Happy Monday!
You do not know what you do not know.
December 9, 2024 is a good day for the federal government. Today, the federal government currently has 124 documents from 44 agencies (1599 Pages) with 87 Notices, 9 Proposed Rules, 28 Rules, and 1 Significant Document. With this current issue, Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 236 / Monday, December 9, 2024 / Notices is up to page 99058. The federal government is busy making everything better! It might be time to double check the power in government.
The 1 Significant Document:
Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2025 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on 12/09/2024.
This final rule is effective January 1, 2025. The scope of this rule is significant. The summary from the document, “This final rule addresses: changes to the physician fee schedule (PFS); other changes to Medicare Part B payment policies to ensure that payment systems are updated to reflect changes in medical practice, relative value of services, and changes in the statute; codification of establishment of new policies for, the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; updates to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded model; payment for dental services inextricably linked to specific covered medical services; updates to drugs and biological products paid under Part B including immunosuppressive drugs and clotting factors; Medicare Shared Savings Program requirements; updates to the Quality Payment Program; Medicare coverage of opioid use disorder services furnished by opioid treatment programs; updates to policies for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers; electronic prescribing for controlled substances for a covered Part D drug under a prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plan under the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act); update to the Ambulance Fee Schedule regulations; codification of the Inflation Reduction Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 provisions; updates to Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule regulations; updates to the diabetes payment structure and PHE flexibilities; expansion of colorectal cancer screening and Hepatitis B vaccine coverage and payment; establishing payment for drugs covered as additional preventive services; Medicare Parts A and B Overpayment Provisions of the Affordable Care Act and Medicare Parts C and D Overpayment Provisions of the Affordable Care Act.”
For more information about the changes, impacts, and taxpayer focus information, check out www.cms.gov. Do not forget that open enrollment for the healthcare marketplace is still on going. The window closes shortly, unless this is an extension again or life-changing circumstances. For more specific details, check out www.healthcare.gov.
US Debt Clock Update:
According to the US Debt Clock at roughly 09:35 AM, the US debt is roughly $36,209,483,000,000. The debt per taxpayer is $271,790. The good news is that the federal government revenue is roughly $5,073,933,000,000. Not too shabby if you ask me. Checkout the latest numbers here: https://www.usdebtclock.org/
Special Note: Interest of Debt (Net) is $1,012,936,000,000.
The number of Americans living on or below the Federal poverty line, 44,316,293. Federal poverty line is established for 2024. There was a net increase in one week of 18,992.
- 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines:
- For individuals: $15,060 per year
- For a family of 2: $20,440 per year
- For a family of 3: $25,820 per year
- For a family of 4: $31,200 per year
- For a family of 5: $36,580 per year
- For a family of 6: $41,960 per year
- For a family of 7: $47,340 per year
- For a family of 8: $52,720 per year
- For a family of 9+: Add $5,380 for each extra person
The Sun
From Spaceweather.com, “"IMPULSIVE X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: Sunspot 3912 erupted on Dec. 8th (0906 UT), producing an X2-class solar flare and a shortwave radio blackout over southern Africa. The explosion hurled a CME into space, but it will not hit Earth. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.”
Amazing website with great information about the Earth-Sun environment.