CMS on Monday announced that the average total monthly premium for Medicare Part D coverage is expected to drop 1.8% from $56.49 in 2023 to $55.50 in 2024 as a result of program improvements under the Inflation Reduction Act, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Maryland and Washington.

• Maryland: CMS on Monday announced that the average total monthly premium for Medicare Part D coverage is expected to drop 1.8% from $56.49 in 2023 to $55.50 in 2024 as a result of program improvements under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Specifically, CMS said Medicare Part D premiums are slated to drop for two reasons: First, the IRA provided a mechanism limiting premium increases for people enrolled in Medicare Part D to a 6% annual increase. Second, the IRA capped annual out-of-pocket costs, limited cost-sharing for covered insulin products, and eliminated cost-sharing for recommended adult vaccines. In addition, a recent CMS rule requires Part D plans to apply price concessions received from pharmacies to lower the price beneficiaries pay at the point of sale starting in 2024, all of which CMS credits as helping reduce premiums for Part D coverage. (CMS press release, 7/31; CMS fact sheet, 7/31)
• Maryland: CMS on Monday finalized a rule that will increase Medicare reimbursements to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) by 4%, up from the 3.7% increase proposed in April. The rule also includes quality reporting modifications for SNFs, and penalties for nursing homes that fail to meet reporting requirements. (Eastabrook, Modern Healthcare, 7/31)
• Washington: Amazon on Tuesday announced that Amazon Clinic will be expanding to all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The telehealth service, which was first launched in November 2022 in 32 states, provides users with access to third-party providers for non-urgent health conditions. Video-based telehealth consultations are available for an average cost of $75 per visit in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., while message-based asynchronous consultations will be offered in 34 states for an average of $35 per visit. Amazon Clinic does not accept insurance for visits, however, patients are able to use flexible spending or health savings account funds for payment. (Turner, Modern Healthcare, 8/1)