Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

It's easier than ever to give your 2 cents' worth on CMS' proposals.

Health care providers can now save a stamp - and a little time - when laying out their concerns with new Medicare rules.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Jan. 30 unveiled a new program to allow providers and others to submit online comments on proposed or final regulations at www.regulations.gov. A link to the new system also will appear in CMS' published rules.

Warning: Now that you are a little more in the regulatory loop, you'll still have to watch what you say - all comments will be posted online, including any personal or business information you reveal.

The project is part of President Bush's Electronic Government Initiative.  According to acting CMS Administrator Dennis Smith, the program will facilitate more provider participation in the rule-making process.

"CMS regulations establish or modify the way we administer our programs. We realize they may impact providers or suppliers of services, or the individuals enrolled or entitled to benefits under CMS programs," Smith says. "We encourage public input and carefully consider these comments before we develop a final regulation."

The new CMS system will also allow for electronic comment on other policy notices, such as nominations for advisory committees.