Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and those with End-Stage Renal Disease. Medicaid, on the other hand, is a joint federal and state program that helps with healthcare costs for people who have limited income and resources.

The recent reforms to Medicare and Medicaid include changes to reimbursement policies, fraud prevention measures, and expansion of telehealth services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has also implemented new payment models to encourage providers to focus on quality of care rather than quantity of services.

The changes to reimbursement policies aim to reduce healthcare costs and improve quality of care. These changes may impact patients by limiting the types of treatments or services that are covered, or by requiring prior authorization for certain procedures. However, these changes may also improve access to care for some patients by encouraging providers to offer more efficient and effective treatments.

The fraud prevention measures being implemented include increased scrutiny of billing practices and stricter penalties for fraudulent activity. CMS is also using data analytics and other technologies to identify and prevent fraudulent claims.

Telehealth is the use of technology to provide healthcare services remotely. The recent reforms to Medicare and Medicaid have expanded coverage for telehealth services, making it easier for patients to access care from home or other remote locations. This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people are unable to visit healthcare providers in person.

The new payment models being implemented by CMS aim to shift the focus from volume of services to quality of care. These models include Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), which encourage providers to work together to coordinate care and reduce costs, and bundled payments, which provide a fixed payment for a specific episode of care. These payment models incentivize providers to offer efficient and effective care, while also improving patient outcomes.