The presumption of immunity granted by the Health Care Quality Improvement Act (HCQIA) in peer review disputes is always a significant hurdle for physicians. In Zawislak v. Memorial Hermann Hospital System (which some readers may recognize from the excess benefit and physician recruitment IRS issues involving the hospital in the late 1990s), the hospital suspended Dr.
November 2011
CMS Releases Updated CQM Guidance for Eligible Professionals Participating in the EHR Incentive Programs
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in HIPAA, HIT, and EHR
CMS has released updated guidance on its clinical quality measure specifications for eligible professions in regard to stage 1 of meaningful use.
Link to CQM Guidance:
2012 PA MCARE Assessment = 23%
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in Uncategorized
The Insurance Department has determined that the annual assessment to be levied for calendar year 2012 shall be 23% applied to the prevailing primary premium for each participating health care provider.
The total assessment cost for 2012 will be $203,824,513. This amount is $26,741,075 more than what was collected form the 2011 assessment to cover claims…
AMA Reports; Supercommittee Stalemate Leaves SGR 27.5 Physician Fee Schedule Decrease Intact
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in Medicare & Reimbursement
Supercommittee failure leaves 27 percent Medicare payment cut in place With the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction failing to reach agreement on a deficit-reduction proposal, physicians still face a 27 percent cut in Medicare physician payments scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. Congress has missed an opportunity to address the nation’s fiscal problems, stabilize…
90-Day Delay for Enforcing Compliance of HIPAA Transaction Standards
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in HIPAA, HIT, and EHR
CMS’ Office of E-Health Standards and Services ("OESS") has announced that it has delayed enforcement until March 31, 2012 for any HIPAA covered entity that is not in compliance with the ASC X12 Version 5010 (Version 5010), NCPDP Telecom D.0 (NCPDP D.0), and NCPDP Medicaid Subrogation 3.l0 (NCPDP 3.0) standards. However, the compliance date for…
HIPAA Privacy and Security Audit Program
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in HIPAA, HIT, and EHR
This is simply a reminder that the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) pilot audit program to access the privacy and security compliance of covered entities will commence November 2011 and conclude by December 2012. The attached link provides details about the program.
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/enforcement/audit/index.html
Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Launched in Six Additional States
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in HIPAA, HIT, and EHR
The Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program launched in Arkansas, Delaware, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota. Eligible professionals and eligible hospitals in these states are now able to complete their EHR incentive program registration. State-specific information can be found by clicking on the hyperlinks above. General information about…
U.S. News and World Report Ranks Tucker Tier 1 Healthlaw Firm
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in Legal News
The annual US News and World Report Best Law Firm survey ranks Tucker Arensberg in the Best Law Firms as a Tier 1 Pittsburgh law firm in the healthcare, and many other categories.
http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/firms/tucker-arensberg-p-c-/overview/18425/
Walmart Entering the Primary Care Market
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in Legal News
Highmark – WPAHS Agreement
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in Legal News
Highmark and WPAHS have signed the final affiliation documents and filed them with the Pennsylvania Insurance Deoartment. The filing, which includes the terms of the agreement, the revised bylaws, and the proposed organization structure are available via this link:
https://www.highmark.com/hmk2/about/newsroom/2011/hmwp/forma.pdf