Recent Renal News in Health Care Policy & Politics

• Kidney patient groups comment on HHS essential health benefits bulletin Feb. 2 Some Kidney patient groups have sent the Department of Health and Human Services comments regarding a Dec. 16, bulletin that outlines how essential health benefits are defined and is intended to help states implement the Affordable Care Act.
• CMS selects advisors for Innovation Center Jan. 3 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has selected 73 individuals from 27 states and the District of Columbia to help advise the agency on projects for its Innovation Center.
• CMS announces approvals for first ACOs Dec. 29
• Proposed rule for dialysis clinic QIP modifies hgb range, adds more quality measures in 2014 July 1
• CMS proposes retracting signature requirement on lab requisitions June 30

Recent Health Care News in Health Care Policy & Politics

• House approves 10-Month SGR fix Feb. 17 The U.S. House of Representative has voted 293 to 132 to pass a bill that would delay the impending 27% cut in Medicare pay rates for 10 months.
• Legislators reach tentative 'doc fix' deal Feb. 15 Legislators reached a tentative agreement on a payroll tax holiday bill that averts a 27.4% cut in Medicare physician payment rates and extends current rates until the end of 2012, Modern Healthcare reported.
• CMS will re-examine ICD-10 timeline Feb. 14 The acting head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Tuesday said that the agency would extend the timeline on ICD-10 implementation, Modern Healthcare reported.
• 'Doc fix' negotiations hit an impasse Feb. 7 Legislators are battling over how to pay for a long-term fix to the sustainable growth rate, which is tied to Medicare physician pay. The gridlock is over how to pay for the fix and could threaten the broader legislative package, which includes the payroll tax break extension. Meanwhile, lawmakers examine familiar offset possibilities, as well as some ideas from the private sector.
• Health care employment rises in January Feb. 7 The health care sector added approximately 31,000 jobs in January
• House votes to repeal part of 2010 health care law Feb. 3 The House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Support program, known as the CLASS Act.

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