Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
BILL WATCH
The following bills were introduced in the House: H.R. 2051. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide continued entitlement for immunosuppressive drugs furnished to beneficiaries under the Medicare program that have received an organ transplant and whose entitlement to coverage would otherwise expire, and for other purposes. Introduced May 12 by Rep. David Camp (R-MI), referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H.R. 2058. A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act and title III of the Public Health Service Act to improve access to information about individuals' health care options and legal rights for care near the end of life, to promote advance care planning and decision making so that individuals' wishes are known should they be unable to speak for themselves, to engage health care providers in disseminating information about and assisting in the preparation of advance directives, which include living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care, and for other purposes. Introduced May 12 by Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means. H.R. 2072. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide access to Medicare benefits for individuals ages 55-65, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable and advanceable credit against income tax for payment of such premiums, and for other purposes. Introduced May 3 by Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H.R. 2200. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide to the Secretary of Health and Human Services authority similar to the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to negotiate the lowest possible prices for outpatient prescription drugs, to include in the determination in best price for covered outpatient drugs under the Medicaid Program prices charged by manufacturers to certain federal agencies, and for other purposes. Introduced May 4 by Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means. H.R. 2218. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to adjust the fee for collecting specimens for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests under the Medicare program. Introduced May 10 by Rep. Philip English (R-PA) and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.
Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
- HOSPITALS:
E/M Visit Levels Are Safe From RAC Scrutiny
... but CMS may examine medical necessity of the claims.
Good news for hospitals: Medicare's new [...] - HOSPITALS:
Project Progressing: CMS Touts P4P Demo
3-year incentive project already improving care, says McClellan.
The early word is good on quality of [...] - HOME HEALTH:
Patient Discharge Rule Confounding - And Pending
Every discharged patient must be issued notice.
A massive new paperwork mandate requiring HHAs to issue [...] - HOME HEALTH:
Expect Deadline For Termination Notices To Hold
Despite confusion, don't bet on extension of July 1 deadline.
In its final rule in the [...] - PHYSICIANS:
Extra Scribbles Can Lead To Fines, Jail Time
Make sure doctors date all new entries on patient records.
Physicians who suspect that someone in [...] - PHARMACEUTICALS:
Rules For Multi-Drug Concurrent Infusion Vary By Area
The answer is hiding in carriers' local coverage decisions.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [...] - MEDICAID:
Budget Socks Medicaid With $10 Billion In Cuts
Clinton leads a group of vocal, displeased Dems.
If the hard part was deciding whether [...] - MEDICAID:
States Recommend Ways To Ease Medicaid Cuts
Could higher Medicaid copays be on the horizon?
The National Governors Association and the National Conference [...] - LABS:
Providers Must Stay Posted On MSP Changes
Modifications could severely affect secondary payer rules.
The last thing a lab needs is to be [...] - ENFORCEMENT WATCH:
Subsidiaries Cannot Sidestep Fraud Penalties - REHAB:
Recent Report Could Mean More Admissions Scrutiny
GAO charges providers with 'sloppy' admissions practices - and fallout is expected.
The long-awaited report from [...] - BILL WATCH
The following bills were introduced in the House: H.R. 2051. A bill to amend title [...]
