CMS Administrator Seema Verma and HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, have enlisted the help of many providers and industry consultants to shape policy changes.
“We have been shooting for the moon, just bringing up every possible issue we think they have the ability to change,” said Vinita Ollapally, manager of regulatory affairs for the American College of Surgeons. “This is the first time that any administration has seemed to be so focused on regulatory relief.”
The administration’s initiatives include restoring nursing homes’ ability to have patients preemptively surrender their rights to sue for negligence, slowing the adoption of value-based care for rural providers and halting the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies Competitive Bidding Program, which would cut Medicare payments for medical devices.
Though many providers are excited by the level of industry input the administration is welcoming, the collaboration has come at the chagrin of patient advocates.
“It’s consistent with a general orientation to try to find significant accomplishments of the Obama administration and to undo them,” said Eliot Fishman, a former Medicaid waiver chief for CMS. “It’s disappointing, but not surprising.”
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