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CHIP

Current Trends in Medicaid 1115 Waiver Requests: Are They Schemes to Avoid Compliance with Disfavored Requirements?

States looking for flexibility or creativity in implementing Medicaid programs can apply for waivers from the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). According to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment Access Commission (MACPAC), waiver use is quite extensive—resulting in “wide variations in program design, covered services, and eligible populations among states and even within states.” As of September 2017, 33 states account for 41 approved waivers, and 18 states have 21 total pending waivers. The scope of these waivers traditionally broadens eligibility and creates new programs in states where Medicaid needs are not expressly recognized by federal law. Current pending applications suggest, however, that states seeking waivers now do so as a means to circumvent Medicaid program requirements they disagree with.

MACRA 101: Noteworthy Changes in the Final Rule

Alanna Kroeker Executive Editor Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD 2017   As our MACRA 101 series comes to an end, this article is intended to point out key differences between the proposed rule released earlier this year and the final rule which was released October 14th.  The lengthy final rule, reaching almost 2,400 …
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MACRA 101: Advanced Alternative Payment Models

Bherti Patel Associate Editor Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD 2018   The Quality Payment Program (QPP) will reward delivery of quality patient care through the following two programs: the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and the Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs). These two programs will allow clinicians and physicians to provide care in a …
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MACRA 101: MIPS and the Clinical Practice Improvement Reporting Category

Christine Bulgozdi Associate Editor Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD 2018   The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (“MIPS”) is one of the two different payment methods that MACRA will use for eligible clinicians. Clinicians will be evaluated based on a single Composite Performance Score from four reporting categories: Quality, Resource Use, Advancing Care Information and …
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MACRA 101: MIPS and the Advancing Care Information Category

Alanna Kroeker Executive Editor Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD 2017   This article will spell out the details for the Advancing Care Information (ACI) category of the Merit Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).  This category accounts for 25% of a clinician’s overall composite score and is intended to replace the current Meaningful Use …
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MACRA 101: MIPS and the Resource Use Category

Bherti Patel Associate Editor Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD 2018   As previously discussed, MIPS will streamline Medicare’s current quality measures into one composite score from four reporting categories: Quality, Resource Use, Advancing Care Information, and Clinical Practice Improvement. This score will then be used to determine the reimbursement to a clinician based …
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MACRA 101: MIPS and the Quality Reporting Category

Christine Bulgozdi Associate Editor Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD 2018   The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (“MIPS”) is one of the two different payment methods that MACRA will use for eligible clinicians. MIPS replaces the existing fee-for-service model and is expected to be the payment track that most clinicians take. Clinicians will be evaluated …
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MACRA 101: Physician Fee Schedule Adjustments and the New Pick Your Pace Options

Alanna J. Kroeker Executive Editor Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD 2017   In this article, we will cover the anticipated reimbursement scheme for both MIPS and APMs, as well as briefly discuss two new reporting paths recently revealed to be available to clinicians in 2017. One of the most attractive pieces of the …
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