Medicare CHW Comment Resources
Comment by 9/11/23!
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed updated payments in the Medicare program, which provides health insurance to over 65 million Americans, primarily those 65 and over. For the first time, CMS is proposing to pay for new Medicare services designed explicitly for community health workers (CHWs) to provide. This proposed policy change would go into effect nationwide on January 1, 2024, and CMS is inviting feedback from the public to inform its final decision. Comments from the public are due 3 weeks from today, on Monday, September 11 by 5pm ET.
A group of CHWs, advocates, and allies has compiled tools and resources in a Google drive to help CHWs, CHW networks, and allies comment to make sure our voices are heard in this important policy change. Many of these resources are listed below:
Resources to read/understand the proposal:
- NACHW webinar recording with a presentation from CMS on how to submit comments (slides here)
- Here is a link to the entire proposal (which is very long), and here is a document with just the sections on CHW services pasted for easier reading
- Here is a summary of the CHW services section
- Here is a 1-pager on key differences between Medicare and Medicaid
Tools to write and submit your own comment on the rule:
- Here is a template to help with formatting your comment letter
- Slides 11 through 20 have instructions for submitting comments on www.regulations.gov
Get your questions answered:
If you have any questions, we are holding weekly “office hours” on Thursdays from 2-3pm ET/ 11am-12pm PT until the comments are due: 8/24, 8/31, 9/7
Zoom link for office hours here or download the calendar invite here. If you cannot make the office hours, please email Ali Bloomgarden, PIH-US Advocacy Engagement Manager, at abloomgarden@pih.org, to connect you to the right people to answer your questions.