Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
PROVIDERS GET RELIEF ON EMTALA MANDATE
ER care for illegal immigrants doesn't have to be a total loss. Hospitals and physicians tired of writing off emergency room care provided to uninsured illegal immigrants can take some comfort in a little-noticed provision in the Medicare reform legislation. The bill, signed into law Dec. 10, includes a provision that would establish $1 billion worth of funding for 2005 through 2009 to reimburse providers for care provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. EMTALA mandates that hospitals provide a medical screening examination to all patients who arrive at their doors and stabilize their condition unless they don't have the resources to do so. Providers have long complained that the law, in essence, requires them to provide free care to uninsured patients. Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl (R), who fought for the provision while the bill was in conference, concedes that the funding won't cover all of the costs involved, but says it's a "huge step forward." Lesson Learned: Hospitals should make sure they are ready to take advantage of any EMTALA-related reimbursement that they are entitled to.
Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
- Medicare:
CMS ISSUES DRUG DISCOUNT CARD RULE
Experts debate whether seniors will flock to the temporary cards. On Dec. 10, only two [...] - Rehab:
CARDIAC REHAB AUDIT SHOWS PROVIDERS SKIPPING A BEAT
What all rehab provider types can learn from outpatient cardiac mistakes. Outpatient cardiac rehab providers [...] - Self-Referral:
REFORM BILL TAKES AIM AT DOC-OWNED SPECIALTY HOSPITALS
Will a cash cow be put out to pasture? A lucrative investment opportunity for physicians just [...] - Long-Term Care:
HOW THE REVAMPED MEDICARE WILL IMPACT SNFs
President Bush has signed into law the largest Medicare overhaul in history - and it's [...] - Home Care:
MEDPAC PEGS HHA PROFIT MARGIN AT 17%
Home care benefit drops chronically ill patients, research shows. If the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission gets [...] - Long-Term Care:
SNFs SHOULD BE MAKING THEIR LIST AND CHECKING IT TWICE
New Medicare legislation beefs up employee background check requirements. Skilled nursing facilities should brace themselves [...] - EMTALA:
PROVIDERS GET RELIEF ON EMTALA MANDATE
ER care for illegal immigrants doesn't have to be a total loss. Hospitals and physicians tired [...] - Whistleblowers:
BEWARE STATE WHISTLEBLOWER LAWS
In some states, whistleblowers can pursue you on state and federal grounds. Whistleblowers can be [...] - Ambulance:
SAY GOODBYE TO RURAL TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE
On the other hand, say hello to a 2.1 percent cost-of-doing-business increase. Ambulance suppliers that [...] - CMS MANUAL UPDATE
Thanks to the recently enacted Medicare prescription drug legislation, providers of therapy services no longer [...]
