Azar promises continued Medicare billing overhaul, regulatory relief

HHS Secretary Alex Azar on Thursday doubled down on promises to overhaul the Medicare billing structures to drive down government costs and vowed to put out new guidance for providers on the anti-kickback laws and HIPAA.

HHS will write new guidance for laws that “stand in the way of healthcare providers” and hold back the healthcare system’s transition to value-based care, Azar told a conservative audience at the Heritage Foundation. He also highlighted the CMS’ new request for information on the Stark law and noted that additional requests are coming to prepare the administration as it overhauls anti-kickback and HIPAA rules.

“When there’s a place that our healthcare system isn’t meeting people’s needs, the first question we ask...