Guidance
12/30 CMS announced the creation of a new federal office to coordinate care for duals authorized under §2602 of the ACA- the new Federal Coordinated Health Care Office (CHCO). The new CHCO will focus on: fostering overall improvements in the quality of healthcare and long-term services for duals; simplifying processes for dual eligible individuals to access items and services available to them; increasing dual eligible individuals' understanding of and satisfaction with coverage under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; eliminating regulatory conflicts between rules under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; and improving coordination between the federal government and the states. The CHCO will be led by Melanie Bella, who was previously senior vice president for policy and operations at the Center for Health Care Strategies. The Federal Register notice containing information regarding the new office can be viewed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-32957.pdf.
12/30 As required by §2701 of the ACA, HHS published an initial core set of health quality measures recommended for Medicaid-eligible adults for voluntary use by state Medicaid programs, health insurers and providers. Comments are due by 3/1/11 regarding the initial measures, on facilitating the use of the measures by states and on identifying priority areas for measure enhancement and development. The Federal Register notice can be viewed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-32978.pdf.
12/30 OCIIO/ HHS published a correction to the interim final rule regarding the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) requirements for health insurance issuers under the ACA. This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the interim final rule with request for comments that appeared in the 12/1/10 Federal Register entitled ''Health Insurance Issuers Implementing Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) Requirements Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.'' The corrections are effective 1/1/11. For more information please see the 12/3010 Federal Register at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-32526.pdf.
12/28 OCIIO/ HHS announced a public meeting scheduled for 1/3/11 of an OCIIO advisory committee tasked with assisting and advising the Secretary and Congress on strategy to foster the creation of qualified nonprofit health insurance issuers. Specifically, the Committee will advise the Secretary and Congress about the awarding of grants and loans related to §1322 of the ACA. The deadline for meeting registration, presentations and comments is 1/6/11. Instructions for registration, participating in the meeting via Internet and phone, and submitting written comments can be found in the Federal Register notice at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-32649.pdf. Background materials will be posted on OCIIO's website http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/.
12/28 IRS, Department of the Treasury; Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor; and OCIIO, HHS are requesting information on how group health plans and health insurance issuers can employ value-based insurance design in the coverage of recommended preventive services. §1001 of the ACA. Comments are due by 2/28/11. The Federal Register notice can be viewed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-32612.pdf.
12/27 CMS requests comments on the provisions of the ACA, §6411, 6411(b), that require the expansion of the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Program to the Medicare Part C and D programs. Comments are due by 2/25/11. The Federal Register notice can be viewed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-32498.pdf.
12/20 CMS contracted with Mathematica Policy Research and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to develop and test quality of care measures for psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units. The purpose of the project is to develop measures that can be used to promote quality care to Medicare beneficiaries in accordance with the ACA. The ACA requires that psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units submit data for quality measures for rate year 2014 and each subsequent year, and that these measures are to be specified and published no later than 10/1/12. CMS is seeking candidate measures, which can be submitted at CMS Call For Measures by COB 1/3/11. CMS is also seeking nominations for members for a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) who will evaluate potential measures for psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units. Nominations for TEP members can be submitted at Technical Expert Panels by COB 1/3/11.
Note that the guidance listed in this section dates back to December 20, 2010. Prior guidance can be viewed at www.healthcare.gov. 
