Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in order to promote Medicaid and Medicare program efficiency, transparency, and burden reduction, proposed new rules that revise the applicable conditions of participation (CoPs) for providers and conditions for coverage (CfCs). The link of this rule will be republished in the Federal Register on Sept. 20. According to the fact sheet summary excerpt: This proposed rule would reform Medicare regulations that are identified as … [Read more...] about Medicare and Medicaid Programs – CMS, HSS Proposed Regulatory Provisions Fact Sheet
High-Tech Healthcare and Telemedicine are the Fastest Growing Initiatives in Healthcare
Patient care and value is at the forefront of many healthcare discussions in the industry. Physicians and nurses providing comfort, companionship, connection and support is considered to be just as important as providing actual medicinal treatments. Better care in relation to providing tele-medicine and high tech care in the healthcare system are the top of growing initiatives that put the patient first especially in nursing homes and hospice and palliative care facilities. According to … [Read more...] about High-Tech Healthcare and Telemedicine are the Fastest Growing Initiatives in Healthcare
Proposed rule addresses healthcare providers’ right regarding patients care for religious or moral reasons
A Proposed Rule by the Health and Human Services Department is purported to give healthcare providers sweeping discretion to refuse patients care for religious or moral reasons. The rule, Protecting Statutory Conscience Rights in Health Care; Delegations of Authority, explains that since the U.S. has a long history of providing conscience-based protections for individuals and entities with objections to certain activities based on religious belief and moral convictions, they propose to revise … [Read more...] about Proposed rule addresses healthcare providers’ right regarding patients care for religious or moral reasons
Two new proposals address alternative payment models for patients in Palliative Care.
The 11-member Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee(PTAC) established by MACRA to consider whether models submitted by stakeholders qualify as Medicare alternative payment models voted to move forward on proposals for two alternative payment models for review by the HHS secretary. One model, the Patient and Caregiver Support for Serious Illness model, was submitted by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. The second model is the Advanced Care Model … [Read more...] about Two new proposals address alternative payment models for patients in Palliative Care.
New Hospice Care Law allows Physician Assistants to manage Hospice care for Medicare Patients
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2019, physician assistants can now supervise cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs under the Medicare program as well as provide and manage Hospice care for terminally ill Medicare patients. The extended medical privileges for physicians assistants could benefit Medicare beneficiaries who live in medically underserved and rural communities, where a PA might be the only available medical professional to provide some services, according to news reports. According to … [Read more...] about New Hospice Care Law allows Physician Assistants to manage Hospice care for Medicare Patients
Doctors, Lawyers want Congress to halt ‘Right-To-Try’ Legislation for Terminally-Ill Patients
President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass right-to-try legislation. According to reports, the right-to-try’ legislation that aims to help terminally ill patients access experimental therapies and drugs that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration outside of clinical trials, was passed through the Senate and is now undergoing disputes from doctors, ethicists, and lawyers. The medical providers and supporters who strongly oppose the bill argue that giving … [Read more...] about Doctors, Lawyers want Congress to halt ‘Right-To-Try’ Legislation for Terminally-Ill Patients
Health and Human Services Commission Allocating $47.7 million to Improve State Hospital System
According to HHS, in order to begin improving the state’s inpatient psychiatric care system which provides care for adults, adolescents and children, a total of $47.7 million will be allocated to renovate and architecturally plan for the replacement of existing facilities as well as plan and design a new hospital. The funding is part of $300 million approved by the 85th Texas Legislature to improve the state hospital system in the 2018-2019 biennium) Projects to be funded and implemented … [Read more...] about Health and Human Services Commission Allocating $47.7 million to Improve State Hospital System
Physician’s duties increasingly reduced by nurses, long-term care providers for chronically ill
According to news reports a shifting role of physicians is expected to accelerate in the coming decades. Healthcare providers work as a team with health specialist usually overseeing various aspects of a patients care including symptoms and medical history, orders for tests and services, prescriptions, etc. At the end of the pre-screening by healthcare providers, a physician is left with the final assessment and the plan—the medical decisions and diagnosis. some doctors are said to be opting … [Read more...] about Physician’s duties increasingly reduced by nurses, long-term care providers for chronically ill
Hospice Care Website lists 777 Hospice Agencies in Texas
For terminally ill patients and their loved ones, finding the right Hospice care can be a daunting decision. Options for quality and strength of the facility providing end-of-life care in the Texas depends on the hospice chosen, according to data released from Medicare data released by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (CMMS). Now available to the public, the “Hospice Compare” website — at medicare.gov/hospicecompare — displays information on almost 3,900 hospices nationwide.The … [Read more...] about Hospice Care Website lists 777 Hospice Agencies in Texas
CMS Launches New Hospice Care Website for Families, Physicians and their Patients.
In a new press release, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officially announced the opening of their Hospice Compare website. The website which focuses on palliative and end of life care was designed to improve transparency, the consumer experience and empower patients. giving families, patients and the physicians who care for them a reliable resource and "snapshot" of the quality of care a hospice facility provides, as well as information related to health care decisions. The … [Read more...] about CMS Launches New Hospice Care Website for Families, Physicians and their Patients.
