HFMA.org – Jan 05, 2009. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) reports that state legislatures across the country enacted 31,000 laws in 2008, some of which become effective Jan. 1, 2009. The issues range from healthcare reform to criminal justice to labor practices. Among the new health-related laws that became effective Jan. 1 are: […]
HFMA.org – Dec. 31, 2008. January 1, 2009, marks the beginning of the New Year and of the effective date of a revised voluntary code by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) on interactions between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals. Changes in the revised code include: A prohibition on the distribution of non-educational […]
Forbes, NY – Dec 31, 2008. With Medicare fraud rising, CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems said the bond is “additional oversight” for suppliers, especially those looking “for any … Medicare fraud, big in Fla., prompts new bond rule MiamiHerald.comFighting Equipment Fraud, Medicare Amps Up Rules for Suppliers Wall Street Journal BlogsMedicare Cuts Off California, Florida Home Equipment […]
HFMA.org – Jan 5, 2009. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced it is requiring certain durable medical equipment suppliers to post a surety bond. In addition, CMS has revoked the billing privileges of more than 1,100 medical equipment suppliers in south Florida and southern California and is suspending payments to home health […]
WMBB-TV, FL – Dec 29, 2008. “Medicaid fraud diverts valuable health care resources away from those who truly need the assistance, and we will not permit that to go unnoticed and … State AG: Colorado will get $1.2 million in fraud claim. Denver PostMedicaid fraud crackdown saves millions Bizjournals.comMedicaid Fraud Report Released WCTVKansas City infoZine – St. […]
HFMA.org – Dec. 24, 2008. In a study of adverse events affecting Medicare beneficiaries in two selected counties, the Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that 15 percent of hospitalized beneficiaries experienced an adverse event during their hospital stays. In the report, OIG defines the term “adverse event” as […]
HFMA.org – Dec. 23, 2008. Changes to the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have significantly changed the way in which hospitals are reimbursed for fiscal year 2008. Major changes to IPPS include the continued phase-in of relative weights based on hospital-specific costs and new Medicare […]
Kaisernetwork.org – Dec. 22, 2008. As part of his proposed two-year economic stimulus package of between $675 billion and $775 billion, President-elect Barack Obama seeks to create or save three million jobs, his transition team announced on Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reports (Nicholas, Los Angeles Times, 12/21). According to the New York Times, the […]
Kaisernetwork.org – Dec. 22, 2008. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) on Thursday signed into law a bill that will prohibit health care facilities from requiring mandatory overtime of staff, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The law, set to take effect in July 2009, seeks to protect health care facilities from forcing nurses, technicians, technologists, certified nursing […]