Rachel Stauffer on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Back for seconds: digital health policies in the CY 2026 PFS proposed rule

It’s been more than two weeks since the release of the CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule. We’ve had a chance to digest our initial helping and now we’re ready for seconds. We thought we would see...more

7/31/2025 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Digital Health , Health Care Providers , Health Insurance , Healthcare , Healthcare Reform , Insurance Industry , Medical Devices , Medicare , Medicare Fraud , Mental Health , Technology , Telehealth

CMS releases CY 2026 Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System proposed rule

On July 15, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems Proposed Rule [CMS-1834-P],...more

7/18/2025 / Ambulatory Surgery Centers , Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Financial Services Industry , Healthcare , Healthcare Reform , Medicare , Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) , Payment Systems , Proposed Rules , Regulatory Requirements , Reporting Requirements

CMS releases CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

On July 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Other Revisions to Medicare Part B [CMS-13271]...more

7/17/2025 / Ambulatory Surgery Centers , Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Healthcare , Healthcare Reform , Insurance Industry , Medicare , Medicare Part B , Medicare Shared Savings Program , New Regulations , Physician Fee Schedule , Proposed Rules , Regulatory Agenda , Technology , Telehealth

2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rate Notice: What to Expect

Key Takeaways - - CMS is expected to issue the 2026 final rate notice for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D plans by April 7, 2025. - The January 2025 advance notice proposed policies that would increase payments to MA...more

3/26/2025 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Final Rules , Medicare , Medicare Advantage , Medicare Part D , Prescription Drugs , Proposed Rules , Regulatory Agenda , Risk Management , Trump Administration

Healthcare Policy Options to Reduce the Deficit

The Trump Administration and 119th Congress will likely be targeting trillions of dollars in savings in the year ahead. Healthcare makes up a significant portion of mandatory spending and therefore likely will be a large part...more

1/24/2025 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) , Federal Budget , Healthcare , Healthcare Reform , Medicaid , Medicare , Medicare Advantage , Medicare Payment Reform , MedPAC , Section 340B , Trump Administration

Congress Extends Certain Telehealth Flexibilities Through March 31, 2025

At the close of 2024, US Congress passed a short-term extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities as part of the American Relief Act, 2025 (ARA). The Medicare telehealth waivers, originally enacted as part of the COVID-19...more

1/17/2025 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) , Health Insurance , Legislative Agendas , Medicare , Medicare Advantage , New Legislation , Regulatory Requirements , Reimbursements , Telehealth

CMS Releases CY 2025 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

On November 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year (CY) 2025 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Other Revisions to Medicare Part B...more

11/6/2024 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Final Rules , Health Care Providers , Hospitals , Medicare , MIPS , Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) , Physician Fee Schedule , Physicians

CMS Releases Final Procedural Notice on Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technology (TCET)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the final procedural notice on Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET), effective as of August 12, 2024. TCET is a new pathway that uses existing...more

8/20/2024 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , Insurance Industry , MACs , Manufacturers , Material Adverse Change Clauses (MACs) , Medicare , Public Comment , Technology Sector

CMS Releases Final TCET Notice – Implications and Next Steps

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final procedural notice for the new Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET) pathway for certain US Food & Drug Administration (FDA)...more

8/15/2024 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Emerging Technologies , Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , Health Insurance , Healthcare , Legislative Agendas , Medical Devices , Medicare , New Legislation , Regulatory Agenda

Legislative Uncertainty Slows Down, But Doesn’t Halt, Regulatory Action on Telehealth and Digital Health

Legislative Uncertainty on Telehealth Waivers Slows Down, But Doesn’t Halt, Regulatory Action on Virtual Care McDermott+ is pleased to bring you Regs & Eggs, a weekly Regulatory Affairs blog by Jeffrey Davis. Click here to...more

8/1/2024 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Healthcare , Healthcare Reform , Legislative Agendas , Medicare Part B , Physician Fee Schedule , Proposed Legislation , Rulemaking Process , Telehealth , Telemedicine

CMS Releases CY 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and ASC Payment Systems Proposed Rule

On July 10, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Other Revisions to Medicare Part B...more

7/17/2024 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) , Payment Systems

CMS Releases CY 2025 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

On July 10, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Other Revisions to Medicare Part B...more

7/17/2024 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Medicare , MIPS , Physician Fee Schedule , Physicians , Telehealth

