Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
BILL WATCH
The following bills were introduced in the Senate: S. 1929. A bill to reduce health care disparities and improve health care quality, to improve the collection of racial, ethnic, primary language, and socioeconomic determination data for use by health care researchers and policymakers, to provide performance incentives for high-performing hospitals and community health centers, and to expand current federal programs seeking to eliminate health disparities. Introduced Oct. 27 by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and referred to the Committee on Finance. The following bills were introduced in the House: H.R. 4157. A bill to amend the Social Security Act to encourage the dissemination, security, confidentiality, and usefulness of health information technology. Introduced Oct. 27 by Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 4164. A bill to amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act, to require coverage of hearing aids under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and private group and individual insurance. Introduced Oct. 27 by Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and referred to the Committee on Government Reform. H.R. 4173. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit against income tax to subsidize the cost of COBRA continuation coverage for certain individuals. Introduced Oct. 28 by Rep. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
- PHYSICIANS:
Feds Set To Slash Payments In 2006
CMS final rule also extends glaucoma screening benefit.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has [...] - PHYSICIANS:
Chemo Demo Gets New Life
Feds will create new version of project for 2006.
Oncology practices that have been depending on [...] - PHARMACEUTICALS:
Senator Takes Shot At New CMS Drug Web Site
Agency acknowledges problems with site.
Medicare's new Internet-based tool for beneficiaries, the "Prescription Drug Plan Finder," [...] - PHARMACEUTICALS:
PAPs Should Not Assist Too Much
Tread carefully when offering PAPs to Medicare Part D benes.
Pharmaceutical providers that wish to offer [...] - PHARMACEUTICALS:
Disaster Predicted If 2006 Part D Enrollment Is Low
Too many high-utilizing benes will drive up premiums for everyone.
Premiums for Medicare prescription drug plans could [...] - PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE:
Medicare Begins Voluntary Reporting Project
CMS phasing in measurements to aid performance improvement.
With lackluster Medicare reimbursement plaguing physicians nationwide and [...] - HOSPITALS:
Defibrillator Data Reporting Will Be Different Next Year
ACC has a new national data registry.
Facilities must contact the American College of Cardiology's National Cardiovascular [...] - HOME HEALTH:
HHAs Win 1-Year Transition To New Wage Index Areas
CMS announces final 2006 payment levels.
Home health agencies will see a 2.8 percent increase in [...] - LONG TERM CARE:
LTC Surveyors Seeking Systemic Sorts Of Problems
Several noncompliance findings may make surveyors suspicious.
Heads up, nursing homes: State surveyors could cite separate [...] - ENFORCEMENT WATCH:
Prescription Scheme Busted; 1 Suspect Still At Large
Pharmacist works with feds to catch co-conspirators.
Phony prescriptions that fraud scheme participants used to defraud [...] - DME:
Senate Helps Providers Out On PMD Rule
Regulatory rescue comes as PMD lawsuit fails.
After the failure of a last-minute lawsuit to halt [...] - BILL WATCH
The following bills were introduced in the Senate: S. 1929. A bill to reduce health [...]
