Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
DRUG REBATES REMAIN UNDER OIG'S MICROSCOPE
Feds goad states on Medicaid drug rebate accounting. The Medicaid drug rebate program has become a compliance flashpoint for pharmaceutical manufacturers - and the HHS Office of Inspector General wants to make sure state Medicaid agencies have their act together when it comes to balancing the books on this hot-button issue. Over the course of the year, the watchdog agency has examined drug rebate programs in dozens of states, calling health departments to the mat if their collection procedures aren't up to snuff. In the latest round of audits, the OIG takes the measure of programs in five states - Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida - all of which, the agency says, need to get their houses in order. Problems ranged from lack of appropriate accounting records and ineffective collections procedures to the failure to pursue interest as appropriate. To see the reports, numbered A-04-03-06006, A-04-03-06010, A-04-03-06011, A-04-03-06012 and A-04-03-06016, go to http://oig.hhs.gov/oas/oas/cms.html.
Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement
- Medicare Reform:
GOP LEADERS' MEDICARE DEADLINE PASSES SANS DEAL
To no one's surprise, House and Senate negotiators failed to produce compromise legislation revamping Medicare [...] - DME:
SUPPLIER-NUMBER FREEZE DEVASTATES DME PROVIDERS
Earliest issuances slated for Nov. 1, for lucky few. Durable medical equipment suppliers waiting on [...] - HIPAA:
7 KEY STEPS FOR HIPAA CONTINGENCY PLANNING
CMS tips its hand as to what it expects from providers who aren't ready for [...] - Compliance:
COMPLIANCE FUNDAMENTALS COULD BE IN FOR A SHIFT
"Widespread" corporate misconduct sparks a new look at compliance programs. What the government expects of [...] - Coverage:
CMS SETS ITSELF DEADLINES FOR COVERAGE DETERMINATION
Beginning Oct. 27, Medicare national coverage determinations will follow newly defined tracks, with established deadlines, [...] - Coverage:
DON'T COUNT ON COVERAGE FOR ACUPUNCTURE
CMS nixes requests to cover acupuncture for osteoarthritis, fibromayalgia. Health care practitioners shouldn't expect Medicare [...] - Premiums:
MEDICARE PREMIUMSUP AGAIN IN 2004
Elderly paitents will be paying more for their Medicare coverage. Once again, the Department of [...] - Medicare PPO Demo:
PPO DEMO MOSTLY SERVES SAME AREAS AS M+C HMOs
With congressional negotiators debating how to involve more preferred provider organizations in Medicare, all eyes [...] - Labs:
PATHOLOGY SERVICES PAYMENTS COULD FACE AN OVERHAUL
Congressional watchdog agency calls for an end to direct Medicare payments. Hospitals and laboratories will [...] - Pharmaceuticals:
DRUG REBATES REMAIN UNDER OIG'S MICROSCOPE
Feds goad states on Medicaid drug rebate accounting. The Medicaid drug rebate program has become [...] - Coverage:
COVERAGE EXPANDS,PAY INCREASES FOR VADs
VAD facilities will have to meet accreditation standards.
Hospitals that perform heart transplants now have more [...] - TRICARE:
MEDICARE/MEDICAID CLAIMS AREN'T THE ONLY FCA TARGETS
Health care providers should keep in mind that Medicare and Medicaid aren't the only government [...]
