On October 30, 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services published an Interim Final Rule addressing HIPAA Enforcement. The Interim Final Rule, effective November 30, 2009, defines the terms "reasonable cause", "reasonable diligence", and "willful neglect" and relates those definitions to the applicable civil money penalties in the event of a violation. The Interim Final Rule…

CMS  has issued the final rule for the 2010 Physician Fee Schedule. Among other items, it implements the 21.5% reduction (pending Congressional intervention of course) and eliminates consult billing while enhancing E&M WRVUs. Link to text below. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=3539&intNumPerPage=10&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData=&keywordType=All&chkNewsType=1%2C+2%2C+3%2C+4%2C+5&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=&cboOrder=date

The "Public Option" is just an element of providing greater access to care. In concept, it is a government program similar in concept to Medicare/Medicaid.  Opponents of the process believe there are better alternatives to a new governmental program, such as adding mandatory/enhanced provisions to existing commercial plans, e.g. employer play or pay, individual mandates, financial…

At this point, there are three comprehensive healthcare reform bills passed by key United States Congressional Committees, i.e. the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and a consortium of House committees, referred to as the House Tri-Committee, consisting of the Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and…

On October 20, 2009 the House voted to exempt small businesses from the Federal Trade Commission’s "red flag" rules. The  bill, H.R. 3763, exempts healthcare, legal, and accounting practices with 20 employees or less from "creditor" status under the rules. The bill now moves on to the Senate.  

Posted by:

Paul J.

The AMA has predicted that the proposed Medicare SGR (sustainable growth rate) physician fee schedule decrease will reduce physician Medicare participation in 22 states.  Log onto the Medicare Payment Action Kit and see the predicted impact in your state.

Click here for the Medicare Payment Action Kit.

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