2024 Public Comments

When relevant legislation, regulations, guidance, and other opportunities to shape policy related to health services research arise, UnityPoint Health may decide it is appropriate to develop an official position. The UnityPoint Health Government & External Affairs department serves as the primary liaison for regulatory submissions in response to state and federal rule-making and public requests for information, as well as communications advocating changes in state and federal policy direction or strategic initiatives.

Federal Comments

CY 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Date Submitted: September 9, 2024

This annual proposed rule revises the CY 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems; quality reporting programs, including the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program; health and safety standards for obstetrical services in hospitals and critical access hospitals; prior authorization; requests for information; Medicaid and CHIP continuous eligibility; Medicaid clinic services four walls exceptions; individuals currently or formerly in custody of penal authorities; revision to Medicare special enrollment period for formerly incarcerated individuals; and all-inclusive rate add-on payment for high-cost drugs provided by Indian Health Service and tribal facilities.

CY 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Date Submitted: August 26, 2024

This annual proposed rule revises the CY 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System rate update; Home Health Quality Reporting Program requirements; Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Expanded Model requirements; Home Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG) items and services rate update; and other Medicare policies.

CY 2025 Physician Fee Schedule

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Date Submitted: September 9, 2024

This annual proposed rule revises the CY 2025 payment policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and other changes to Part B payment and coverage policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare overpayments.

MSSP Significant, Anomalous, and Highly Suspect Billing Activity

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Date Submitted: July 29, 2024

This proposed rule sets forth methodology to mitigate the impact of Significant, Anomalous, and Highly Suspect (SAHS) billing activity on Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) financial calculations in CY 2023.

Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Date Submitted: July 16, 2024

This proposed rule solicits input on alternative payment model updates and the new Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model.

Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (CIRCIA) Reporting Requirements

Agency: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Date Submitted: July 3, 2024

This proposed rule solicits input on cyber incident reporting and purports to implement requirements under the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (CIRCA).

Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program – Draft Guidance

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Date Submitted: July 2, 2024

This draft guidance proposes to implement the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) maximum fair price provisions.

FY 2025 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Date Submitted: June 10, 2024

This annual proposed rule revises the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and policy changes and FY 2025 rates; quality programs requirements; and other policy-related changes, including to the Medicaid Program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

FY 2025 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Date Submitted: May 24, 2024

This annual proposed rule revises the FY 2025 Hospice Wage Index and payment rate update; Hospice Conditions of Participation updates; and Hospice Quality Reporting Program requirements.

340B Senate Bipartisan Discussion Draft and Request for Information (RFI) issued February 2, 2024

Agency: U.S. Senate – “Gang of Six”
Date Submitted: April 1, 2024

This discussion draft and supplemental request for information solicits input on the “Supporting Underserved and Strengthening Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity Now and for the Future of 340B Act” or the “SUSTAIN 340B Act”.

Medicare Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Date Submitted: February 26, 2024

These proposed notice and appeals processes would apply to certain Medicare beneficiaries who are initially admitted as hospital inpatients but are subsequently reclassified as outpatients receiving observation services during their hospital stay and meet other eligibility criteria.

21st Century Cures Act: Establishment of Disincentives for Health Care Providers That Have Committed Information Blocking

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Date Submitted: January 2, 2024

This proposed rule would implement the provision of the 21st Century Cures Act specifying that a health care provider determined by the HHS Inspector General to have committed information blocking shall be referred to the appropriate agency to be subject to appropriate disincentives set forth through notice and comment rulemaking.

State Comments
Legislative Positions and Collaborative Sign-On Letters
Executive Order Summaries

For Further Information:

Please email Cathy Simmons, Executive Director, Government & External Affairs.

Contact Us

UnityPoint Health
Government & External Affairs
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West Des Moines, Iowa 50266