The shortage of primary care physicians and primary care in general has been widely reported. According to the Texas Tribune, for example, the federal government has declared Harris County a primary care physician shortage zone. The health care reform law will result in millions more Texans on the Medicaid rolls. Who will treat them? CMS announced a program to alleviate some of the pressure. The initiative will provide funds to hospitals to increase training for advanced practice registered … [Read more...] about Primary Care, Medicaid News
Health Care and the Supreme Court
Texas Tribune reporter Thanh Tan is writing a series of articles on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. Texas is one of the states that filed suit against the federal government challenging the law, particularly the individual mandate, as unconstitutional. The Texas Tribune published a story (which includes a video) on how the law affects physicians. An excerpt: While a ruling on the constitutionality of the new health care reforms … [Read more...] about Health Care and the Supreme Court
Medicaid Managed Care: Prescription Drugs
The Texas Tribune reports that prescription drugs will be a part of Medicaid managed care as it expands across the state. Pharmacists, who probably will see reimbursement cuts, object. An excerpt: “I am totally scared to death,” Louis Rumsey, a pharmacist who owns Elam Road Pharmacy in South Dallas, told a joint committee of Texas House and Senate members on Wednesday. Rumsey, who is making plans to sell the pharmacy over the managed care changes, said 85 percent of the patients he serves are … [Read more...] about Medicaid Managed Care: Prescription Drugs
Federal Government Encourages Health Providers to Coordinate, Then Sues Them For Doing So
Isn't this great? It reminds me of this. … [Read more...] about Federal Government Encourages Health Providers to Coordinate, Then Sues Them For Doing So
Why Should You Have a Compliance Program?
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA") mandates in Sections 6102 and 6401 that a broad range of providers, suppliers, and physicians adopt compliance and ethics programs. By March 23, 2013, skilled nursing facilities and other nursing facilities must have “in operation” a compliance and ethics program that meets the PPACA’s criteria. Although the PPACA's requirements for nursing facilities are specific, the PPACA also contains broad compliance program requirements for all other … [Read more...] about Why Should You Have a Compliance Program?
IRS Defers Requirement on Reporting Health Plan Coverage Costs
On October 12, 2010, the IRS released a draft Form W-2 for employers for 2011. Employers use Form W-2 to report wages and employee tax withholding. The IRS also announced that it will defer the requirement that employers report the cost of coverage under an employer-sponsored group health plan. Therefore, employer reporting of coverage costs is optional for 2011. The deferral allows employers additional time to make changes to their payroll systems or procedures in preparation for compliance … [Read more...] about IRS Defers Requirement on Reporting Health Plan Coverage Costs
Health Care Reform: Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement
Title IV, Subtitle B, of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, entitled Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement, contains several provisions affecting nursing homes. The legislation requires nursing homes to disclose their owners, managers, and the organizational structure to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), the HHS Inspector General, the state in which the nursing home is located, and in certain cases, the state long-term care ombudsman. The HHS … [Read more...] about Health Care Reform: Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement
