The American Academy of Family Physicians predicts there will be 40,000 fewer family care physicians in 10 years, and 160,000 fewer by 2025. One proposed solution to the growing shortage is to increase residency positions for family doctors at teaching hospitals. To make matters worse, doctors face a 21 percent cut in Medicare payments in 2010. An internist quoted in CNN Money said if the cut went through, it would exceed his profits, and he'd have to lay off employees to stay in business. … [Read more...] about House Stops Physician Payment Cut
The Fight Against Overcriminalization
I wrote about this book and the war on pain management physicians here. Now, the New York Times is writing about overcriminalization in general. Given the risks of accusations of Medicare/Medicaid and other business fraud by ambitious prosecutors, this is a topic with which you all should be concerned. It's no longer a left versus right issue, given the broad coalition discussed in the article. In the meantime, watch this: … [Read more...] about The Fight Against Overcriminalization
Texas Register Updates: Texas Medical Board Changes
The following information was obtained from the November 20 issue of the Texas Register: Emergency Rules The Texas Medical Board adopted a new §180.4, concerning Operation of Program, which establishes the requirements for eligibility, referrals, drug-testing, and fees for the Physician Health Program. The board contemporaneously proposes a permanent new §180.4. See the relevant section of the Texas Register for more information. Proposed Rules HHSC proposes to adopt and repeal … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: Texas Medical Board Changes
Information Letter and Alert: No Auto Increase for COLA, Q&A
DADS released an information letter and a news alert. Medicaid NFs and ICFs/MR: For 2010, there will be no automatic increase for COLA for Medicaid consumers with SSI, because there was no increase in the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2009. (Letter) News alert: During its stakeholder meeting for Case Management and Service Coordination, Residential Reviews, Rate Analysis, and Nurse Reviews for HCS and TxHmL external stakeholders on July 23, 2009, DADS gathered … [Read more...] about Information Letter and Alert: No Auto Increase for COLA, Q&A
Information Letter and Alert: No Auto Increase for COLA, Q&A
DADS released an information letter and a news alert. Medicaid NFs and ICFs/MR: For 2010, there will be no automatic increase for COLA for Medicaid consumers with SSI, because there was no increase in the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2009. (Letter) News alert: During its stakeholder meeting for Case Management and Service Coordination, Residential Reviews, Rate Analysis, and Nurse Reviews for HCS and TxHmL external stakeholders on July 23, 2009, … [Read more...] about Information Letter and Alert: No Auto Increase for COLA, Q&A
CMS: Physicians Receive $92 Million for Initiative
CMS announced incentive payments of over $92 million to physicians and other eligible professions for reporting quality-related data to Medicare under the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). (Source) CMS developed a program to give doctors an incentive for raising quality of care and for reporting to CMS. In 2007, physicians reported for a six-month period. Last year, CMS gave them the choice of reporting for six months or a year. The number of professions earning the … [Read more...] about CMS: Physicians Receive $92 Million for Initiative
CDS Option in CLASS Expanded
DADS announced that the CDS option is now available in CLASS for nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech/hearing/language therapy. DADS will continue to offer habitation and respite care under the CDS option. You may choose whether to manage some or all of these services yourself or allow your CLASS Direct Services Agency to manage services for you. From the letter: "The CDS option allows you to: recruit and hire your service provider set your service … [Read more...] about CDS Option in CLASS Expanded
CMS: Health Care Reform Will Cost $289 Billion
According to a new report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the health care reform bill would cost $289 billion over the next 10 years. Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives asked CMS to prepare the report. To pay for the health care system overhaul, Medicare would be reduced by over $500 billion, which in turn would reduce benefits for seniors enrolled in Medicare and impact access for millions of Americans. The report also concluded that hospitals and … [Read more...] about CMS: Health Care Reform Will Cost $289 Billion
Information Letters: CBA, ICM, PC 3, CWP, NFs, and Others
DADS released four information letters: CBA, ICM, and PC 3 providers: The new payment rate for these providers is $69.82, effective September 1, 2009. See other rates at this link. (Letter) CWP providers: Rates for all CWP services except 24-Hour Residential Habilitation are effective September 1, 2009. Rates for CWP 24-Hour Residential Habilitation are effective October 1, 2009. You can find more rates at this link. (Letter) NF providers: DADS attached to the letter an updated Texas … [Read more...] about Information Letters: CBA, ICM, PC 3, CWP, NFs, and Others
Texas Register Updates: Hearing, Effective Date Change, Etc.
The following information was obtained in the November 6 issue of the Texas Register: Public Hearings and Notices HHSC will hold a public hearing November 17, 2009, at 1:30 p.m., to receive comment on proposed Medicaid payment rates for Anesthesia. The hearing's location is the Lone Star Conference Room of HHSC, Braker Center, Building H, located at 11209 Metric Boulevard, Austin, Texas. See the relevant section of the Texas Register for details. HHSC intends to submit to CMS an … [Read more...] about Texas Register Updates: Hearing, Effective Date Change, Etc.
