McDermott+

Debbie Curtis and Rodney Whitlock share how the Senate will continue negotiations on the $579 billion infrastructure package they are aiming to complete by… today. This work continues as Americans looking to return to normal after Labor Day are questioning that schedule, based on the COVID-19 Delta variant which threatens public opinion on loosening mask and social distancing guidelines.

The CY 2022 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Proposed Rule (OPPS) was released this week. Deb Godes and Sheila Madhani review the updates to OPPS, ambulatory surgical center Medicare rates, hospital price transparency requirements and the Radiation Oncology Model.

The humidity may have taken a break in Washington this week but the pressure continues in the Senate, as Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for action on the bipartisan infrastructure package and the budget resolution. Debbie Curtis and Rodney Whitlock debate what makes a good or bad week for Majority Leader Schumer.

Sheila Madhani is back in the Policy Breakroom to explain the revisions to payment policies under the CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule. She’ll cover the key takeaways in payment changes, COVID flexibilities like telehealth, and the policies across the rules that promote health equity.

This week the House is on recess, but the Senate is in session. Debbie Curtis and Rodney Whitlock break down the limited time the Senate has to develop and vote on bipartisan infrastructure bill and a budget resolution with reconciliation instructions before the August recess. And, learn how last week's announcement on long-term Medicaid funding to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Territories foreshadows the policy work still ahead.

Eric Zimmerman, Kristen O'Brien, and Katie Waldo review the Interim Final Rule and comment period on implementing portions of the No Surprises Act. They share insight on the rule-making steps for the legislation that bars surprise medical billing effective beginning January 1, 2022.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will soon release the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center (OPPS/ASC) Proposed Rules. Sheila Madhani, Deborah Godes, and Devin Stone share the significant impact these rules will have on Medicare fee-for-service spending on physician and hospital outpatient services, and on quality reporting in the upcoming calendar year.

Debbie Curtis and Rodney Whitlock discuss Biden's veto "walkback" and what that meant to future bipartisan opportunities in the Senate.

Last week, Debbie Curtis joined McDermott+Consulting as Vice President. Debbie brings with her more than three decades of experience working on both the Hill and with the health insurance exchange market. Today, we learn about her background and the experiences she will bring to the work in providing solutions to our client’s needs.

Debbie Curtis and Rodney Whitlock preview the rule-making process for the Surprise Medical Billing law. Late last year the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) was signed into law and included within it were provisions that bar surprise billing in most healthcare settings and establishes new transparency requirements. The surprise billing provisions are effective beginning January 1, 2022.