Showing 1 - 10 of 228 results

Policy Snapshot

January 5, 2026

CMS Proposed Model Test Would Lower Drug Costs for Medicare Part D

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the newly proposed GUARD (Guarding U.S. Medicare Against Rising Drug Costs) Model that would lower the costs of certain prescription drugs covered by Medicare Part D to reflect prices paid in economically comparable countries.
Policy Snapshot

January 5, 2026

CMS Announces $50 Billion in Awards to Strengthen Rural Health in All 50 States

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that all 50 states will receive awards under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative established under the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation (Public Law 119-21) to strengthen and modernize health care in rural co...
Policy Snapshot

January 5, 2026

2025 QPP Data Submission is Now Open

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has opened data submission for the 2025 performance year of the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Data can be submitted and updated until March 31, 2026, 8:00 PM ET.
Policy Snapshot

January 5, 2026

New CMS LEAD Model Aims to Expand Access to ACOs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) Model as the Innovation Center’s next Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model, which will focus on reaching more health-care providers who have not joined ACOs, while providing care for pati...
Policy Snapshot

December 12, 2025

CMS Indefinitely Suspends SNF Revalidation Deadline

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced an indefinite suspension of the January 1, 2026, revalidation deadline for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). This revalidation process was the primary mechanism CMS introduced to collect detailed ownership, managerial, and related-party ...
Policy Snapshot

December 8, 2025

CMS Reverses Long-Term Care Minimum Staffing Rule, Returns to Prior Standards

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued an interim final rule with comment period, reversing key components of the May 2024 Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities final rule. This action formally restores staffing requirements that were in place prior to the 2024...
Policy Snapshot

December 2, 2025

2026 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule: Key Impacts on SNF and NF Care

The 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule finalized a small increase in the conversion factor but made significant practice expense (PE) adjustments that will directly affect clinicians practicing in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and nursing facilities (NFs). CMS’ new PE methodology reduces i...
Policy Snapshot

November 17, 2025

Federal Government Reopens, Telehealth Flexibilities Extended

After a record-breaking 40-day shutdown, the federal government officially reopened on November 12, 2025, following congressional passage of H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act. President Trump signed the measure shortly after it was approved by the House, ending the longest lapse i...