Rural Medicare resources related to rural health and human services, with information provided by the Rural Assistance Center Copyright 2012 Rural Assistance Center http://www.raconline.org/topics/medicare/ The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is requesting comments on the Form CMS-29, Request for Certification as a Supplier of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Services under the Medicare/Medicaid Program. With this renewal request, the title of the Form CMS-29 is being revised to better describe the purpose of the data being collected. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-07/html/2012-2762.htm Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:36:10 CST http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-07/html/2012-2762.htm Kaiser Health News brings together a variety of articles discussing how hospitals, physicians and some members of Congress want to use war savings as a way to get rid of Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula, but congressional rules could complicate things. http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2012/February/03/doc-fix-and-war-savings.aspx Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:36:45 CST http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2012/February/03/doc-fix-and-war-savings.aspx Bethesda MD July 10, 2012 -- National Rural Health Resource Center http://www.ruralcenter.org/tasc/events/2012-national-conference-state-flex-programs-0 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:37:31 CST http://www.ruralcenter.org/tasc/events/2012-national-conference-state-flex-programs-0 Nearly 3.6 million people with Medicare saved $2.1 billion on their prescription drugs in 2011 due to the Affordable Care Act according to data issued today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17268 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:16:11 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17268 -- Wisconsin Hospital Association https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=11WI14E Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:28:32 CST https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=11WI14E -- Colorado Rural Health Center http://www.coruralhealth.org/events/ Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:46:30 CST http://www.coruralhealth.org/events/ -- Colorado Rural Health Center http://www.coruralhealth.org/programs/cah/events.htm Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:10:28 CST http://www.coruralhealth.org/programs/cah/events.htm -- Colorado Rural Health Center http://www.coruralhealth.org/programs/cah/events.htm Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:06:44 CST http://www.coruralhealth.org/programs/cah/events.htm Medicare Advantage premiums have fallen by 7 percent on average and enrollment has risen by about 10 percent since this time last year, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today. http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17257 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:32:16 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17257 AHA News Now article tells how in a report released today, the Congressional Budget Office reduced its projected estimate of Medicare spending over the next decade by $69 billion. http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews/jsp/display.jsp?dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsNowArticle/data/ann_013112_CBO&domain=AHANEWS Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:03:52 CST http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews/jsp/display.jsp?dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsNowArticle/data/ann_013112_CBO&domain=AHANEWS This document from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services corrects technical errors that occurred in the Addendum of the final rule entitled Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Fiscal Year 2012 Rates which appeared in the August 18, 2011 Federal Register. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/02/01/2012-2220/medicare-program-hospital-inpatient-prospective-payment-systems-for-acute-care-hospitals-and-the Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:44:55 CST https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/02/01/2012-2220/medicare-program-hospital-inpatient-prospective-payment-systems-for-acute-care-hospitals-and-the This final rule from the Social Security Administration adopts, without change, the interim final rule with request for comments published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2010. The interim final rule incorporated changes to the Medicare prescription drug coverage low-income subsidy (Extra Help) program made by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act enacted in March 2010. http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/01/18/2012-827/amendments-to-regulations-regarding-eligibility-for-a-medicare-prescription-drug-subsidy Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:25:17 CST http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/01/18/2012-827/amendments-to-regulations-regarding-eligibility-for-a-medicare-prescription-drug-subsidy AHA News Now reports that the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission last week discussed its mandated report on rural health care provider payment adequacy, due to Congress in June. The commission discussed access to services, quality of care, payment adjustments and payment adequacy in rural areas, stating that Medicare's rural payment policy has largely been successful. http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews/jsp/display.jsp?domain=AHANEWS&dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsNowArticle/data/ann_011312_MedPAC Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:37:53 CST http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews/jsp/display.jsp?domain=AHANEWS&dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsNowArticle/data/ann_011312_MedPAC AHA News Now article reports that the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has recommended Congress provide an update of 1.0% for fiscal year 2013 inpatient and outpatient hospital payments. It also recommended equalizing Medicare payment rates for non-emergency evaluation and management services between hospital outpatient departments and physician office settings by reducing hospital outpatient department payments for E/M clinic visits by more than 70%. http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews/jsp/display.jsp?dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsNowArticle/data/ann_011212_MedPAC&domain=AHANEWS Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:47:56 CST http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews/jsp/display.jsp?dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsNowArticle/data/ann_011212_MedPAC&domain=AHANEWS American Medical News article reports that a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulation sets a framework for electronic fund transfers that should cut down on administrative time and money spent on processing paper checks, officials said. