On November 9, CMS released a notice on two comment requests titled, "Results of Your Drug Coverage Request" and "Medicare Advantage Medicare Part D, and Medicare Fee-For-Service Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey." The Results of Your Drug Coverage is to provide enrollees with information on the Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan and inform beneficiaries when the plan covers a prescription drug under a different Medicare benefit than was originally requested by the enrollee. This collection also replaces the current forms for communicating coverage provided to Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug enrollees for Part B and Part D drug request. The second collection request concerning the CAHPS survey, details the type of data collected from the survey in order to be used in development of a 5-star rating system for Medicare Advantage plans. The survey is needed to provide information to Medicare beneficiaries on more informed choices on health and prescription drug plans available to them. Individuals are asked to comment on how CMS is collecting this information and ways to enhance collection. Comments are due January 8, 2021.

On November 9, CMS published a final rule on revisions to the End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System (PPS) for 2021. This final rule also details new changes to the payment rate for renal dialysis services from an End-Stage Renal Disease facility and changes to the requirements to the Quality Incentive Program for End-Stage Renal Disease. Specific topics covered in this rule include an annual update to the wage index, an update for the PPS base rate for 2021, a two-year transition policy, low volume payment adjustment, expansion of the transitional add-on payment adjustment for new and innovative equipment and supplies (TPNIES), updating the outlier policy and changes to the eligibility criteria for TPNIES. This final rule is effective January 1, 2021.

On November 10, IHS released a notice of proposed rulemaking on the regulations associated with the Buy Indian Act, that will allow for the IHS to set aside procurement contracts for AI/AN-owned businesses. These regulations will begin the implementation of the Buy Indian Act. This notice details how the rule fits with the IHS and department acquisition regulations, procedures involved, contract requirements, the representation by an Indian Economic Enterprise Offeror and challenges to representation. Comments on this proposed rulemaking are due January 11, 2020.

On November 10, CMS published a notice on a collection request for information on the "Hospital and Health Care Complex Cost Report." This request is needed in order for CMS to determine a hospital's reasonable cost incurred in furnishing medical services to Medicare beneficiaries and to calculate the hospital's reimbursement. The hospitals originally paid under a prospective payment system may receive reimbursement in addition to the prospective payment for Medicare reimbursable bad debts, uncompensated care, organ acquisition costs and so on. This hospital cost report data will be used by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to calculate Medicare margins and analyze data to create Medicare Program recommendations to Congress. Comments are due January 11, 2021.

On November 12, CMS released a notice on 2021 inpatient hospital deductible and the hospital and extended care services coinsurance amounts. These amounts are in relation to the Medicare Hospital Insurance Program for Medicare Part A and this statute specifies the formula used to determine said amounts. From this notice, the inpatient hospital deductible for 2021 will be $1,484 and the daily coinsurance amounts will be $371 for the first 90 days of hospitalization in a benefit period. For lifetime reserve days the coinsurance amount will be $742, and $185.50 for the 21st

On November 12, CMS published a notice on the "Medicare's Hospital Insurance (Part A) premium for uninsured enrollees in calendar year 2021." Specifically, these premiums are tailored to those who are at the uninsured age and for those who have specific disabilities and have exhausted other entitlement. The new monthly Part A premium will be $471 overall, and $259 for others. This notice also details the monthly premium rate calculation, waiver of proposed rulemaking and a regulatory impact analysis. This new premium amount is effective January 1, 2021.

On November 12, HHS released a final rule on transparency in coverage for group health plans and health insurance issuers in the individual and group markets to disclose cost-sharing information to the beneficiary or enrollee. This final rule also includes the estimate in relation to the group health plans and health insurance issuers of the beneficiaries cost sharing liability for covered items or services furnished by a specific provider. Plans and issuers are required to make such information available by way of internet and also by paper if requested. Through this final rule plans and issuers are also required to disclose in network provider negotiated rates, drug pricing information and historical out of network allowed amounts. In addition, this rule finalizes amendments to its medical loss ratio program rules. This final rule is effective January 11, 2021.

On November 12, HRSA released a notice of an information collection request on "Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to States Program: Guidance and Forms for the Title V Application/Annual Report." HRSA is updating this guidance originally used annually by all 50 states on applying for Block Grants in preparing for the annual report. These updates will ultimately give states the ability to articulate the description of its Title V program activities. Specifically, HRSA requests comments on the necessity and utility this program, the estimated burden of the request, ways to enhance the information collected and how the use of automated collection can minimize burdens. Comments are due December 14, 2020.