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Chris Emper

Government Affairs Advisor
NextGen Healthcare

Categories from Chris's Blogs

Industry news Population Health Interoperability NextGen Advisors

Blogs by Chris

Industry news

5 Key Takeaways from Medicare’s New 1,300 Page Physician Payment Regulation

On August 3, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule. The 1,353-page rule proposes updates that would take effect on January 1, 2021 for Medicare’s physician payment system, Quality Payment Program, Shared Savings Accountable Care Organization (ACO) program, telehealth services program, and more. This year’s rule was highly anticipated by industry stakeholders because it includes important COVID-19 updates impacting both the current public health emergency and the permanent Medicare program.

Industry news

CMS Moving Forward with Major Physician Office Visit Reforms in 2021

In a recent blog post, we offered five key takeaways from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) new 1,300-page proposed 2021 Medicare physician payment rule. Since the release of that rule a few weeks ago, much of our industry’s attention has been focused on the telehealth policy proposals, and more specifically, on which COVID-19 emergency telehealth policies CMS plans to make permanent after the emergency ends.

Population Health

The Trump Administration’s 2018 Healthcare Reboot

2017 was a year of tremendous uncertainty for healthcare providers. After spending the previous several years adjusting to the realities of and complying with The Affordable Care Act (aka the ACA), the provider community watched President Trump take office last January and install Tom Price as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with a promise to aggressively pursue the repeal of major elements of the law.

Industry news

DEA extends pandemic-era telehealth rules for prescribing controlled medications

The DEA extends temporary pandemic-era telehealth rules for prescribing controlled medications that is planned to turn into a permanent rule later this year.

Industry news

21st Century Cures Act: Five Years Later

Following NextGen Healthcare's Cures Act certification last month, our legislative expert, Chris Emper, presents a detailed overview of how this monumental law will impact key IT interoperability provisions going forward.

Industry news

21st Century Cures Act: Five Years Later

Following NextGen Healthcare's Cures Act certification last month, our legislative expert, Chris Emper, presents a detailed overview of how this monumental law will impact key IT interoperability provisions going forward.

Industry news

HHS Begins Enforcement of Information Blocking Rules for Healthcare Providers

Discover how the 21st Century Cures Act enforces information blocking rules and the resulting penalties for healthcare providers.

Industry news

What You Need to Know about CMS’s 2023 Proposed Medicare Physician Payment Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) just released its proposed—and much-awaited—payment schedule for providers. NextGen Advisor Chris Emper breaks down the key takeaways.

Industry news

New CMS Regulation Establishes Maximum Appointment Wait Time Standards for Medicaid

Learn about CMS' new compliance obligations for managed care plans, including a provision that expands network adequacy requirements to create appointment wait time standards.

Industry news

Top 5 Takeaways from CMS’s New 2024 Medicare Physician Payment Rule

Every year, industry stakeholders anticipate the release of the annual CMS regulation because it updates the rules governing Medicare’s value-based programs.

Interoperability

2021 Office Visit Documentation Reforms Create Opportunities for New AI Documentation Solutions

As physicians continue to struggle with regulatory and administrative burdens, it’s exciting to see the advent of new AI-enabled ambient listening solutions* that can reduce the time physicians have to spend documenting and/or dictating notes. This is especially true when considered in the context of the landmark 2021 office visit documentation and coding system overhaul.

NextGen Advisors

CMS Creates New Office Focused on Reducing Provider Burden

While it remains unclear what impact the creation of this new office will have, it clearly signals that reducing provider burden is one of agency’s top policy and political priorities.

NextGen Advisors

CMS Releases Proposed 2022 Medicare Physician Payment Policies

On July 13, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its annual rule proposing updates to its payment system for physicians in Medicare. NextGen Advisor Chris Emper reviews some of the key elements and proposals.

NextGen Advisors

HHS Awards Record $3 Billion to Behavioral Health Grant Programs

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that it was distributing $3 billion in block grant funds authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act.

NextGen Advisors

The Physician’s Guide to HHS’s New Surprise Billing Rules

In this blog, our legislative expert, Chris Emper, lays out a rule-by-rule manual for navigating the new surprise billing regulations.

NextGen Advisors

The Physician’s Guide to HHS’s New Surprise Billing Rules

In this blog, our legislative expert, Chris Emper, lays out a rule-by-rule manual for navigating the new surprise billing regulations.

NextGen Advisors

2100 Pages for 2021: Key Takeaways from CMS's New Physician Payment Rules

On December 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officially released its annual Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule for 2021. The rule updates payment policies and quality programs under Medicare’s Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) starting January 1, 2021.

NextGen Advisors

2100 Pages for 2021: Key Takeaways from CMS's New Physician Payment Rules

On December 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officially released its annual Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule for 2021. The rule updates payment policies and quality programs under Medicare’s Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) starting January 1, 2021.

NextGen Advisors

Community Health Centers Awarded Record $6.1 Billion in Federal Grant Funding

The HHS’s Health Resources & Services Administration will award billions in grants to federally qualified community health centers.

NextGen Advisors

Community Health Centers Awarded Record $6.1 Billion in Federal Grant Funding

The HHS’s Health Resources & Services Administration will award billions in grants to federally qualified community health centers.