Policy and Legislation
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday announced it will increase payment rates under its Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) by 1.9 percent and its Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payments by 1.6 percent in 2012.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its final rule updating the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) for 2012. In a press release, CMS noted that the final changes are a result of the agency seeking to "improve payment accuracy" while still supporting patient access.
With U.S. drug shortages reaching record numbers, President Obama issued an executive order on Monday, directing the FDA to take steps to reduce current shortages and prevent future disruptions.
Washington governor Chris Gregoire last week proposed cutting at least $664 million from healthcare programs in order to help balance the state's budget.
Medicare Part B premiums in 2012 will be more than 6 percent less than was projected earlier this year by the Medicare Trustees.
Faced with staggering economic woes, Medicaid officials in most states are enacting cost cutting measures for Medicaid spending as the average state contribution to the entitlement program is projected to increase 28.7 percent in FY 2011 to make up for the loss of federal funds, according to a new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.
Informed consent forms can eliminate or negate negligence, said James Gottesman, MD, during a speech this week at the Medical Group Management Association conference in Las Vegas.
Healthcare price information that is available before consumers receive care could help them better handle these costs, GAO said.
A recent report published by the Institute for Health Technology Transformation gave some interesting insight into accountable care organizations (ACOs). Among sections focusing on the origins of the ACO concept and their current state, the report detailed 10 basic things you need to know about ACOs.
Advocates for the poor and hospital executives say states' attempts to cut Medicaid hospital coverage will restrict patients' access to care, force hospitals to absorb more costs and lead to higher charges for privately insured patients.