🏥Medicare's Public Meeting on New Clinical Lab Test Codes for 2026
This notice announces a public meeting to receive comments and recommendations (including data on which recommendations are based) on the appropriate basis for establishing payment amounts for new or substantially revised Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes being considered for Medicare payment under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule for calendar year 2026. This meeting also provides a forum for those who submitted certain reconsideration requests regarding final determinations made last year on new test codes and for the public to provide comment on the requests.
Learn More💊Executive Order on Lowering Drug Prices and Its Business Implications
Executive Order 14273 seeks to restore prior initiatives aimed at lowering prescription drug prices in the U.S. The order emphasizes transparency in drug pricing, encourages competition through generics, and addresses the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program to enhance access to affordable medications while fostering innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.
Learn More💊Key Medicare and Medicaid Regulatory Changes for 2026
This final rule revises the Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D), Medicare cost plan, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) regulations to implement changes related to prescription drug coverage, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, dual eligible special needs plans (D-SNPs), Part C and D Star Ratings, and other programmatic areas, including the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. This final rule also codifies existing sub-regulatory guidance in the Part C and Part D programs.
Learn More💊CMS Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Information Collection Notice
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, and to allow a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.
Learn More📄RRB Submits Medicare Forms for OMB Review - Comments Needed
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate paperwork burdens. The RRB invites comments on the proposed collections of information to determine (1) the practical utility of the collections; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collections; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information that is the subject of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to the RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if the RRB and OIRA receive them within 30 days of the publication date. Title and purpose of information collection: Medicare; OMB 3220- 0082. Under Section 7(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) (45 U.S.C. 231f), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers the Medicare program for persons covered by the railroad retirement system. The RRB uses Form AA-6, Employee Application for Medicare; Form AA-7, Spouse/ Divorced Spouse Application for Medicare; and Form AA-8, Widow/Widower Application for Medicare; to obtain the information needed to determine whether individuals who have not yet filed for benefits under the RRA are qualified for Medicare payments provided under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act. Further, to determine if any qualified railroad retirement beneficiary who is claiming supplementary medical insurance coverage under Medicare is entitled to a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) and/or premium surcharge relief because of coverage under an Employer Group Health Plan (EGHP), the RRB needs to obtain information regarding the claimant's EGHP coverage, if any. The RRB uses Form RL- 311-F, Evidence of Coverage Under An Employer Group Health Plan, to obtain the basic information needed to establish EGHP coverage for a qualified railroad retirement beneficiary. The RRB will use new Form AA-23, Application For Medicare--Medical Insurance (Part B) Program, to obtain information from a quailed railroad retirement beneficiary to determine if they are eligible to enroll through the Initial Enrollment Period, Special Enrollment Period, or General Enrollment Period. The RRB will use new Form AA-24, Application for Medicare Part B-- Special Enrollment Period (Exceptional Conditions), to obtain the information needed to determine if a qualified railroad retirement beneficiary is entitled to a SEP because of an exceptional condition. One response is requested of each respondent. Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (90 8165 on January 24, 2025) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Learn More🏥Agency Information Collection Activities for Medicare Programs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, and to allow a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.
Learn More🤰Hearing on Idaho Medicaid State Plan Amendment 24-0015 Reconsideration
This notice announces an administrative hearing to be held on April 2, 2025, by way of video, or at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1600, Seattle, WA 98104 to reconsider CMS' decision to disapprove Idaho's Medicaid SPA 24-0015.
Learn More🏥QUAD A Accreditation Approval for Outpatient Physical Therapy
This notice acknowledges the approval of an application from the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities dba QUAD A for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for Outpatient Physical Therapy programs that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.
Learn More🏥ACHC Approved for Continued Medicare Home Health Accreditation
This notice announces our decision to approve the Accreditation Commission for Health Care Inc. (ACHC) for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for home health agencies (HHAs) that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.
Learn More🏥Medicare & Medicaid Programs Quarterly Listing – October to December 2024
This quarterly notice lists CMS manual instructions, substantive and interpretive regulations, and other Federal Register notices that were published in the 3-month period, relating to the Medicare and Medicaid programs and other programs administered by CMS.
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