Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
Senate, House Budget Committees Pass Budget Resolutions
On March 16, the Senate passed the budget resolution that includes no cuts to Medicare, Medicaid or other entitlement spending programs. The Senate Budget Committee approved the budget blueprint March 9.
The Senate narrowly rejected an amendment from Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) that called for $10 billion in cuts over five years for programs the Senate Finance Committee oversees, such as Medicare. Now, providers may soon get an idea of what House members have in mind for them next year.
Meanwhile, the House Budget Committee passed its fiscal year 2007 budget resolution on March 29, which is the blueprint for later binding budget legislation. As the industry hoped, the committee followed the Senate's lead and didn't include any Medicare or Medicaid cuts in its resolution.
But a battle between conservative and moderate Republicans may end up with the full House approving Medicare cuts in the final resolution legislation.
In this election year, lawmakers may finish up their 2007 budget legislation before the session ends in October. Or they may come back to vote on final budget legislation in a lame duck session after elections, observers predict.
Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
- HEALTH PLANS:
Streamline Part D Turnaround Time To Head Off Potential Regulatory Changes
Most EHR systems fall to track revisions' sources, study shows.
Lagging Medicare Part D drug reimbursements [...] - PART D:
CMS Mulling Pharmacist Payment Adjustments To Shore Up Drug Benefit
Industry consolidation may narrow Medicare drug benefit to fewer plans next year.
News reports have highlighted [...] - P4P:
Home Care Not An Exception For P4P Shift
CMS plans to launch a P4P demo for the home care industry--soon.
Providers can't just ignore [...] - CONSULTATIONS:
OIG Initiates A New Crackdown On Consult Billing
Three out of four consults billed incorrectly, OIG says.
Consults look like a juicy target to [...] - COMPETITIVE BIDDING:
Bidding Rule Coming Out 'Very Soon,' CMS Promises
Bid items may vary for different bid areas.
Durable medical equipment suppliers soon will see the [...] - THERAPY:
HHAs Should Hold Off On Expedited Determination Notices For Part B Therapy
They can't reach for HHABNs either.
Home health providers can avoid unnecessary extra work if they [...] - NURSING HOMES:
RUG Software Could Be Costing LTC Facilities Thousands
Software snags may drag down nursing homes' per diems.
Without naming names, the Centers for Medicare [...] - BUDGET:
Senate, House Budget Committees Pass Budget Resolutions
Republican struggle could mean bad news for Medicare.
On March 16, the Senate passed the budget [...] - INDUSTRY NOTES:
Feds May Look Into Podiatrists' Nail Debridement, Chiropractors' Services
Plus: OIG offers opinion on physician's office housing a DME supplier.
Medicare could save $285 million [...]
