Medicare Blog

how to fix healthcare access for medicare and medicaid patients

by Jena Von V Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Health systems dedicated to connecting more patients with needed care at the right time and location can use a five-step framework for improving patient access. #1: Create a Patient Access Task Force The patient access task force must include representation from C-level leadership and leaders from across the organization.

Full Answer

How does the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services support access to care?

Through these programs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) supports access to care in many ways. Most importantly, people gain access to health care services that may not be affordable without Medicaid or CHIP.

When will facilities lose access to Medicare and Medicaid?

Facilities that do not become compliant within 14 weeks will lose access to Medicare and Medicaid, said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. CMS is implementing an Aug. 28 interim final rule with comment, which made daily reporting of COVID-19-related data and other data a condition of participation (COP) in Medicare and Medicaid.

What is access to care Medicaid and chip?

Access to Care Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide critical health coverage for millions of people. Through these programs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) supports access to care in many ways.

Does the ACA’s Medicaid expansion improve access to care?

“The current best evidence on the ACA’s Medicaid expansion suggests that improvements in access to and quality of care, as well as to some degree in health, have occurred,” the researchers concluded. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) in March published a similar review of 202 studies examining the impact of Medicaid expansion.

How would you solve the issue of healthcare access?

5 ways to improve access to health careEnsure adequate funding of the Children's Health Insurance Program and retain Medicaid expansion and implement expansion in more states. ... Stabilize individual insurance marketplaces and retain ACA market reforms. ... Address physician shortages.More items...

What strategies can you use to improve access to healthcare and medical services?

10 Ways Hospitals Can Improve Healthcare AccessTeam up with Independent Transportation Network, ITN. ... Use Mobile Clinics to Go to the Patient. ... Work with Congregational Networks to Coordinate Rides. ... Partner with or Co-host Pop-up Clinics. ... Team up with Retail Clinics. ... Work with Student Run Clinics.More items...

How can we improve access to healthcare in rural areas?

What's Working to Improve Access to High Quality Health Care?Community health workers (SE) ... Federally qualified health centers (SS) * ... Higher education financial incentives for health professionals serving underserved areas (SE) * ... Rural training in medical education (SS) * ... School dental programs (SS) *More items...

What are three factors that impact your access to healthcare services?

They include poverty and its correlates, geographic area of residence, race and ethnicity, sex, age, language spoken, and disability status. The ability to access care—including whether it is available, timely and convenient, and affordable—affects health care utilization.

What is being done to solve barriers to accessing primary care?

Practices to improve access to care included addressing illiteracy and low health literacy, identifying cost-effective resources, expanding care offerings, enhancing the patient–provider relationship, and cultivating a culture of teamwork and customer service.

How can hospitals improve access?

Five Steps to Improving Patient Access to Healthcare#1: Create a Patient Access Task Force. ... #2: Assess Barriers to Patient Access. ... #3: Turn Access Barriers into Opportunities. ... #4: Implement an Improved Patient Access Plan. ... #5: Scale and Sustain Better Patient Access.

What are the policy suggestions to improve health care accessibility and affordability in the country?

8 Ways in Which India's Public Healthcare Can Change for the...Quantum increase in budget allocations. ... Rebuilding trust between doctors and patients. ... Reclaiming peace and harmony. ... Introducing eggs in anganwadi centres. ... Making workplaces safe. ... A stronger push against tuberculosis.More items...•

What are the barriers to accessing health care?

Barriers to HealthcareHealth Professional Shortage.Transportation Access.Lack of Health Insurance.Financial Constraints.Language Barriers.

What causes lack of access to healthcare?

Lack of access to healthcare happens for three main reasons. First, some people cannot access healthcare because of its cost and their income. Second, some people cannot access it because they are uninsured. Finally, some people cannot access it because they do not have quality care in their geographic area.

Why is healthcare access important?

Health Impact of Access to Health Services Detect and treat illnesses or other health conditions. Increase quality of life. Reduce the likelihood of premature (early) death. Increase life expectancy.

Why is patient Access important in healthcare?

Patient access is the first point of contact for patients and the first time staff can get key information right for revenue cycle management success. May 06, 2021 - Patient access is generally the first encounter a patient will have with a healthcare organization, making it central to the patient experience.

What is healthcare access?

Access to health care means having "the timely use of personal health services to achieve the best health outcomes" (IOM, 1993).

What is CHIP in healthcare?

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide critical health coverage for millions of people. Through these programs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) supports access to care in many ways. Most importantly, people gain access to health care services that may not be affordable without Medicaid or CHIP.

