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Healthcare Policy News
Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act Reintroduced in the House
Earlier this month, Representatives Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA), and Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN), re-introduced The Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act (H.R. 5239) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would ensure disaster victims’ access to medically necessary care by providing volunteer health professionals with the same level of civil immunity that they would receive in their home state during a federally declared emergency. Due to inconsistent state laws and a lack of federal policy, it is often unclear whether protections against unnecessary lawsuits exist for medical volunteers who cross state lines. This uncertainty disincentivizes physicians from volunteering, and in some cases has resulted in trained and qualified professionals being turned away. Senators Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) and Angus King (I-ME) are expected to introduce companion legislation in the U.S. Senate in the coming weeks, and AAOS is signing onto a Medical Professional Liability Association-led letter thanking them for their leadership on the issue. Learn more about the bill…
CMS Proposes Repeal of Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology (MCIT) Policy
On September 15, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule withdrawing a rule that was finalized during the final days of the Trump administration and is set to take effect on December 15, the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology (MCIT) and Definition of “Reasonable and Necessary.” The MCIT pathway would have provided immediate Medicare coverage of newly FDA market authorized breakthrough devices for up to four years. CMS cites the primary reason for walking back the policy over concerns that it could “provide coverage without adequate evidence that the Breakthrough Device would be a reasonable and necessary treatment for the Medicare patients that have the particular disease or condition that the device is intended to treat or diagnose.” The agency also proposes repealing the definition of “reasonable and necessary,” though it is seeking stakeholder feedback on whether the definition should be decoupled from the MCIT policy and remain finalized. See AAOS’ summary of the rule…
HHS Announces Additional $25.5 Billion in COVID-19 Provider Funding
On September 10, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $25.5 billion in new funding for healthcare providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including funds for the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 and the American Rescue Plan for providers serving rural Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, or Medicare patients. HHS also announced a final 60-day grace period for PRF Reporting requirements for providers who do not meet the Sept. 30 deadline for the first Reporting Time Period. HHS will not initiate collection activities or similar enforcement actions for noncompliant providers during this grace period, but deadlines to use funds and the Reporting Time Period will not change. Learn more about eligibility requirements and apply…
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements Expanded to Medicare- and Medicaid-certified Facilities
On September 9, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for staff in all Medicare- and Medicaid–certified facilities. Vaccinations were previously required for workers in nursing home facilities, but the decision expands the mandate to require vaccines for staff at hospitals, ambulatory surgical settings, home health agencies, and more, for the facility to qualify for participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are expected to release an Interim Final Rule with Comment Period on this issue in October. Read the CMS press release… |
