The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday finalized a decision to cover acupuncture for Medicare patients with chronic low back pain. Acupuncture has not been covered nationally by Medicare, but recent evidence from published acupuncture studies indicated that patients with chronic low back pain showed improvements in function and pain. “Expanding options for pain treatment is a key piece of the Trump Administrations’ strategy for defeating our country’s opioid crisis,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. 

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The Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a proposed rule June 12 seeking to codify the…
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The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission June 15 released its June report to Congress that estimated the association between Medicare Advantage enrollment and…
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services June 12 issued a final rule revising how the agency conducts oversight of accrediting organizations that…
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The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General June 11 released two reports on high rates of coverage denials by Medicare Advantage…
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The Hospital Insurance Trust Fund has been projected to become insolvent in 2033, according to the Medicare Board of Trustees’ annual report released June 9.…
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Members of Congress and hospital and health system leaders today gathered for a briefing in Washington, D.C., to discuss how payment delays in Medicare…