The Kaiser Network reports that the American Association for Homecare presented a 13-point plan on preventing Medicare fraud and abuse related to durable medical equipment. According to the group's plan, suppliers of home durable medical equipment would be subject to site inspections, and contract renewal would be contingent on these inspections. Also required under the plan would be a six-month trial period, an anti-fraud office, and stronger penalties and fines for fraud and … [Read more...] about Home Care Group Develops Medicare Anti-Fraud Plan
HHS: Medicare Part D Beneficiaries Overcharged
According to a report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, private insurers under Medicare Part D have overcharged beneficiaries and taxpayers by billions of dollars since the program began in 2006. (Kaiser Network) An estimated 80 percent of private insurance companies owe Medicare $4.4 billion. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has not conducted audits it should have performed in 2006. Consequently, CMS doesn't know … [Read more...] about HHS: Medicare Part D Beneficiaries Overcharged
Smaller Reimbursements for Home Health Agencies
According to the Kaiser Network, MedPAC has recommended reducing Medicare reimbursements to home health agencies by 5.5 percent from FY 2009 levels and increasing payments to long term care hospitals and dialysis centers. MedPAC, which advises Congress on Medicare issues, will send a report to the legislative body in March. The report will also contain a recommendation to change home health agency reimbursement rates in 2011 "to account for the average cost of care, develop studies to … [Read more...] about Smaller Reimbursements for Home Health Agencies
Medicare Advantage and Part D Under Obama
Last summer, President George W. Bush vetoed a bill that would have halted a 10.6 percent Medicare physicians pay cut. Democrats proposed to reduce payments to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to fund the physicians pay cut. President Bush reportedly vetoed the bill because it would "harm beneficiaries by taking private health plan options away from them" and urged Congress to send him a bill "that reduces the growth in Medicare spending, increases competition and efficiency, implements … [Read more...] about Medicare Advantage and Part D Under Obama
Medicare News: MedPAC and Part D
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has recommended that hospitals receive full market basket Medicare payment increases in fiscal year 2010. (Kaiser Network) Among the proposals is a 1.6 percent payment increase recommendation for long term care hospitals based on quality of care delivered. A final vote will come in January. MedPAC advises Congress on Medicare issues. In other Medicare news, Kaiser reports that close to 133,000 beneficiaries in Tennessee have not taken … [Read more...] about Medicare News: MedPAC and Part D
CMS Seeks to Improve Outpatient Quality of Care
Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a final rule that restates its commitment to implementing Value Based Purchasing incentives, one of which is to improve the quality of care with Medicare in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). CMS hopes to give hospitals an incentive to improve care by tying quality of care to payments. Kerry Weems, CMS acting administrator, said "In this final rule, we are continuing to pay appropriately for care while working with … [Read more...] about CMS Seeks to Improve Outpatient Quality of Care
CMS Announces Electronic Prescribing System
As the stereotype goes, physicians' handwriting is notoriously illegible. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new electronic prescribing system designed to eliminate medication errors caused by people misreading handwritten prescriptions. (Source) Kerry Weems, CMS acting administrator said "more than 1.5 million Americans are injured every year by drug errors. E-prescribing lets providers know—up front—their patients’ medication history and the … [Read more...] about CMS Announces Electronic Prescribing System
Medicare Part D’s Home-Infusion Therapy Coverage Gap
The Wall Street Journal reports that a gap in Medicare coverage makes the hospital-to-home care swap more difficult. Under "home-infusion therapy," patients can receive cost-effective care in their own homes and forgo lengthy hospital stays. But Medicare doesn't fully cover home-infusion therapy. For instance, the list of intravenous drugs has grown, and patients can get these treatments at home. Home drug administering costs between $150 and $200 a day, as opposed to $1,500 to $2,500 a day … [Read more...] about Medicare Part D’s Home-Infusion Therapy Coverage Gap
Information Letters: Hurricane Ike Services, Etc.
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) issued three information letters: Hurricane Ike Services: Family Care (FC) and Home Delivered Meals (HDM) Services Available to Limited Number of Individuals Temporarily Residing in Shelters, Hotels, or Home Settings DADS informed FC and HDM providers that it has allotted funds to provide FC and HDM services to a limited number of Hurricane Ike evacuees temporarily residing in shelters hotels, or homes. For details, download the … [Read more...] about Information Letters: Hurricane Ike Services, Etc.
Medicare to Stop Paying for Preventable Errors
In an effort to keep down costs and encourage providers to give better care, Medicare will not pay for "reasonably preventable" medical errors, including second surgeries to remove sponges left in patients, infections that develop after certain surgeries, and bed sores. Medicare has compiled a list of 10 such conditions. (Source) Hospitals also will be prevented from directly billing patients for costs associated with medical errors. Taxpayer-supported and private insurers are following … [Read more...] about Medicare to Stop Paying for Preventable Errors
