News

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Offers Relief Exemptions from CMS Quality Initiatives for 2020 Due to Covid-19 Emergency This week, CMS announced that physicians will have the option to opt out completely or partially from the 2020 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) program by completing a hardship exemption application and indicating it is due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). Individual clinicians and group practices have until December 31, 2020, to complete the hardship application. CMS plans on providing physicians with a couple of options on the hardship exemption application. For example, a practice may submit a hardship application and indicate that they do not want to be scored on Cost and Quality and have their score calculated based […]

ISASS Comments on 2021 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Proposed Rule On June 11, 2020, ISASS and other organizations sent a comment letter to CMS in regards to the 2020 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Proposed Rule. The rule had been released in April 2020 and proposed, among other items, an expansion of privileges for nonphysician providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants in IRF settings. The letter expressed concern that the proposal would undermine delivery of and access to physician-led team-based care in the IRF setting, which is critical for both ensuring the health and safety of patients receiving specialized rehabilitation care and differentiating the services that IRFs provide. It also highlighted concern for setting a dangerous precedent for removing physician […]

ISASS Comments on Department of Veteran Affairs Proposal to Expand Scope of Services for Nonphysician Providers in VA Facilities On June 24, 2020, ISASS and other organizations sent a comment letter to the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to the attention of Secretary Robert Wilke asking the VA to rescind an April memorandum expanding privileges for nonphysician providers such as nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in regards to the 2020 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Proposed Rule. The memorandum was released on April 21, 2020. The organizations urged the secretary to amend the Directive 1899 as it relates to allowing non-physician healthcare professionals in 32 specialties to operate “within the full scope of their license, registration, or certification” and […]