Telehealth: Regulatory Questions Amid Legislative Uncertainty

Where has the time gone? We have hit the one-year mark since the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Yes, you read that correctly. One year! One of the long-term consequences of the PHE was the shift in when...more

5/16/2024 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) , Healthcare , Medicare , Proposed Legislation , Regulatory Standards , Telehealth , Waivers

It’s Raining Regs: CMS Releases Major Laboratory-Developed Test Reg in Midst of Massive Reg Storm

Over the last several weeks, the Biden administration has released numerous final regulations in order to “beat the clock” before it ticks down to the Congressional Review Act (CRA) deadline. The CRA authorizes Congress to...more

2024 Chart of Additional Healthcare Regulations

During this election year, McDermottPlus is actively monitoring annual regulations that federal agencies are expected to release, as well as “ad hoc” regulations that will be released at the discretion of federal agencies. ...more

4/26/2024 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , DEA , Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) , Department of Labor (DOL) , Department of Veterans Affairs , Employee Benefits , Federal Trade Commission (FTC) , Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , Health and Welfare Plans , Healthcare , Healthcare Reform , New Regulations , OCR , OIG , OSHA , Proposed Regulation , Regulatory Agenda , Regulatory Reform

Looking Forward: Top Policy Areas for 2024

Happy New Year! As we enter 2024, we want to lay out some of the main regulatory issues (both new and old) that McDermott+Consulting will be tracking over the next year. While these may evolve, we think they are still...more

HHS Issues Provider Information Blocking Disincentives Proposed Rule

On October 30, 2023, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a...more

11/14/2023 / 21st Century Cures Act , Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) , Electronic Health Record Incentives , Health Care Providers , Hospitals , Information Blocking Rules , Medicare , ONC , Proposed Rules

The Major Regs Are Out! Will Congress Intervene in of the “Final” Policies?

A few weeks ago, Regs & Eggs discussed the constant give and take between federal agencies and Congress as they both work on overlapping policies and objectives. The major regs released last week provide an excellent example...more

11/9/2023 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Congressional Committees , Healthcare , Healthcare Reform , Legislative Agendas , New Legislation , Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) , Physician Fee Schedule , Price Transparency , Proposed Legislation , Senate Committees , Telehealth , U.S. House

Policy Update - CMS Releases CY 2024 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

On November 2, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year (CY) 2024 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Other Revisions to Medicare Part B...more

11/7/2023 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Final Rules , Health Care Providers , Medicare , Medicare Part B , Physician Fee Schedule , Physicians , Quality Payment Program (QPP) , Reimbursements , Telehealth

The Ongoing Poker Game Between Congress and FDA: Who Will Win?

Congress and federal agencies often engage in a game, each trying to see what the other is willing to do to achieve a particular policy or outcome. While Congress and federal agencies have unique authorities (legislative...more

10/5/2023 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Clinical Laboratories , Congressional Committees , Diagnostic Tests , Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , Laboratory Developed Tests , Legislative Agendas , Life Sciences , Medical Devices , Medicare Advantage , Proposed Rules

A Look into House Efforts on Hospital and Health Plan Price Transparency

In the 118th Congress, the US House of Representatives is keenly interested in healthcare price transparency. Three House committees—Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce—each approved...more

9/19/2023 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Drug Pricing , Enforcement , Hospitals , Out of Network Provider , Pricing , State Health Plans , Transparency

Drug Payment Reform and Transparency: It’s What’s on the Menu for Policymakers

August 31, 2023 – When it comes to prescription drug costs, policymakers have set their focus on the consumer: “Let’s lower drug prices for the consumer.” “Let’s give consumers more options in paying their out-of-pocket...more

8/31/2023 / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Drug Pricing , Healthcare Reform , Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) , Medicare , Medicare Part B , Medicare Part D , Negotiations , Pharmaceutical Industry , Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) , Prescription Drugs , Rebates , Transparency

6/19/2023 / Artificial Intelligence , Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) , Coronavirus/COVID-19 , Data Privacy , Digital Health , Healthcare , Healthcare Reform , Legislative Agendas , Proposed Legislation , Proposed Regulation , Public Health Emergency , Regulatory Agenda , Telehealth

Rachel Stauffer

McDermott Will & Schulte

Popular Topics by This Author

Latest Posts › Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)