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/01/09/gvsd0112.htm Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:12:30 CST http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/01/09/gvsd0112.htm AHA News Now article reports that raising the ages at which people can collect Medicare and Social Security would reduce federal spending and increase federal revenues by inducing some people to work longer, according to an analysisreleased yesterday by the Congressional Budget Office. http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews/jsp/display.jsp?dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsNowArticle/data/ann_011112_CBO&domain=AHANEWS Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:07:51 CST http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews/jsp/display.jsp?dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsNowArticle/data/ann_011112_CBO&domain=AHANEWS AAFP News Now article reports that despite Congress' last-minute move to temporarily forestall a 27.4 percent Medicare physician pay cut scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, all other components of the final 2012 Medicare physician fee schedule took effect on that date, meaning that family physicians likely will notice slight changes in their Medicare payment rates this year. http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20120111medicarepaychanges.html Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:01:40 CST http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20120111medicarepaychanges.html This final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services implements and finalizes provisions regarding the reporting of gross covered retiree plan-related prescription drug costs (gross retiree costs) and retained rebates by Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) sponsors; and the scope of waiver authority under the Social Security Act (the Act). http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/01/12/2012-473/medicare-program-medicare-advantage-and-prescription-drug-benefit-programs-negotiated-pricing-and Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:55:48 CST http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/01/12/2012-473/medicare-program-medicare-advantage-and-prescription-drug-benefit-programs-negotiated-pricing-and U.S. spending on health care grew 3.9% in 2010 to $2.6 trillion, slightly surpassing the record-low 3.8% growth in 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported today. http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17140 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:21:38 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/details.php?news_id=17140 Woodlawn MD February 27, 2012 -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/12/16/2011-32298/medicare-program-first-semi-annual-meeting-of-the-advisory-panel-on-hospital-outpatient-payment Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:03:53 CST http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/12/16/2011-32298/medicare-program-first-semi-annual-meeting-of-the-advisory-panel-on-hospital-outpatient-payment Provides an overview of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) for rural providers. Discusses rules to help doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers better coordinate care for Medicare patients. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services https://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/ACO_Rural_Factsheet_ICN907408.pdf Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:16:44 CST https://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/ACO_Rural_Factsheet_ICN907408.pdf Provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage program. Describes program changes made by the new health reform law in plan participation and beneficiary enrollment, presents data on benefits and premiums, and explains changes in Medicare payments to participating plans. -- Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kff.org/medicare/upload/2052-15.pdf Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:40:38 CST http://www.kff.org/medicare/upload/2052-15.pdf Baltimore MD February 14, 2012 -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/11/18/2011-29832/medicare-program-town-hall-meeting-on-fy-2013-applications-for-new-medical-services-and-technology#p-4 Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:02:49 CST http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/11/18/2011-29832/medicare-program-town-hall-meeting-on-fy-2013-applications-for-new-medical-services-and-technology#p-4 Summarizes segments of the rule on Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) as they affect family practitioners in small- and medium-sized practices, including Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). -- American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/online/etc/medialib/aafp_org/documents/policy/fed/background/medicare-aco-summary.Par.0001.File.dat/AAFPFinalMedicareACO.pdf Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:10:03 CST http://www.aafp.org/online/etc/medialib/aafp_org/documents/policy/fed/background/medicare-aco-summary.Par.0001.File.dat/AAFPFinalMedicareACO.pdf Discusses MBQIP, the Flex Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project, which is helping Critical Access Hospitals improve patient care quality and operations, and more accurately report rural health care quality. -- Rural Assistance Center http://www.raconline.org/newsletter/fall11/feature.php#story3 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:07:55 CST http://www.raconline.org/newsletter/fall11/feature.php#story3 Addresses the current and future plan characteristics and enrollment trends of the Medicare Advantage program specific to rural America. -- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis http://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/rupri/publications/policypapers/NOV.MA%20Overview%20October%202011%20FINAL.pdf Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:24:08 CST http://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/rupri/publications/policypapers/NOV.MA%20Overview%20October%202011%20FINAL.pdf Explains how to find home health agencies, the Medicare Home Health Benefit, what Medicare covers, and where to get help with questions. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/10969.pdf Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:24:31 CST http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/10969.pdf Presents a page for each state containing fast facts, important dates, number of plans, and data regarding plan costs and coverage. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services https://www.cms.gov/partnerships/downloads/statefactsheets_all.pdf Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:55:32 CST https://www.cms.gov/partnerships/downloads/statefactsheets_all.pdf Shows increases in enrollment into Medicare Advantage plans in rural America. The enrollment is concentrated in plans offered by three firms, especially in the types of plans with high rural enrollment which are preferred provider organizations and private fee-for-service plans. -- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis http://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/rupri/publications/policybriefs/2011/June%202011%20-%20one-pager1%20km.pdf Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:26:37 CST http://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/rupri/publications/policybriefs/2011/June%202011%20-%20one-pager1%20km.pdf Printable map that shows all medical discharges per 1,000 Medicare enrollees by hospital referral region nationwide. Data source: Dartmouth Atlas, 2005. -- Rural Assistance Center http://www.raconline.org/racmaps/#map_discharge Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:52:52 CST http://www.raconline.org/racmaps/#map_discharge