Social Security Administration (SSA)

Learn more about how Team Kat can help with your Social Security Administration issues.

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Social Security Administration to Resume In-Person Services at Local Social Security Offices

SSAPressRelease.pdf (242.13 KB)

SSAPressReleaseEspañol.pdf (240.71 KB)

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Online Card Replacement

Applying for Benefits

Appeals

Do I need a Notice or Letter from the Social Security Administration before I file my non-medical appeal request online?
How do I appeal a decision on my application for disability benefits?
Will I receive a confirmation that the Social Security Administration received my online appeal?

Online Services for Employers

More Things You Can Do Online

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Medicare

Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Conditions of Participation (CoP) Proposed Rule (CMS-3419-P)

Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) are a new provider type established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to address the growing concern over closures of rural hospitals. The REH designation provides an opportunity for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and certain rural hospitals to avert potential closure and continue to provide essential services for the communities they serve. Conversion to an REH allows for the provision of emergency services, observation care, and additional medical and health outpatient services, if elected by the REH, that do not exceed an annual per patient average of 24 hours. This new provider type will promote equity in health care for those living in rural communities by facilitating access to needed services.

Weblinks

Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM)

The new Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) is intended to transform care for cancer patients, reduce spending, and improve quality of care. It is designed to test how best to place cancer patients at the center of the care team that provides high-value, equitable, evidence-based care. EOM aims to improve care coordination, quality, and health outcomes for patients while also holding oncology practices accountable for total costs of care to make cancer care more affordable and accessible for beneficiaries and Medicare, which are key priorities described in the CMS Innovation Center’s strategy refresh.

EOM is a voluntary model that will run for five years, from July 2023 through June 2028. Model participants will include oncology practices that treat people with Medicare undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, chronic leukemia, lung cancer, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, and small intestine/colorectal cancer.

For oncology practices interested in participating in EOM, the Request for Applications is available at: https://app.innovation.cms.gov/EOM. All EOM applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time on September 30, 2022.

CMS Proposes Physician Payment Rule to Expand Access to High-Quality Care

The Calendar Year 2023 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule will significantly expand access to behavioral health services, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), cancer screening, and dental care — particularly in rural and underserved areas. These proposed changes play a key role in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Unity Agenda — especially its priorities to tackle our nation’s mental health crisis, beat the overdose and opioid epidemic, and end cancer as we know it through the Cancer Moonshot — and ensure CMS continues to deliver on its goals of advancing health equity, driving high-quality, whole-person care, and ensuring the sustainability of the Medicare program for future generations.

In the 2022 CMS Behavioral Health Strategy, CMS set goals to remove barriers to care and improve access to, and the quality of, mental health and substance use care. To help address the acute shortage of behavioral health practitioners, the agency is proposing to allow licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and other types of behavioral health practitioners to provide behavioral health services under general (rather than direct) supervision. Additionally, CMS is proposing to pay for clinical psychologists and licensed clinical social workers to provide integrated behavioral health services as part of a patient’s primary care team.

Expanding Access to Accountable Care Organizations - ACOs are groups of health care providers who come together to give coordinated, high-quality care to their Medicare patients. The Medicare Shared Savings Program covers more than 11 million people with Medicare and includes more than 500,000 providers.

Improving Access to Colon Cancer Screening - Colon and rectal cancer were the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States in 2020, with higher colorectal cancer death rates for Black Americans, American Indians, and Alaska Natives. To reduce barriers to getting a colonoscopy, CMS is proposing that a follow-up colonoscopy to an at-home test be considered a preventive service, which means that cost sharing would be waived for people with Medicare. Additionally, Medicare is proposing to cover the service for individuals 45 years of age and above, in line with the newly lowered age recommendation (down from 50) from the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

Proposing Payment for Dental Services that are Integral to Covered Medical Services - Medicare Part B currently pays for dental services when that service is integral to medically necessary services required to treat a beneficiary's primary medical condition. Some examples include reconstruction of the jaw following accidental injury or tooth extractions done in preparation for radiation treatment for jaw cancer. CMS is proposing to pay for dental services, such as dental examination and treatment preceding an organ transplant. In addition, CMS is seeking comment on other medical conditions where Medicare should pay for dental services, such as for cancer treatment or joint replacement surgeries, as well as on a process to get public input when additional dental services may be integral to the clinical success of other medical services.

More Information:

PFS fact sheet
Quality Payment Program fact sheet
Medicare Shared Savings Program Proposals fact sheet
Blog
Proposed rule

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