On July 7, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that updates payment policies, payment rates, and quality provisions for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) on or after January 1, 2017. This year, CMS is proposing a number of new physician fee schedule policies that will improve Medicare payment for those services provided by primary care physicians for patients with multiple chronic conditions, mental and behavioral health issues, and cognitive impairment or mobility-related disabilities.nnCMS is proposing to expand the Diabetes Prevention Program model starting January 1, 2018. This is the second CMS Innovation Center – and first preventive services – model that has been certified for expansion. Expansion of this model will enhance access to these important services for Medicare beneficiaries who are at risk for developing diabetes.nnIn addition CMS is also:n
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- Proposing modifications to the Medicare Shared Savings Program to update the quality measures set and align with the proposals for the Quality Payment Program, changes to take beneficiary preferences for ACO assignment into consideration, and changes that would improve beneficiary protections when ACOs are approved to use the skilled nursing facility (SNF) 3-day waiver rule;
- Requiring health care providers and suppliers to be screened and enrolled in Medicare in order to contract with Medicare Advantage health plans to provide Medicare-covered items and services to beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage;
- Increasing transparency of Medicare Advantage pricing data and medical loss ratio (MLR) data from Medicare health and drug plans, and;
- Continuing to implement Appropriate Use Criteria for advanced diagnostic imaging services, including proposals for priority clinical areas and clinical decision support mechanism (CDSM) requirements, among other proposals as detailed in this fact sheet.
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nThe CY 2017 PFS proposed rule is one of several proposed rules that reflect a broader Administration-wide strategy to create a health care system that results in better care, smarter spending, and healthier people.n