CDC Warns of Deadly Fungus, CMS to Reimburse for Virtual Reality
The CDC is monitoring the spread of a fungus throughout US healthcare facilities, and CMS is building a reimbursement pathway for virtual reality.
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By - In healthcare policy news, a warning was issued by the CDC last week about a deadly fungal infection spreading in US healthcare facilities. Meanwhile, CMS is creating a reimbursement pathway for virtual reality therapies using new medical coding.
Democrats Propose IT Modernization Improvement Act
Lawmakers from the House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs introduced two bills last week that would revitalize the information technology strategy at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Manage VA Act would install a VA undersecretary for management to lead IT strategy across the department. In addition, the IT Modernization Improvement Act would require the VA to hire outside verification and validation professionals to review the EHR modernization project and three other IT modernization programs happening across the department. READ MORE.
FBI Reports Finds $10.3B in Cybercrime Losses
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported that more than $10 billion in losses occurred in 2022 due to cybercrime. The sum is around $3 billion more than what was lost in 2021 despite fewer complaints being filed. Healthcare organizations reported more ransomware attacks to IC3 than any other economic sector.
“While the number of reported ransomware incidents has decreased, we know not everyone who has experienced a ransomware incident has reported to the IC3,” the report noted. READ MORE.
CMS Establishes Reimbursement for Virtual Reality
Last Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established the first Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II code for a virtual reality program. The code will categorize AppliedVR’s RelieVRx program as durable medical equipment, making it the first digital therapeutic to be placed in an existing benefit category. RelieVRx was initially approved in 2021 for patients with chronic low back pain as a guided therapy that teaches cognitive behavioral skills and other pain relief methods. READ MORE.
California Partners with Civica to Make Insulin
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new partnership between CalRx and the nonprofit Civica to develop low-cost insulin. Under the partnership, CalRx will make insulin available at $30 per 10 mL vial.
“Diabetes has become an overwhelmingly expensive chronic condition, and it is heartbreaking that millions of people in California and across the US are faced with the possibility of having to ration their care and put their lives at risk because they can no longer afford insulin,” said Ned McCoy, President and CEO of Civica, in a press release.
CDC Warns Against Increased Fungus Rates
Last week, CDC officials warned the public about rising rates of Candida auris affecting healthcare facilities across the United States. Data from the CDC suggests that infections are ramping up and spreading throughout the country as poor infection prevention control stresses healthcare systems.
“The rapid rise and geographic spread of cases is concerning and emphasizes the need for continued surveillance, expanded lab capacity, quicker diagnostic tests, and adherence to proven infection prevention and control,” said CDC epidemiologist Meghan Lyman, MD. READ MORE.
