340B Health’s Post

At the request of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) sponsored a technical brief evaluating 245 published studies of skin substitutes from 76 manufacturers. ·22 of the 245 studies met the criteria to be a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) ·12 of these 22 RCTs met the inclusion criteria for “low risk-of-bias” ·9 of these 12 studies met primary endpoints 56% of the low risk-of-bias studies that met primary endpoints were on MIMEDX’s products. MIMEDX study quality was validated as best in class. Learn more: https://bit.ly/41W4WdM #MIMEDX #RCT #Research #SkinSubstitutes

At the request of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) sponsored a technical brief evaluating 245 published studies of skin substitutes from 76 manufacturers. ·22 of the 245 studies met the criteria to be a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) ·12 of these 22 RCTs met the inclusion criteria for “low risk-of-bias” ·9 of these 12 studies met primary endpoints 56% of the low risk-of-bias studies that met primary endpoints were on MIMEDX’s products. MIMEDX study quality was validated as best in class. Learn more: https://bit.ly/41W4WdM #MIMEDX #RCT #Research #SkinSubstitutes

Cuts to office-based interventionalists have become so severe that this year, there are 195 procedures across service lines that are paid at rates less than the direct costs associated with those procedures – as calculated by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services itself. In the 2025 PFS Proposed Rule released in July, this number would grow to 300, a 50% increase. In other words, there are 300 services CMS will not pay private practice clinicians enough to cover the direct expenses of those services before even considering other costs like physician work and indirect costs. Learn more about this concerning issue here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/gjrhGXr4

On behalf of the non-hospital, community-based infusion providers we represent across the country and the patients they provide care for, NICA commends the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for deciding not to move forward with the proposal to “stack” drug discounts in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP). We sincerely appreciate HHS and CMS for heeding the calls from NICA and our provider members, members of Congress, patient, provider, and health equity advocates, and others on the harms this rule would pose to patients and those who care for them – especially in America’s infusion centers. #infusionprovider #medicalprovider #infusion #infusioncenter #infusionnurse #infusiondeliverychannel #medicalinfusionprovider #futureofhealthcare

III. History of Medicare Coverage of Air-Fluidized Beds Medicare has covered the home use of air-fluidized beds since July 30, 1990. The original policy was based largely on a 1989 Technology Assessment performed by the National Center for Health Services Research and Health Care Technology Assessment. Current provisions for Medicare coverage of air-fluidized beds are found in the Coverage Issues Manual § 60-19. The policy was last modified and effective November 1, 2000 to specify the components of conservative wound treatment to be employed before initiating use of an air-fluidized bed in the treatment of Stage III and Stage IV pressure ulcers. Section 60-19 of the Coverage Issues Manual covers the use of air-fluidized beds only for the treatment of Stage III and Stage IV pressure sores that fail to show progressive healing with conservative treatment. Conservative treatment must have been provided for at least 30 days and includes the use of a Group 2 support surface. This requirement applies regardless of the setting in which the patient is treated. However, the use of an air-fluidized bed is not covered for home use under certain additional circumstances, such as when the patient has a coexisting pulmonary disease.

Exploring the CMS Proposed Rule for Therapy Services in 2025: Key Changes and Implications https://hubs.la/Q02GrfzQ0

The 21st Century Cures Act had major impacts on #raredisease #drugdevelopment and #access to care - but we are by no means done! #NORD the National Organization for Rare Disorders is grateful to Representatives DeGette and Bucshon for their long rare disease leadership, and for asking our community for input on what is missing from the current Cures 2.0 legislation. HOT OFF THE PRESS: our response to this important #RFI, proposing a suite of policies that would i) make access to #clinialtrials more #equitable and make the trials work better for ALL #raredisease patients; ii) increase alignment between FDA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to close the gap between FDA approval and #CMS coverage; and iii) ensure patients with #rarediseases have access to the #diagnostics and #treatments they need including through telehealth. Read our full comments here: https://lnkd.in/eRBU6_P9 And a BIG THANK YOU to my team for spearheading these policies for #NORD - Mason Barrett, Allison Herrity, MPH and Hayley M.!!!

🔈️Breaking News: Enhanced Medicare Support for Endometriosis Consultations The government has committed $49.1 million to improve access to specialist care for women with complex gynecological conditions, including endometriosis. This initiative aims to reduce wait times for diagnoses and treatments and ensure timely and appropriate medical assessments. Starting July 1 next year, the Medicare Benefits Schedule will include two new items, allowing for extended specialist consultations of 45 minutes or more. These consultations will be better supported by increased Medicare rebates, directly benefiting those battling endometriosis—a condition affecting 1 in 9 women. This expansion is expected to provide approximately 430,000 additional services nationwide, significantly aiding women's health across the country. The expansion of Medicare coverage is a crucial advancement for endometriosis care, and we are truly excited about the potential this initiative has to transform the lives of those affected by endometriosis.

Attention SNF Providers! Did you catch the latest readmission cost report? The average cost of hospital readmission is surging, up by 12.4% in 2023, as revealed by a recent report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). 📈 And here's a crucial point: SNF hospital readmissions have remained relatively high during the same time period. ⏰ It should come as no surprise here for SNF operators —readmissions remain a primary focus of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The initiatives with the SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program (SNF VBP), Quality Measures (QMs), and SNF Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) underscore the urgency. What is your SNF's proactive approach to tackling readmissions? Do you have a pharmacy partner who truly understands your needs and aligns their service capacities to help you succeed? For additional information, contact Krista Olson, MS, CCC-SLP, RAC-CT. Resource Links: -https://lnkd.in/gqvEPhfR -https://lnkd.in/gTCaDqZj #ReadmissionCost #HealthcareChallenge #CMSInitiatives #SNFVBP #QualityMeasures

A new report by Leavitt Partners, an HMA Company, outlines the concept of site-neutral payment reforms being considered as a potential program improvement, and proposes a compromise approach to implementing site-neutral payments that benefits beneficiaries, hospitals, and the Medicare program. Read the full report: https://bit.ly/3PvAmma