The URAC Report

On January 12, URAC submitted comments in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed rule for Medicare Advantage for 2019. As part of the proposed rule, CMS requests feedback regarding the role that accreditation, namely accreditation of specialty pharmacies, plays in Part D. CMS noted anecdotal concerns that have been reported regarding the potential limiting nature of Part D contracts that require pharmacies to maintain Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation.

It is an old but true adage that government moves slowly. While change may be swift, your local, state, or federal regulator is not.

Washington, DC -- The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has announced that it will accept telehealth accreditation as evidence of regulatory compliance for part of the state’s telepsychiatry requirements.

WASHINGTON, DC – June 27, 2017 – URAC Director of Government Relations Aaron Turner-Phifer discussed key points of the healthcare reform legislation now under consideration in the Senate during a 20-minute appearance on News 4 Your Sunday, which aired June 25 on the Washington, D.C.-based NBC4. Viewers can watch the entire 20-minute interview below.

CMS continues to ease administrative burdens for physicians as the “slow ramp-up” of the Quality Payment Program continues in 2018, according to the agency’s proposed rule for MACRA’s 2018 Quality Payment Program.

On April 19th, President Trump signed into law (S. 544) extending the Veterans Choice Program which allows some veterans to receive healthcare from local doctors and hospitals.  The legislation passed with broad bipartisan support – the bill was approved, by voice vote, in both the House and the Senate.

I once had a local politician tell me that a poll reflects the mood of the particular day it was taken and often ends up wrong in the end. For him, people were fickle and he wouldn’t let one poll dictate his fate.

As the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) prepares to award contracts for managing its Community Care Network in four regions nationwide, organizations should keep in mind the importance of delivering sustainable, local healthcare solutions.