• 1 Budget: HELP FOR STATES, RURAL AREAS IN SENATE BILL

• 2 Hospitals: INPATIENT RULE LOWERS HIGH-TECH THRESHOLD

• 3 Medicare: GAO: DEATH TO LOCAL COVERAGE PROCESS

• 4 Rehab: 75-PERCENT RULE ENFORCEMENT LOOMS FOR IRFs

• 5 Medicaid: MEDICAID REVISIONS STILL UP IN AIR ON HILL, AMONG GOVERNORS

• 6 Pharmaceuticals: PRIVATE LABELING LEADS TO CRIMINAL FINES

• 7 Hospitals: 19 DRGs ON PER-DIEM CHOPPING BLOCK

• 8 Managed Care: 2004 M+C RATES LOW-BALL PLANS

• 9 Overpayments: CONTRACTORS TOUT PAYMENT SAFEGUARD HAULS

• 10 Kickbacks: DEDUCTIBLE DEALS LEGAL BETWEEN HOSPITALS, MEDIGAP PLANS

• 11 Help With HIPAA: 4 STEPS FOR HANDLING PRIVACY COMPLAINTS WITHOUT GETTING BURNED

• 12 HIPAA: PART A PROVIDERS OPTIMISTIC ON HIPAA TRANSACTION STANDARDS

• 13 PROGRAM MEMO ROUNDUP

• 14 REGISTER WATCH

• 15 BILL WATCH