The 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule, effective for services on or after January 1, 2008, is on display in the Federal Register and will be published on November 27, 2007. The rule identifies 119 measures CMS has selected for eligible professionals to use to report quality-of-care information under the 2008 PQRI. The…

2008 MEDICARE PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE DELAYS STARK RULES

CMS announced in the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule that the following proposed revisions will not be finalized until the future publication of a final rule:

§                     burden of proof;

§                     obstetrical malpractice insurance subsidies;

§                     unit of service (per click);

§…

HIGHMARK  ANNOUNCES AMBULATORY SURGERY  CENTER

ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS

In the October 2007 PRN, Highmark announced that, as of January 2008, it will require freestanding ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) to be accredited by one of three accrediting bodies, i.e., the Joint Commission, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare ("AAAHC"), or the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory…

HCQIA IMMUNITY DENIED FOR

HOSPITAL VIOLATIONS OF DUE PROCESS

In the case of Wilkey vs. The McCullough – Hyde Memorial Hospital , the United States District for the Southern District of Ohio denied the hospital’s request for summary judgment based upon immunity under the Health Care Quality Improvement Act because the hospital allegedly used an…

For Immediate Release: Thursday, November 01, 2007
Contact: CMS Office of Public Affairs
202-690-6145

MEDICARE FINAL RULE ANNOUNCES 2008 PHYSICIAN FEES AND REFORMS FOR ACCURATE PAYMENTS AND QUALITY

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a final physician payment rule designed to improve accuracy of Medicare payments and give physicians and health

…

2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=2585&intNumPerPage=10&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData=&srchOpt=0&srchData=&keywordType=All&chkNewsType=1%2C+2%2C+3%2C+4%2C+5&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=&cboOrder=date

CMS has published the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule . The link to the press release and embedded links follows.

PEER REVIEW LITIGATION REQUIRES PRIOR

EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES 

The Colorado Supreme Court decided that physicians must exhaust administrative remedies before seeking injunctive relief or monetary damages in court; in the case of Crow vs. Penrose-St. Francis Health Care System, the Court stated:

“Because the governing board has yet to reach its final decision…

Can Medicare Premiums for the Account Holder’s 65 Year Old Spouse be Reimbursed from an HSA?

By: Joni Landy, Esq.  

In general, the law prohibits distributions from an HSA for health insurance premiums. There are several exceptions. The only exception that can apply to Medicare premiums is the exception that allows for payment of health insurance (other than a Medicare supplemental policy) in the case of an account holder who has reached age 65 (the "65 Exception").  Continue Reading Health Savings Account Sticky Issue

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