On Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the long-anticipated proposed rule updating the Quality Payment Program – the program implementing the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) – for 2018. The rule continues the CMS trend of allowing more and more physicians to delay MACRA implementation, as many […]
Category Archives: CMS
31
Oct
Oct
On September 22, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted a revised FAQ on its Open Payments website regarding the reporting of CME-related payments. The revised FAQ replaces an earlier FAQ on the same subject by providing greater specificity with regard to the exclusion of certain CME-related payments from Sunshine Act reporting […]
CME, CMS, Open Payments
Over 100 Physician Organizations Back H.R. 293 To Exempt from Sunshine Reporting Education Materials and Independent CME
17
Jun
Jun
Over 100 physician organizations have written to Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) expressing their “strong support” for H.R. 293, a bill that would clarify that certain applicable manufacturer transfers of value to support independent medical educational programs and materials are exempt from reporting under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. Download […]
Affordable Care Act, CME, CMS, FDA, Healthcare Reform, Physician Payment Sunshine Act
21st Century Cures Initiative Introduces Significant Legislative Proposal
28
Jan
Jan
In April 2014, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) partnered with Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) to launch the 21st Century Cures initiative with an important goal: to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of new treatments and cures for patients. Over the course of nearly a year, patients, providers, innovators, regulators, and researchers […]
CME, CMS, Open Payments, Physician Payment Sunshine Act
Physician Payments Sunshine Act: CMS Releases Continuing Medical Education FAQs, Interpretations Appear Inconsistent With Final Regulations and CMS’s Own Statements In the Final Rule
16
Dec
Dec
Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued three FAQs and an example grid to supplement their recent revision to the Physician Payments Sunshine Act continuing medical education (CME) exemption. Instead of clarifying the new Rule, however, this latest round of sub-regulatory guidance—which was not subject to notice or comment—actually confuses and […]
September 2nd marked the last day for comments on CMS’ proposed rule to eliminate the accredited continuing medical education (CME) exemption from Sunshine Act reporting. In an overwhelming display of support for the exemption, over 800 comments were submitted encouraging the agency to either maintain or expand the current exclusion. -Total comments supporting maintenance […]
CME, CMS, Open Payments, Physician Payment Sunshine Act, Physician Payment Sunshine Act: Final Rule
Physician Payments Sunshine Act: CMS Proposes Removing CME Exemption, Some Speaker Pay May Still Fall Under “Indirect Payment” Exclusion
07
Jul
Jul
The evening before the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CY 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. The 609-page document proposes a number of changes to the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, including deleting the specific exemption for payments made to speakers at accredited continuing […]
29
Jun
Jun
Recently the CME Coalition submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed rule to require Long Term Care (LTC) Consultant Pharmacists, who review patients medication schedules, to be independent from the LTC Pharmacies that serve those facilities. As the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) looks to determine […]
Affordable Care Act, CME, CMS, Physician Payment Sunshine Act
Physician Payment Sunshine Act: CMS Proposed Rule – Impact on Continuing Medical Education, Medical Societies and Patient Organizations
21
Dec
Dec
Last week’s proposed rule for the Physician Payment Sunshine Act (Section 6002 of the Affordable Care Act) had some troubling provisions, particularly to the continuing medical education (CME) community. Specific provisions of the proposed rule will also likely impact non-profit patient and disease advocacy organizations as well as professional medical associations. The Act lists the […]