MedPAC issues March report to Congress

Mar 13, 2020 - 03:09 PM
medpac-update

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission today released its March report to Congress. The report details the fee-for-service payment recommendations for 2021 approved by the commission in January, including recommendations for hospital services and post-acute care. For hospital inpatient and outpatient prospective payment systems, MedPAC recommended that Congress provide a 2% market-basket update in 2021, using the difference between the update and amount specified in current law to increase hospital payments through its proposed Hospital Value Incentive Program. As expected, the report also includes a staff analysis of the relationship between the 340B drug savings program and oncology drug costs, requested by the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2018. The findings were inconclusive overall, showing higher spending for some cancer drugs but not others, and not generalizable to other conditions. For more information, see the MedPAC factsheet.

Related News Articles

Headline
KFF analysis highlights limited physician access in Medicare Advantage plans
A new report from KFF reveals that Medicare Advantage enrollees had access to just 48% of the physicians available to Traditional Medicare beneficiaries in…
Headline
AHA shares concerns, recommendations with CMS on WISeR model
The AHA Oct. 23 recommended changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction model to address…
Headline
CMS releases guide on prior authorization submissions, determinations under WISeR model  
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released an operational guide for Medicare-enrolled providers and suppliers on the Wasteful and…
Headline
OIG says MA, Medicaid managed care plans have limited, inaccurate behavioral health provider networks 
A report by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General found that many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans…
Headline
Medicare open enrollment for 2026 begins
Medicare open enrollment for 2026 began Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. During the annual enrollment period, Medicare-eligible individuals can check their…
Headline
AHA encourages MedPAC to refine analysis of MA enrollment impacts on patients, providers
The AHA Oct. 3 responded to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s recent analysis on the financial impacts of Medicare Advantage enrollment growth on…