Category: CMS

The Obama administration cast the average monthly premium price increase as a matter of inches. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130801/Medicare-premiums-hold-the-line-increasing-241-in-price-from-the-past-three-years.aspx

In Michigan, a committee vote on the expansion could come today. Elsewhere, New Hampshire and Wisconsin are considering expansion of coverage to childless adults, among others. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130801/Ohio-lawmaker-introduces-Medicaid-expansion-bill3b-Mich-readies-legislative-moves-on-expansion.aspx

Participation in the Meaningful Use incentive program continues to grow, with 3,661 Medicare eligible professionals, 2,240 Medicaid eligible professionals and 52 hospitals joining the ranks of active registrations in the program in June 2013, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' latest statistics. read more From: http://www.fierceemr.com/story/meaningful-use-incentive-payments-top-155-billion/2013-07-31?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

S.G.R. More than 99 percent of Americans have no idea what these three letters stand for. And yet they are extremely valuable: worth about $140 billion. This week, a House committee will finally take up the issue. The S.G.R., or the Sustainable Growth Rate formula, was enacted as part of the Balanced Budget Act of…

The report also finds that policies on admitting patients or keeping them under observation — a distinction that can have dramatic financial impact on the patients — varies substantially among hospitals. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130731/HHS-Inspector-General-raises-concerns-about-Medicare-policy-on-observation-care.aspx

A “commanding tool” for controlling healthcare costs and improving quality–the Medicare claims database–should be open and freely accessible to the public, two senators recently wrote in an opinion piece published by Politico. read more From: http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/senators-press-transparency-medicare-database/2013-07-30?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

In editorial presented by Politico, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) argued in support of legislation that would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a free, online searchable database of Medicare claims data. In editorial presented by Politico, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) argued in…

Federal officials are temporarily banning certain types of home health and ambulance providers in three major, high-fraud cities from enrolling in Medicare or Medicaid. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130730/US-bans-new-home-health-ambulance-providers-in-three-high-fraud-cities-from-Medicare-Medicaid.aspx

Amid payment rates and rules they dislike, more doctors are opting to not treat Medicare patients, say the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In the meantime, health care providers ready different models to change how Medicare pays doctors. From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130730/Fewer-doctors-treating-Medicare-patients-CMS-says.aspx

Reporters Peter Whoriskey and Dan Keating have opened Post readers’ eyes to the fact that Medicare pays for physician services -; a $69.6 billion item in 2012 -; according to an arcane and little-known price list, over which doctors themselves exercise considerable and less-than-totally-transparent influence (7/24). From: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130726/Viewpoints-Doctors-sway-over-Medicare-pay3b-hospital-rankings-not-all-they-seem3b-legal-immigrants-health-needs-overlooked.aspx