This week in Medicare updates–12/30/2015

Revision in transmittal regarding Advance Care Planning (ACP) as an optional element of an Annual Wellness Visit (AWV)

On December 22, CMS rescinded Transmittal 210, dated August 7, and replaced it with Transmittal 216 to revise the language in the Background and Policy sections to reflect the finalization of the policy changes published in the CY 2016 Physician Fee Schedule final rule. The purpose of this change request is to waive the deductible and coinsurance for Advance Care Planning when furnished as an optional element of an Annual Wellness Visit.

Effective date: January 1, 2016

Implementation date: January 4, 2016

View Transmittal R216BP.

Request for information regarding the awarding and the administration of MAC contracts                             

On December 21, CMS posted a request for information in the Federal Register soliciting public comment on the processes and procedures that it could use to leverage new legal authorities to incentivize and reward exceptional MAC contract performance; publish performance information on each MAC, to the extent permitted by law; and make MAC jurisdictional changes. Comments are due by February 19, 2016.

View the notice in the Federal Register.

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Infection Control Pilot Project

On December 23, CMS posted a survey and certification letter stating it has begun a three year pilot project to improve assessment of infection control and prevention regulations in nursing homes, hospitals, and during transitions of care. All surveys during the pilot will be educational surveys (no citations will be issued) and will be conducted by a national contractor. New surveyor tools and processes will be developed and tested, focusing on existing regulations as well as recommended practices (such as those for antibiotic stewardship and transitions of care). Ten pilot surveys to be conducted in FY 2016 will occur in nursing homes. Surveys in FY 2017 and FY 2018 will be conducted in nursing homes and hospitals. The projected outcome of this project is the development of new surveyor infection control tools and survey processes that can be used to optimize assessment of new infection control regulations.

View the survey and certification letter.