The week in Medicare updates

APCs Insider, March 28, 2014

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Correction notice to IPPS final rule
On March 18, CMS and HHS issued a document to correct technical errors in the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS Final Rule, which appeared in the Federal Register August 19, 2013. 
View the document.
 
Correction notice to 2013 IPPS Final Rule
On March 18, CMS and HHS issues a federal register notice to correct technical errors in the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS Final Rule, which appeared in the Federal Register August 31, 2012. 
View the notice. 
 
OIG issues report comparing average sales prices and average manufacturer prices for Medicare Part B drugs
On March 14, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a report of its findings from a study of drug codes. Under CMS' price substitution policy, 14 drug codes would have been subject to reimbursement reductions based on data from 2012, saving Medicare and its beneficiaries an estimated $1.8 million between the fourth quarter of 2012 and the third quarter of 2013. However, because CMS did not begin substituting prices until the second quarter of 2013, only eight drug codes were actually subject to reductions, generating an estimated $819,000 in savings. 
View the report.
 
OIG posts results of reviews at three suppliers of diabetic testing supplies
On March 4, OIG issued the results of a review of three suppliers of diabetic testing supplies. 
View the report. 
 
OIG posts compendium of priority recommendations
On March 18, the OIG posted the “Compendium of Priority Recommendations: March 2014 Edition,” which presents opportunities to achieve cost savings, improve program management, and ensure quality of care and safety of beneficiaries.
 
View the compendium.
 
CMS releases Medicare Care Choices Model fact sheet
On March 18, CMS issued a fact sheet about the Medicare Care Choices Model, which will test improvements to certain Medicare beneficiaries' quality of life while they are receiving both curative and palliative care. 
View the fact sheet.
 
Percutaneous image-guided lumbar decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis
On March 18, CMS posted the final decision memo for this National Coverage Analysis (NCA). 
View the memo. 
 
Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography questions posted
On March 21, CMS posted questions to the panel for lung screening. 
View the questions.
 
CMS issues Home Health Agency manual revisions
On March 14, CMS updated State Operations Manual Appendix B – Guidance to Surveyors: Home Health Agencies. The recent establishment of survey and enforcement regulations, as well as changes to other policies, have necessitated revisions to previously published survey guidance. 
View the updates.
 
Hospital Conditions of Participation on medication administration updated
On March 14, CMS updated its guidance on Conditions of Participation requirements for the hospital medication administration, IV medications and blood transfusions, and the need for patient risk assessment and appropriate monitoring during and after medication administration, particularly for post-operative patients receiving IV opioid medications.   

View Survey and Certification letter.
 
Guidance for the survey process of organ procurement conditions for coverage
On March 14, CMS released a memorandum that communicates an advanced copy of the interpretive guidance and associated revisions to Chapters 2 and 3 of the State Operations Manual for the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) conditions for coverage. 

View Survey and Certification letter.



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