Medicare

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) が、データ漏洩により数千人の医師の社会保障番号を誤って流出させた。 • 同機関がシステム内の機密個人情報を適切に保護できていなかったことが判明し、連邦政府のデータ保護体制に対する懸念が高まっている。 • この漏洩を受け、CMSのセキュリティプロトコルの調査と、潜在的な規制改革への動きが加速している。

• Medicare underpayments to hospitals totaled more than $100 billion in 2024, according to testimony provided to the House Ways and Means Committee by the American Hospital Association. • Hospitals are managing significant cost pressures while treating a sicker, more medically complex, and aging patient population, with persistent misalignments between care provision and reimbursement rates. • The financial strain reflects broader healthcare system challenges as providers struggle with inadequate government reimbursement alongside rising operational costs.

• The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission released its March 2026 Report to Congress, recommending a 0.5% increase in physician payments above current levels. • This proposal aims to address payment updates for Medicare services amid ongoing discussions on healthcare financing sustainability. • The report influences federal policy decisions on Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians across the US.