Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
ANOTHER SHAKEUP AT HHS?
Thompson may step down next year. HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he would not stay in his current position if Bush wins another term in office. The former Wisconsin governor has already informed the president of his plans to pursue opportunities in the private sector. Thompson's decision to leave the administration comes on the heels of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services chief Tom Scully's determination to do the same. Scully left the helm of CMS effective Dec. 15, also to work in the private sector. To fill Scully's place, at least for now, Thompson Dec. 17 named Dennis Smith as Acting Administrator of CMS. Smith previously served as director of CMS' Center for Medicaid and State Operations. Leslie Norwalk will remain at in her post as deputy administrator and chief operating officer. Thompson said CMS would "rely on her leadership" in the difficult task of implementing hundreds of changes called for by the Medicare legislation President Bush signed Dec. 8.
If President Bush is re-elected next year, he'll have to look for a new person to run the Department of Health and Human Services.
Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
- Rehab:
PTs TOP CMS' LIST OF PROBLEM BILLERS
But are therapists taking the blame for other providers' mistakes? Physical therapists top the list [...] - Managed Care:
MEDICARE Rx BILL PUTS PBMs, HEALTH PLANS ON HOOK FOR COSTS
Will the Medicare prescription drug benefit lead to greater drug expenses for plans?
Health plans are [...] - Home Care:
PRIVATE-PAY OASIS POLICIES MUST BE BASED ON THE WRITTEN WORD
CMS letter to surveyors fails to clear up confusion.
A new letter to state surveyors supposedly [...] - Home Care:
NEW SIGNATURE STANDARD HELPS HHAs GET DOC ORDERS QUICKLY
But it doesn't apply to CMNs.
As home health agencies ring in the new year, they [...] - Home Care:
5 TIPS FOR E-SIGNATURE SECURITY
Stamped signatures aren't the only alternative to speed orders.
Home care providers looking for quicker turnaround [...] - Medicaid:
MENTAL HEALTH GROUPS, ER DOCS RAISE ALARM ON MEDICAID CUTS
But more cuts likely to follow as states grapple with deficits.
Mentally ill patients already are [...] - Hospitals:
HOSPITALS CAN COLLECT MORE FOR QIO PHOTOCOPYING
After more than a decade, CMS ups hospitals' photocopying reimbursement.
Hospitals will be able to collect [...] - Hospitals:
WHY HOSPITAL-DOC ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE COMPLIANCE TIME-BOMBS
3 risk areas to watch for.
If hospitals and physicians don't carefully pore over their [...] - Exclusions:
TENET FORCED TO SELL REDDING MEDICAL CENTER
Hospital chain and OIG come to terms on potential Medicare ouster.
The HHS Office of Inspector [...] - Medicare+Choice:
A NEW WAY TO LURE BENEFICIARIES INTO MEDICARE+CHOICE
M+COs get another benefit option.
Health plans often have a hard time encouraging Medicare beneficiaries [...] - HIPAA:
TOP 9 HIPAA TRANSACTIONS RULE MISTAKES
Most Medicare claims aren't HIPAA compliant.
It's a good thing the Centers for Medicare & [...] - ANOTHER SHAKEUP AT HHS?
Thompson may step down next year.
If President Bush is re-elected next year, he'll have to [...]
