Last week, CMS announced 500 provider practices in seven regions to participate in The Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative; HHS released a final “blueprint” to help guide states as they apply to operate health insurance exchanges; and Maryland, Michigan and Washington, D.C., took big steps in insurance exchange implementation.
AT THE AGENCIES
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is moving forward with The Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative, a plan to reward health care providers that improve primary care services for Medicare and other beneficiaries. The program will be run by the CMS Innovation Center. This week, CMS announced 500 provider practices in seven regions to participate in the program. Bonus payments will be awarded to primary care doctors who better coordinate care for their patients.
On Tuesday (8/14), HHS released its final "blueprint" for states applying to operate their own health insurance exchange markets. The blueprint provides guidance to states selecting an exchange on the application and declaration process.
CMS released final requirements that hospitals and health care providers must satisfy to qualify for incentives during stage two of the electronic health record incentive program. The requirements outline the certification criteria for EHR technology and explain that there is a flexible reporting period for 2014 to ensure providers have sufficient time to adopt or upgrade to the latest EHR technology.
On Monday (8/20), the American Hospital Association sent a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius with the primary purpose of seeking details on a range of Medicaid-related payment issues for hospitals.
ON THE HILL
With less than three months until the deadline for states to submit applications to HHS for their health insurance exchanges, Reps. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) are demanding that CMS issue further guidance on insurance exchanges and other components of the Affordable Care Act.
IN THE STATES
On Thursday (8/23), Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's administration released the name, logo and website for its health insurance exchange, http://marylandhealthconnection.gov/.
MichiganGovernor Rick Snyder decided to apply for a state-federal partnership health insurance exchange after he failed to persuade Republican legislators in the house to pass a senate-approved bill to allow the state to run its own exchange.
On Wednesday (8/15), the Washington, D.C., government submitted a detailed proposal to the federal government for its health insurance exchange. The proposal includes the creation of a Web portal and the hiring of staff for a new quasi-governmental entity, the D.C. Health Benefit Exchange Authority.
On Wednesday (8/15), Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman reached out to the public for suggestions on how to create the state's insurance exchange. He announced a series of meetings and invited health care providers, advocates for children and the poor, taxpayers, and the insurance industry. On Tuesday (8/21), insurance agents, family doctors and pharmacists told a panel of Nebraska's Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee that they want Nebraska to run its own health insurance exchange, rather than leaving the job to the federal government.
To view our compilation of recent health care reform implementation news, click here.