Mara McDermott
Subscribe to Mara McDermott's PostsMara is an accomplished health care executive with a deep understanding of federal health care law and policy, including delivery system reform, physician payment and Medicare payment models.Read Mara McDermott's full bio.
An Overhaul for Medicare’s Pay Transformation Program
By Mara McDermott on Dec 6, 2022
Posted In Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
The Biden administration recently finalized an overhaul of an initiative known as the Medicare Shared Savings Program that seeks to pay health providers based on patient outcomes instead of the number of services they perform. In this Axios article, McDermott+Consulting’s Mara McDermott offers insight into providers’ Congressional push to extend a 5% pay increase for...
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Trump-Era Medicare Program Under Increased Scrutiny
By Mara McDermott on Mar 17, 2022
Posted In Digital Health, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
A Trump administration-era Medicare program is under increased scrutiny from progressive Democrats. According to this Politico article, the program is a “direct contracting model” that allows private companies to participate in Medicare. Some Democrats, however, say the program is opening up a lane for Medicare privatization. “There’s a dynamic with the left that [the Center...
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Proposed Rule on MA and Part D Would Reinstate Historical Requirements, Make Changes to Prescription Drug Payment Structure
By Kate McDonald, Mara McDermott, Ankur J. Goel, Emily Curran, Taylor Hood and Haile Dagne on Mar 3, 2022
Posted In Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
On January 6, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule regarding Contract Year 2023 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs, marking the Biden administration’s first proposed rule on these topics. The proposed rule includes proposed changes to the manner in which...
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Broadband Internet a Hurdle as Telehealth Services Rise in Popularity
By Stephen Bernstein and Mara McDermott on Feb 1, 2022
Posted In Digital Health, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
Doctors and lawmakers say reliable broadband internet is lagging for populations that could benefit the most from telehealth services. In this MetroWest Daily News article, McDermott Partner Stephen Bernstein and McDermott+Consulting Vice President Mara McDermott offer insight into the challenges—and opportunities—for virtual care as it gains popularity. Access the article.
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Staying Connected: An Update on Medicare Reimbursement for Telehealth Services After the PHE
By Amanda Enyeart, Dawn Helak, Marshall E. Jackson, Jr., Lisa Schmitz Mazur, Dale C. Van Demark, Mara McDermott and Lauren Knizner on Jan 11, 2022
Posted In Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans, Privacy and Data Security
In hopes that the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will soon end, Congress and the administration are evaluating the telehealth expansions and flexibilities put in place to respond to the PHE. As a result, the future for telehealth stakeholders remains uncertain. This article outlines various changes in Medicare telehealth reimbursement policy in effect during the...
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Major Health Systems, Hospital-at-Home Company Launch Advocacy Effort
By Mara McDermott on Nov 24, 2021
Posted In Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
A coalition launched by several major health systems and a hospital-at-home company aims to continue delivering hospital-level-at-home care in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. McDermott+Consulting Vice President Mara McDermott said providers have demonstrated that the model is “of high value to patients.” “At the end of the pandemic, without some sort of extension, the...
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