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	<title>Capitol Update &#187; Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services</title>
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	<description>ANA Government Affairs&#039; free, online legislative and political newsletter on issues that impact nurses.</description>
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		<title>Supervision of Nurses: New CMS Rule for Hospital Outpatient Services</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/01/supervision-of-nurses-new-cms-rule-for-hospital-outpatient-services/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/01/supervision-of-nurses-new-cms-rule-for-hospital-outpatient-services/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:37:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[In the Agencies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Critical Access Hospitals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[January 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2644</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Did you know that many hospitals have special supervision requirements for their outpatient services – including nursing care?  Special requirements for “direct” supervision by physicians and other health care providers particularly affect nursing services, observation units, and critical access hospitals (CAHs).  ANA has advocated to rescind or improve these requirements, which can affect nurses’ ability to provide IV therapy, chemotherapy, and other nursing care in hospital outpatient and observation units.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a final rule maintaining the requirement, with minor changes.]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Medicare Now Covers Obesity Screening and Counseling</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/01/medicare-now-covers-obesity-screening-and-counseling/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/01/medicare-now-covers-obesity-screening-and-counseling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:00:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[End Notes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BMI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[certified nurse midwives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[January 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nurse practitioners]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2563</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced November 29, 2011 that Medicare will cover screening and counseling to help reduce obesity.  Medicare beneficiaries can receive these and other approved preventive services from primary care providers (including nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives) without any cost sharing.  ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>&#8220;Partnership for Patients&#8221; Funds to Reduce Errors and Readmissions</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/01/partnership-for-patients-funds-to-reduce-errors-and-readmissions/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/01/partnership-for-patients-funds-to-reduce-errors-and-readmissions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:55:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[End Notes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[January 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2616</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On December 14, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services announced $218 million in funding to assist 26 hospital systems in reducing hospital readmissions and preventable medical errors.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>32 “Pioneer” Accountable Care Organizations Selected</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/01/32-pioneer-accountable-care-organizations-selected/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/01/32-pioneer-accountable-care-organizations-selected/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:50:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[End Notes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Affordable Care Act (ACA)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[January 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2624</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Thirty-two organizations will participate in the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Model, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced December 19, 2011.  The ACO initiative was created in the Affordable Care Act to improve quality and coordination of care for Medicare beneficiaries while decreasing costs, with patients assigned to ACOs on the basis of their primary care physician history. ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Nurse Marilyn Tavenner Nominated to Head CMS</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/01/nurse-marilyn-tavenner-nominated-to-head-cms/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/01/nurse-marilyn-tavenner-nominated-to-head-cms/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:42:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[End Notes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Health & Human Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[January 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2557</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In late November 2011, President Obama formally nominated Marilyn Tavenner, a nurse, to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the key agency within the Department of Health and Human Services which administers and develops policy for Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.  ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>ANA Holds Congressional Briefing in Support of Home Health Legislation</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2011/10/ana-holds-congressional-briefing-in-support-of-home-health-legislation/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2011/10/ana-holds-congressional-briefing-in-support-of-home-health-legislation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:25:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Archived]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[112th Congress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advanced practice registered nurses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[S. 227]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sept. - Oct 2011]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2354</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ANA held a Congressional briefing on September 27 on Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to support the bipartisan “Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2011” (H.R. 2267/ S.227). The legislation would remove a federal barrier to practice in Medicare by ensuring that APRNs and PAs can sign home health plans - current law puts an undue burden on the patient, leading to delays in home health services and increased costs for patients.  During the briefing ANA also highlighted compelling results from a new study that found implementation of the law will lead to a cost savings of $309 million over ten years for Medicare. ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>ANA Home Health Virtual Lobby Day a Huge Success!</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2011/10/ana-home-health-virtual-lobby-day-a-huge-success/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2011/10/ana-home-health-virtual-lobby-day-a-huge-success/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:20:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Archived]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[S. 227]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sept. - Oct 2011]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2315</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Wednesday, September 28th over one thousand nurses from all across the country took part in ANA's first ever Home Health Virtual Lobby Day.  Hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls were made to members of Congress by their nurse constituents urging them to support legislation that will remove a barrier to practice in Medicare by ensuring APRNs can sign home health plans of care.  The feedback has been positive and already we’re starting to see results as members of Congress continue to sign on as co-sponsors to this important legislation. ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>ANA Comments on CMS Nursing Supervision, Home Health Policies</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2011/10/ana-comments-on-cms-nursing-supervision-home-health-policies/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2011/10/ana-comments-on-cms-nursing-supervision-home-health-policies/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:05:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Archived]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advanced practice registered nurses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sept. - Oct 2011]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2302</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ANA submitted formal comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) responding to proposed rules that directly impact the practice of nursing, especially in home health care and hospital outpatient services.  Even nurses who don’t work in these areas may have patients or know someone affected by these policies.  Final rules responding to our comments are due out later this year.  These, and other ANA regulatory comments, are available on Nursing World, at http://www.nursingworld.org/comments.  ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>New “Plan Finder” Helps Medicare Patients Compare Options</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2011/10/new-plan-finder-helps-medicare-patients-compareoptions/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2011/10/new-plan-finder-helps-medicare-patients-compareoptions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:00:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Archived]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicare Advantage Part C]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prescription Drug Benefit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sept. - Oct 2011]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2305</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On October 1, the Centers for Medicare &#038; Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new web-based resource called the “Plan Finder” to help beneficiaries and their families choose between drug and health plan options available in their area.  “The information that’s available now on the Plan Finder will also help caregivers, health providers, and partners that support and counsel seniors and people with disabilities in selecting the best plan for their needs,” said CMS Administrator Donald M. Berwick, M.D.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Accountable Care Organizations Workshop Overview &amp; Comment Opportunity</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2010/10/accountable-care-organizations-workshop-overview-comment-opportunity/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2010/10/accountable-care-organizations-workshop-overview-comment-opportunity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:00:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rachel.Conant@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Archived]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Accountable Care Organizations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ACOs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Affordable Care Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CMS Administrator Dr. Donald Berwick]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Health & Human Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HHS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MedPAC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[October 2010]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=1249</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On October 7, a joint workshop on Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) was held by the Federal Trade Commission, CMS (Centers for Medicare &#038; Medicaid Services) and Office of Inspector General, Dept. of Health &#038; Human Services (HHS).  Section 3022 of the Affordable Care Act encourages groups of providers to create ACOs to manage and coordinate care for Medicare beneficiaries, and receive payments for cutting costs &#038; meeting performance standards (to be set by HHS).  Section 3021 authorizes HHS to test whether ACOs improve quality and reduce costs.  ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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