National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), April 16, was honored and celebrated by hundreds of healthcare organizations, professionals, patients, caregivers, and faith communities with events and educational campaigns held across the country. NHDD was founded in 2008 by Nathan Kottkamp, a Virginia-based healthcare lawyer, to provide clear, concise, and consistent information on healthcare decision-making to both the public and providers and…
C-TAC regularly comments on proposed federal regulations on behalf of those living with serious illness and the people who care for them. Hundreds and even thousands of others comment as well, so it is unusual and encouraging when a comment is mentioned in a final rule. Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule for…
In September 2023 and March 2024, CMS announced two new care models – the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development Model (AHEAD Model), and the ACO Primary Care Flex Model, respectively – that offer promising opportunities for better care delivery, outcomes, and health equity for people with serious illness. The goal of the AHEAD Model is to collaborate…
In a recent article in Harvard Public Health, C-TAC advisors Marian Grant and Torrie Fields, were featured for their state palliative care work. For the estimated 150 million Americans with a chronic health condition, and the two-thirds of those with two or more conditions, palliative care can provide critical support. The article notes, “A growing body of research…
In March 2024, the twelve FY24 appropriations bills were passed in two separate pieces of legislation. When combining the two packages, discretionary spending for the budget year comes to about $1.66 trillion. That does not include most program costs for Social Security and Medicare or financing the debt. The appropriations package was constrained by the agreement that former Speaker of…
Research on the effectiveness of palliative care services has long been financed by philanthropy. A recent vote by the senate has developed a sustainable funding mechanism for this type of research that will be made available through the National Institute on Aging (NIA). This federal funding appropriated totals $12.5M and is expected to be awarded to researchers to expand the…
C-TAC, the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State (HPCANYS), C-TAC Innovations, and TFA Analytics recently launched a project to improve access to high-quality care for people with serious illness while also improving health equity for the medically underserved, low income, and minority populations in New York State. The project includes developing a comprehensive set of payment and…
Medicare Advantage (MA) is the growing public/private form of Medicare that now over half of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in. The quality of MA programs is rated using Star Ratings, with 1 being the lowest score and 5 the highest. MA plan payment is tied to Star Rating performance, so plans have a strong incentive to aim for high Star…
C-TAC regularly monitors and comments on federal regulations as part of our ongoing dialogue with the Biden Administration on behalf of those living with serious illness. This is a mechanism to help shape Medicare programs and measures on their behalf. Throughout the year, there are various comment opportunities including the ability to comment on proposed regulations, Requests for Information (RFIs),…
C-TAC recently submitted a comment letter to CMS on the Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for CY 2025 for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies. Here are C-TAC’s comments on pertinent measures in the proposed Advance Notice: Changes to Existing Star Ratings Measures for the 2025 Measurement Year and Beyond Cross-cutting: Gender-Affirming Quality…
C-TAC acknowledges CMMI’s recent decision to end testing of the Hospice Benefit Component of the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model. There were executional reasons for payers and providers to do so and we will continue to work with the agency, providers, payers, and policy makers on ways to improve care of those with serious illness and their families using our…
More than 20% of Americans serve as caregivers, representing all socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and ages. Caregivers experience disproportionate physical, mental, and financial strain as a result of their caregiving responsibilities and have historically been under-represented and underserved in federal policy and program design. Everyone will need some level of caregiving during their lifetime, but none more than individuals with…