Policy and Advocacy News

HHS CMS Announces Evaluation of Amounts and Timing of Payments Under Its Accelerated Payment Program and Suspending the Advance Payment Program On April 26, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it is reevaluating the amounts that will be paid under its Accelerated Payment Program and suspending its Advance Payment Program to Part B suppliers effective immediately. The agency made this announcement following the successful payment of over $100 billion to health care providers and suppliers through these programs and in light of the $175 billion recently appropriated for health care provider relief payments. CMS had expanded these temporary loan programs to ensure providers and suppliers had the resources needed to combat the beginning stages of the […]

U.S. Congress Passes Massive Updated Stimulus Package, Which Includes Additional Relief for Physician and Physician Practices The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives approved the latest COVID-19 relief bill on April 21 and April 23, respectively. Known as the “Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act” (COVID 3.5), President Trump has indicated he will sign the bill into law. The bill provides $484 billion in additional funding to replenish and supplement key programs under the CARES Act, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), small business disaster loans and grants, hospitals and health care providers, and testing. The small business loan programs authorized under the CARES Act had been quickly depleted after only two weeks of operation. More details are […]

CMS Provides Updated Guidance for Elective Surgery Resumption and Other  Physician Practice Updates On April 23, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued updated guidance for hospitals to resume the provision of elective surgeries and other updates on Covid-19 related measures and activities. The new recommendations are specifically targeted to communities that are in Phase 1 of the Guidelines for Opening Up America Again with low incidence or relatively low and stable incidence of COVID-19 cases as described in the Trump Administration’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again. The recommendations update earlier guidance provided by CMS on limiting non-essential surgeries and medical procedures. The new CMS guidelines recommend a gradual transition and encourage health care providers to […]

ISASS Provides Comments to Anthem on Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Practice Guidelines for Workers Compensation Coverage On April 21, 2020, ISASS sent a comment letter to Anthem regarding their Sacroiliac Joint Fusion Practice Guideline which is used in many states/regions by Anthem for fee schedule and coverage policies. The ISASS letter asked that Anthem revise their policy guidelines to consider inclusion of ISASS’ updated SI Joint Fusion policy statement and the ISASS recommendations for appropriate criteria for SI Joint Fusion procedures and criteria on non-surgical options. Read the ISASS comment letter to Anthem.  Read the ISASS policy statement here: https://www.isass.org/public-policy/isass-policy-statement-minimally-invasive-sacroiliac-joint-fusion-july-2016/