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Final Parity Rule Fulfills Major NABH Requests
Final Parity Rule Fulfills Major NABH Requests NABH is pleased the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL) and Treasury Departments addressed our major concerns in the final parity rule the three federal agencies released Sept. 9. The long-awaited regulation implements more stringent compliance protocols and related definitions (noted below) with the goal to implement and enforce the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act more fully and fairly almost 16 years after it was enacted into law in October 2008. NABH and our partners will continue to examine…
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Biden Administration’s Final Parity Rule a Win for Patients & Providers
Biden Administration’s Final Parity Rule a Win for Patients & Providers The Biden administration today released its long-awaited parity final rule, which establishes more stringent protocols, amends existing provisions, and adds new ones to implement the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) that President George W. Bush signed into law 16 years ago next month. After a preliminary review, the NABH team sees the final rule as a positive move in the right direction in its efforts to ensure that individuals in group health plans or group or…
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CMS Finalizes 2.5% IPF Payment Increase and Payment System Reforms
CMS Finalizes 2.5% IPF Payment Increase and Payment System Reforms Payment Update The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) FY 2025 final rule on the inpatient psychiatric facility prospective payment system (IPF PPS) implements a net increase of 2.5 percentage points. The overall update of $65 million, compared to FY 2024 payment levels, represents a slight decrease from the proposed 2.6 percentage point increase. This update includes a market basket increase of 3.3 percentage points that is offset by a 0.5 percentage point for productivity. In addition, to maintain the…
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CMS’ Proposed 2025 PFS Rule Would Cut Overall Payments by 2.8%
CMS’ Proposed 2025 PFS Rule Would Cut Overall Payments by 2.8% In its proposed rule for the calendar year (CY) 2025 physician fee schedule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recommends reducing the conversion factor by 2.8% to $32.36 in CY 2025, compared with $33.29 in CY 2024. This change reflects the expired 2.93% statutory payment increase for CY 2024; a 0.00% conversion factor update under the Medicare Access and Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act; and a .05% budget-neutrality adjustment. Proposed New Behavioral Healthcare Services Released July 10,…
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CMS Updates IOP and PHP Payment Rates for 2025
CMS Updates IOP and PHP Payment Rates for 2025 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued its calendar year (CY) 2025 Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) proposed rule, which proposes a net increase of 2.3 percentage points, relative to current year rates. The net update reflects a market basket increase of 3.0 percentage points and the statutorily required 0.4 percentage point cut, along with several budget neutrality adjustments and a minor increase in outlier payments. The proposed update would apply to services paid under the…
