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CMS Proposed changes to Medicare Part C and Part D - Comments are due January 27. CMS issued a proposed rule that would revise the Medicare Advantage (MA) program and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program. Proposals include:
- Permitting Medicare and Medicaid coverage of anti-obesity medications
- Further clarification of the rules on what MA plans must cover
- Limitations on enrollee cost-sharing for behavioral health
- Expanded topics that agents/brokers must cover when assisting beneficiaries
- Parameters around the use of debit cards for supplemental MA benefits
- Codifying requirements for the Medicare Prescription Payment plan
- Integrating member identification cards for individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
CMS SPA: CMS finalized an exception for IHS and Tribal IHS Clinics at a new 42 CFR 440.90(c), which is a mandatory component of the Medicaid clinic services benefit. States that enroll IHS/Tribal facilities as providers of clinic services will need to submit a Medicaid state plan amendment (SPA) attesting to coverage of IHS/Tribal clinic services outside of the four walls by March 31, 2025. This Federal Registrar notice seeks public comment on one or more of our collection of information requests that we believe are generic and fall within the scope of the umbrella.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency’s functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.
2025 Physician Fee Schedule Webinar: Registration Required – Thursday, January 30 at 11:00 AM PST. Subject matter experts from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will present highlights of policy updates from the Calendar Year 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule in a webinar produced by the Rural Health Information Hub. Covered topics will include: general care management, Advanced Primary Care Management, telehealth, policy updates for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers, behavioral health, dental services, and more. The webinar is free, and you must register to attend.
Tribal Consultation on Proposed Modifications to HIPAA Security Rule to Strengthen Cybersecurity for Electronic Protected for Electronic Protected Health Information. HHS invites Tribal leaders to a virtual Tribal consultation on Proposed Modifications to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would revise the Security Rule to better protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information.
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The consultation will take place on February 6 from 11:00-12:30 PST.
- Comments are due March 7, 2025
2025 Health IT Modernization Upcoming Information Sessions: Make plans to join IHS at these important and timely meetings. Your participation and input to date have been vital to improving the Health IT Modernization Program. During each of these information sessions, the IHS will provide an update of our progress, milestones, and program challenges.
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February 13, 2025: IHS Health IT Modernization Program leadership session.
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May 15, 2025: Feature an overview of the Four Directions Warehouse, which is the data repository that will be used to facilitate the migration of data from the IHS Resource and Patient Management System and other electronic health record (EHR) solutions into PATH EHR, and allow for continued access to legacy patient data.
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August 7, 2025: Will feature an overview of applications to be included in PATH EHR based on outcomes from enterprise configuration workshops.
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November 6, 2025: Health IT Modernization program leadership will review the status of pilot site activities and upcoming milestones for PATH EHR implementation at facilities located within the Lawton Service Unit in the Oklahoma City Area IHS.
CMS Seeking Input to Protect Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers – Comments due by February 17. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is soliciting comments to inform future decision-making regarding how the agency can best protect Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs) and Medicare beneficiaries. MBIs have been targeted by individuals seeking to commit Medicare fraud, including the use of MBI lookup tools to commit MBI theft. CMS is seeking input and information related to the following topic areas:
- Organizations that operate an externally-controlled MBI lookup tool;
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Users of MBI lookup tools, both CMS-operated and externally-controlled;
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Potential benefit or impact of prohibiting or restricting externally-controlled MBI lookup tools;
- Safeguards or best practices from inside or outside healthcare that CMS should consider for preventing MBI theft and misuse.
Visit the link in the headline for more information and the full list of questions. To provide comments, fill out and submit the survey by Monday, February 17.
Mental Health Services Research (MHSR) 2025: Confronting the Mental Health Crisis with Outcomes that Matter. Save-the-Date: July 28-31, 2025, Located: Gaithersburg Marriot Washingtonian Center, Maryland. Join the National Institute of Mental Health for its 26th Mental Health Services Research Conference.
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