First proposed in 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency's final rule on pharmaceutical waste disposal will eliminate the practice of "sewering", flushing pharmaceuticals down toilets or sink drains as a means of disposal. Skilled nursing and nursing facilities, nursing centers of life plan communities, and hospices are covered by the final rule; assisted living facilities are not. The rule
Many types of healthcare providers are covered under the Final Rule including long-term care facilities which are defined as hospice facilities, nursing facilities, skilled nursing facilities and skilled and nursing care parts of a life plan community (CCRC). In the 2015 proposed rule assisted living was included, but LeadingAge and other groups successfully argued that assisted living is not a healthcare environment and should not be included; in the end, the EPA agreed.
This DRAFT solely addresses the proposed implementation of the new Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) provisions for PRAC conversion and HUD is seeking feedback within 10 days, in order to make final adjustments if necessary prior to formal release. So the turnaround time is tight.
LeadingAge also asked CMS to provide more detail on the types of benefits a MA plan may offer under the new Special Supplemental Benefits for Chronically Ill policy and clarification on how these customized, person-centered benefits will be authorized. Additional comments were offered recommending ways for CMS to reduce provider burden by: 1) ensuring automation of crossover claims for dual eligibles enrolled in MA plans (currently, available in Medicare FFS and Special Needs Plans); and 2) eliminating duplicative reporting of basic provider information(e.g., name, address, NPI and license
During an open door forum call, CMS indicated their intent to offer billing revisions early in the year so that home health agencies and CMS have the opportunity to adapt earlier to the coming payment changes from PDGM. The implementation dates for the items in the change request include July 1, 2019 for design and requirements; October 7, 2019 for coding and testing including Beta Home Health Pricer; and January 6, 2020 for continued testing and implementation.
Contact: Lisa Sanders/LeadingAge
HUD is working to expedite availability of at least some funding to Service Coordinator grantees who have not been paid since December (and some much longer). And LeadingAge is continuing to advocate for prioritized attention to the program in post-shutdown weeks, and its inclusion as an excepted activity in revisions to any future HUD shutdown contingency plan.
RoPs 3:
Date: February 27th, 2019, 2:00pm – 3:00pm EST
Topic: Get Ready for Phase 3 RoPs: Elements of a successful QAPI program
Speakers: Maureen McCarthy, President & CEO, Celtic Consulting, Jillian Martin, Senior Health Consultant, CliftonLarsonAllen
Nearly 20% of Medicare spending goes to cover the cost of prescription drugs, mostly under Part D. After a period of slow growth total and per capita Part D spending has increased in recent years, in large part due to high-priced specialty drugs. Stakeholders on many sides of the drug pricing debate in Washington, DC recognize the need to control consumer premiums and out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs and to promote transparency in drug pricing.
LeadingAge is reading through the details of the Advance Notice and Draft Call Letter now and will provide a more detailed summary in the coming days. For now, here are a few highlights of what we know so far:
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