CMS is Asking Big Questions. Your Voice Can Shape the Future of Policymaking

At first glance, the latest Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Request for Information (RFI) is short, coming in at 3 pages. But don’t be fooled. It is asking some big, open-ended questions that could shape the future of the Medicare program for years to come.

Published in response to Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation, this RFI reflects the administration’s goal to reduce provider burden and private-sector costs of Medicare compliance. CMS is not just looking to trim a few outdated rules. It is asking stakeholders to help identify what is working, what is not, and what is creating unnecessary burden.

Here is what CMS wants to know:

• Which regulatory requirements could be waived, modified, or simplified without compromising patient safety or the integrity of the Medicare program?
• Which reporting and documentation requirements are the most burdensome, and could they be automated or streamlined?
• Where do Medicare rules duplicate requirements already enforced by other programs, like Medicaid or private insurers?
• What current regulations are valuable and should be preserved?

At POCP, our early reaction is that this is not just about what to cut. It is about how we continue making progress toward automation and smarter deployment of technology to use and access health data, so that compliance becomes less burdensome without sacrificing insight. The information collected through reporting, for example, is still necessary to inform improvements and accountability across the healthcare system. The challenge is making the process more efficient and aligned with real-world workflows.

Those of us in health IT know that the last mile of any transformation, such as the shift to application programming interfaces (APIs), is often the toughest. It requires persistence and investment. But once it is done right, the results can be game-changing. That principle should guide how we approach regulatory relief, too.

This RFI is an open invitation for the industry to speak up. It is not just a chance to call out burdensome rules. It is also an opportunity to protect the progress we have made and offer lessons learned and recommendations for where to go next.

Comments are due by June 10, 2025.
Responses must be submitted online at: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-regulatory-relief-rfi

Because the questions asked in this RFI are big and broad, it may take some time to research and evaluate the regulatory landscape and even consider how federal and state policies overlap or conflict. If you need help analyzing which regulations matter most to your organization or drafting a thoughtful response, POCP is here to support you. Our Regulatory Resource Center, along with our expert consultants, can help you navigate the details and shape your message.

Contact us to schedule a discussion and explore how we can help.