Last week the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission met in Washington, D.C. to discuss a number of Medicare payment issues.

The issues on MedPAC’s September agenda were:

  • context for Medicare payment policy
  • the effects of Medicare Advantage “spillover” on Medicare fee-for-service spending and coding
  • evaluation of the hospital readmissions reduction program
  • examining the effects of competitive bidding for diabetes testing supplies and improving payment policies for DMEPOS products excluded from competitive bidding
  • a value incentive program for post-acute-care providers
  • Medicare indirect medical education (IME) policy, concerns, and considerations for revising

MedPAC is an independent congressional agency that advises Congress on issues involving the Medicare program.  While its recommendations are not binding on either Congress or the administration, MedPAC is highly influential in governing circles and its recommendations often find their way into legislation, regulations, and new public policy.

Go here for links to the policy briefs and presentations that supported MedPAC’s discussion of these issues.