What is preventive care?

Preventive care and other services help people stay healthy and avoid more costly care. CMS offers materials, toolkits, and other resources for states to help Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries learn about these services and how to access them. CMS also supports many efforts to measure access, share the results, and promote progress.

What are the steps to improve patient access?

Steps 1 through 3 will inform an improved patient access plan, aligning the plan’s champions and leaders, identifying barriers and patient preferences, and targeting opportunities to better connect patients with care. Step 4 involves implementing the improved patient access plan. The implementation may comprise initiatives such as the following:

What is a patient access task force?

The patient access task force must include representation from C-level leadership and leaders from across the organization. This structure encourages buy-in and championing from the top down, which builds the likelihood of widespread adoption and standardization of patient access improvement initiatives. Multidisciplinary engagement also ensures meeting different department needs (e.g., physician leaders represent clinical concerns), leveraging accessible solutions (e.g., IT leaders offer practical digital tools), and financial optimization.

What is the principle behind the AMA?

An overarching principle behind the AMA’s position on health care reform has been that any new legislation should not result in people losing their health insurance coverage. That principle is driven by the evidence showing that people without insurance live sicker and die younger. The Affordable Care Act allowed states to expand Medicaid ...

Does AMA support Medicaid?

Long-standing AMA policy advocates access to adequate health care coverage for all and that any changes to Medicaid financing should not undermine coverage gains that occurred under the ACA—particularly for individuals with the lowest incomes.

Does Medicaid expansion have a positive impact on health?

Better coverage means better health. More data is being collected that indicates Medicaid expansion has had a positive impact on patient access and health as well as strengthening the financial stability of safety-net institutions. In June, the journal Health Affairs published a report by University of Indiana researchers who conducted ...

Does Medicaid expansion increase buprenorphine?

A JAMA Network Open report by researchers at the Johns Hopkins School Public Health observed that Medicaid expansion was associated with increased buprenorphine with naloxone prescriptions suggesting that expansion increased access to opioid-use disorder treatment.”.

How does Medicaid affect the state budget?

As Medicaid consumes a larger share of state budgets, policymakers seek ways to improve outcomes, reduce costs and make sure their state’s program is managed as efficiently and effectively as possible.

What is unique about Medicaid?

As a result, each state Medicaid program is unique, reflecting that states have options through their state plan amendments or by using Section 1115 waivers to design programs that better meet their needs and priorities.

What is the federal law on Medicaid?

Although federal law sets Medicaid minimum standards related to eligible groups, required benefits and provider payments, it offers states latitude in decisions about program eligibility, optional benefits, premiums and cost-sharing, delivery system and provider payments.

Is there a silver bullet for Medicaid?

While there is no silver bullet, states are adopting a wide array of strategies to reduce spending, improve care outcomes and quality, and provide states with a return on their health investments. Over its 50-year history, Medicaid has represented an important and evolving issue for state policymakers. Approximately one in five, or 68 million, ...

When will hospitals begin reporting to CMS?

On Oct. 21, CMS will begin publicly reporting on each hospital’s compliance and, for noncompliant hospitals, which elements they are not reporting.

How long does it take for a hospital to terminate Medicare?

Weekly enforcement notices for four weeks beginning three weeks after the second letter. Termination from Medicare and Medicaid 30 days after the final enforcement notice.

How much has HHS increased reporting?

Since HHS asked hospitals to begin reporting some of the data, weekly reporting has increased from 86% to 98% of all hospitals. Daily reporting has increased from 61% to 86%, said Deborah Birx, MD, White House coronavirus response coordinator.

How do hospitals report data?

Details of the reporting process. Hospitals can report the data using any of three options: Through their states. Directly to HHS through teletracking. Through their health IT vendors, which will send the data to HHS.

How many data elements are required for a hospital?

Hospitals are required to report 31 data elements daily and six elements weekly, according to an Oct. 6 FAQ from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The reporting requirements broadly apply to all types of hospitals, or more than 6,000 facilities.

Is CMS overkill?

Hospital advocates condemned the approach as “overkill.”. "It is both inappropriate and frankly overkill for CMS to tie compliance with reporting to Medicare conditions of participation,” Chip Kahn, president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals, said in a written statement.

Can hospitals appeal termination?

Hospitals can appeal any termination. CMS plans to offer technical assistance, including a “hotline” that hospitals can call for details about their noncompliance or to address reporting issues, such as HHS not receiving submitted data. HHS also plans to release more details through sub-regulatory guidance.

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