The Department of Health and Human Services released a detailed policy agenda on Monday, expanding President Joe Biden’s health provisions. FY 2023 Budget.

The budget is essentially the administration’s wish list to Congress, not a binding document, with a focus on mental health and public health preparedness.But HHS also wants lawmakers to make some specific policy changes to Health Insurance Advantage Data collection, civil fines, etc.

Here are five highlights of the HHS budget plan:

1. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services wants Congress to speed up alternative payment models by moving one year forward the start date for the 0.75% increase in physician fees.From 2019 to 2024, eligible clinicians will receive a 5% APM incentive and will be eligible to receive 0.75% Multiplier Applies to Medicare Part B rates, but no incentives in 2025. CMS also recommends increasing the start date by 0.25% for providers who do not meet higher rate requirements.

“Starting the enhanced conversion factor update in 2025 rather than 2026 will simplify physician payment policies, reduce regulations and paperwork, and avoid confusion among stakeholders,” the HHS budget plan said. The proposal would cost $3.5 billion over 10 years.

2. HHS expects legislators to require Medicare Advantage plans to collect referring provider identifiers and provide them to CMS as part of encounter data submissions. The department believes the additional provider data will improve its ability to hold bad actors accountable, prevent plan losses and protect beneficiaries, while Medicare Advantage carriers will benefit from more information in their own systems.

3. HHS wants to overturn a law that would require psychiatric hospitals to terminate Medicare after six months of non-compliance with conditions of participation, even if non-compliance would not endanger the patient. HHS believes that this policy does not apply to other types of providers and will reduce access to mental health services. According to the department, CMS needs more flexibility to continue Medicare reimbursements while working with mental hospitals to correct the problem.

4. HHS proposes to increase the amount of civil fines that can be imposed in a calendar year on Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Not compliant. The department also wants to allow the Office of Civil Rights to seek injunctive relief in federal court over such violations.

The department said allowing higher penalty caps would strengthen HIPAA enforcement, and seeking relief from the courts could prevent future harm in the most serious HIPAA compliance cases. For multiple violations of the same rule, the maximum annual penalty for a violation of HIPAA is $1,806,757. “In OCR’s experience, current restrictions on civil fines do not provide an adequate deterrent to industry violations,” HHS plan Say.

5. CMS recommends that long-term care facility civil fines be changed from managers to owners or operators. The owners of the facilities usually control the finances and have the authority to shut down the site, not the administrators, CMS said. The change will allow CMS to penalize owners when facilities close.