The Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services has just released a report examining problems with incident to billing by physicians, and seeking restrictions on the use of that billing arrangement. The report, titled "Prevalence and Qualifications of Non-Physicians Who Performed Medicare Physician Services" was posed by the OIG on…

PNHP is a group of 16,000 doctors nationwide who advocate for single payor national health insurance for the purpose of "removing the wasteful insurance company middlemen from our health system and redirecting the resultant savings into care."

For an alternative view on the progress of health care reform from a different prospective, check their website…

Mike Cassidy has been named again as one of  America’s Best Lawyers in Healthcare , for the 2010 list.

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. For a quarter century, we have helped lawyers and clients find legal counsel in unfamiliar jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties.

Best Lawyers compiles lists…

On July 29, 2009, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it will again delay enforcement of the Red Flag Rules, this time until November 1, 2009. The Red Flag Rules apply to health care providers who allow patients to pay for health care services, for example through co-payments and deductibles, in installments. For further details…

On August 1, 2009, health care providers will be subject to enforcement of the "Red Flag Rules" issued by the Federal Trade Commission under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. The Red Flag Rules apply to health care providers who allow patients to pay for health care services, for example through co-payments and deductibles…

HR 2536, The Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act, See http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-2536 has been introduced in the House by Congressman Robert Wexler.  Although there is a long process ahead this first step provides hope for much needed relief for the U.S. nursing shortage as it will make immigrant visas specifically available for nurses.  These visas are currently …

A bill introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives in June that would close the in-office ancillary service exemption for MRI, CT and PET allowed under the Start anti-self-referral law may be added to a healthcare reform package currently under consideration in Congress.

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) introduced HR 2962, or the Integrity in Medicare…

Reprinted from Physician News Briefs

By Ceci Connolly and Michael D. Shear

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 15, 2009; 2:42 PM

After a key Senate committee pushed forward with an overhaul of the nation’s health care system, President Obama today sought to reassure Americans satisfied with their current health insurance that the plans passed…

Findings by the Council were that the broken US Immigration System risks serious consequences to U.S. national interests:

Specifically:

– Weaken US Economy

– Jeopardize Diplomacy

– Imperil National Security

Council on Foreign Relations Press Release:

http://www.aila.org/content/fileviewer.aspx?docid=29470&linkid=206416

Council on Foreign Relations Report on Immigration Policy:

http://www.aila.org/content/fileviewer.aspx?docid=29470&linkid=206410

The August Visa Bulletin was just released. Currently Employment Based Category Three (Skilled Worker) remains unavailable and Employment Based Category Two (Advanced Degree Professional) for India is backlogged to October 1, 2003. For all other countries Advanced Degree Professional Immigrant visas are currently available. Please see August 2009 State Department Visa Bulletin

Piyush Seth
412.594.5640

Med Law Blog Editor

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