July 2008

Medicare is proposing that all physician practices providing diagnostic testing must enroll as independent diagnostic testing facilities effective as of September 30, 2009.  A copy of the comments on the proposal is attached.

 

This proposal would make physician practices subject to the performance standards for independent diagnostic testing facilities.  This will

 

White House continues to threaten veto of Medicare payments bill.

The AP (7/11) reports, "President Bush intends to block a bill protecting doctors from a cut in their Medicare pay, even though Congress has enough votes to override his veto, a White House spokesman indicated on Thursday." The President opposes "reduce[d] spending on private

The LA Times has reported that the senate passeds a medicare savings bill, but the President has threated a veto.
WASHINGTON — In a floor session electrified by the appearance of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the critically ill Massachusetts Democrat, the Senate voted Wednesday to stave off a cut in Medicare fees to doctors who

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS LAW ALERT

June 25, 2008

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY – NEW LAW PROVIDES NEW EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
PLAN RIGHTS
TO MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY AND THEIR SURVIVORS

Effective immediately, a new federal law, called the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 (HEART Act), requires action to be taken by sponsors of qualified retirement

The Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services posted the proposed 2009 Medicare Fee Schedule Rule on July 7, 2008. The link to those rules was provided in an earlier Medlaw Blog post.  

The proposals include numerous items, but I would like to highlight the following:

1.  Proposed changes to the Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility (IDTF
     enrollment requirements;

Proposed Physician Fee Schedule Rule Includes Stark,
Purchased Diagnostic Test and IDTF Changes and Clarifications

By Barry Alexander*

On June 30, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted at the Office of Federal Register its Proposed 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule. The rule is scheduled to be published in the July