Accountability for Long Term Medicare Solvency Act
Impact
If enacted, SB2164 would require significant reforms within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), compelling them to enhance their data collection and monitoring practices. By ensuring regular reporting on new billing codes, the bill would foster a greater level of transparency. This is particularly crucial as it would allow Congress and the public to better understand how billing practices evolve and how they affect expenditures within Medicare, ultimately aiming to improve long-term sustainability of the program.
Summary
Senate Bill 2164, titled the Accountability for Long Term Medicare Solvency Act, aims to increase oversight and transparency regarding Medicare billing codes. The bill mandates the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive study on the processes for adding, modifying, and removing billing codes under the Medicare program. The outcomes of this study are intended to provide insights into the data considered, trends in the use of codes, and the impact on healthcare outcomes and costs.
Contention
The bill has sparked discussions around the potential for increased bureaucracy and regulatory burdens on healthcare providers who must adapt to any changes stemming from enhanced oversight. While proponents argue that transparency will lead to improved accountability in Medicare expenditures, critics may voice concerns about the complexity and compliance challenges that could arise as a result of this added layer of oversight.
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure fair assessment of pharmacy performance and quality under Medicare part D, and for other purposes.