Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
Senate Subs Medicaid Commission For Cuts
In a 52-48 March 17 vote, the Senate stripped $14 billion in Medicaid cuts from its budget resolution. Both the Senate and House completed their versions of the budget on the 17th.
The Senate removed "reconciliation instructions" that would have directed the Senate Finance Committee to find $15 billion over five years in entitlement cuts; $14 billion of the total was expected to come from Medicaid. Seven Republicans and one independent joined all 44 Democrats in approving an amendment by Sens. Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), which would instead create a commission to recommend Medicaid reforms next year.
Smith-Bingaman reduces the total entitlement savings in the Senate budget resolution to $17 billion. The House resolution contains entitlement savings of $69 billion. Of the House total, $20 billion is contained in reconciliation instructions to the Energy and Commerce Committee, with at least $15 billion, and probably closer to the entire $20 billion, expected to come out of Medicaid.
Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
- MEDICARE:
For AMA, McClellan Puts Some Pills In Sugar
CMS administrator hopes docs come around on P4P.
Speaking to the American Medical Association's annual advocacy [...] - HIPAA:
HIPAA Hopping Up Its Security Rules Soon
Providers unprepared by deadline may pass muster with a compliance plan.
The April 20 deadline for [...] - MEDICAL IMAGING:
Johnson On Imaging: Who Says More Is Bad?
More use might not mean overuse, some say.
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission says Medicare should [...] - REHAB:
Sound PAI Practices Can Make OIG Happy
Avoid these widespread FIM scoring errors.
The word is out that the Office of the Inspector [...] - REHAB:
OIG Set For PAI Crackdown In 2005
The feds are focusing on PAI documentation.
The patient assessment instrument (PAI) may seem little more [...] - COVERAGE:
Don't Stick Patients For Services Medicare May Pay For
Watch for gray areas of services Medicare may or may not cover.
Medical practices that charge [...] - PHYSICIANS:
OIG Tracking ICD Patients
Implantable defibrillators must be registered.
Medicare patients who receive an ICD or replacement ICD as a [...] - COVERAGE:
Part A-Part B Union Memo Forthcoming
Many existing contractors could be replaced.
CMS issued a fact sheet on its reform to replace [...] - ENFORCEMENT:
Quality-Of-Care Lapses Cost Wisconsin Home
Relaxed staffing requirements lead to record settlement.
A resident's death can put a nursing home in [...] - PHYSICIANS:
GAO- Expense Indices Don't Always Reflect Real Costs
Old wage data throws off calculations.
If you are a physician frustrated by the geographic practice [...] - BILL WATCH
Bills introduced in the House:
HR. 1280. A bill to amend Part C of the Title [...] - LEGISLATION:
Senate Subs Medicaid Commission For Cuts
Dems all vote 'yea' for resolution.
In a 52-48 March 17 vote, the Senate stripped $14 [...]
