The following information was obtained from the September 30 issue of the Texas Register: Public Hearing and Notices HHSC intends to renew the consultant contract for Information Technology Negotiation Support Services to continue services to provide information, advice, and assistance in various proposals IT negotiations. HHSC will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, October 18, 2011, at 9 a.m. to receive public comment on proposed CDS option payment rates for employment assistance and … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: CDS Option Hearing, Corrected Notices
MedPAC Recommends Reduce Payments to Specialists
American Medical News reports that MedPAC, which advises Congress on Medicare, recommended significant cuts to specialists to prevent such cuts for primary care physicians. An excerpt: The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has drafted recommendations to Congress that would block a 29.5% pay cut scheduled for 2012 and future across-the-board Medicare rate reductions, but the plan would pay for the changes by lowering rates for nonprimary care services. Supporters of the proposal said it could … [Read more...] about MedPAC Recommends Reduce Payments to Specialists
TX Register Updates: Medical Board Changes
The following information was obtained from the September 16 issue of the Texas Register: Public Notice HHSC intends to submit transmittal number 11-045 to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, which would limit payments for Medicare Part B services provided to dual eligibles to no more than the Medicaid payment amount for the same service, with the exception of dialysis services. See the Texas Register for more information. Proposed Rules The Texas Medical Board proposed … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Medical Board Changes
TX Register Updates: Medical Board Fees, Cease and Desist Orders
The following was obtained from the September 9 issue of the Texas Register: Public Notices HHSC adopted new per diem payment rates for the non-state operated ICF/MR, which can be found here. HHSC also intends to submit amendments to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance to modify the reimbursement methodologies as a result of Medicaid fee adjustments for: Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies; Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment; Physicians and … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Medical Board Fees, Cease and Desist Orders
Primary Care Physicians Seek CMS Committee Changes
The Wall Street Journal reports that the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), which represents primacy care doctors, has asked CMS to change the way its Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) calculates Medicare reimbursements—which it says places a higher value specialists' work—and to add more members who represent primary care groups. A group of primary care physicians is suing CMS. An excerpt: "I think the whole thing needs to be replaced," said Paul Fischer, a doctor who … [Read more...] about Primary Care Physicians Seek CMS Committee Changes
TX Register Updates: Medicaid Fees
The following was obtained from the August 19 issue of the Texas Register: Public Notices HHSC intends to submit amendments to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, which would modify the reimbursement methodologies and reduce Medicaid fees as detailed below: Birthing Centers: 5 percent Case Management for Children and Pregnant Women: 5 percent Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS): various percentages averaging 10.5 percent Early and … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Medicaid Fees
TX Register Updates: Fee Changes, Nursing Licensure
The following information was obtained from the July 22 issue of the Texas Register: Public Notices HHSC intends to submit an amendment to the Texas State Plan for Medical Assistance, which would remove the annual settlement process and establish a prospective and uniform statewide reimbursement rate for the Texas Medicaid State Plan for Case Management for Persons with Chronic Mental Illness and the Rehabilitative Services for Individuals with Chronic Mental Illness programs. HHSC … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: Fee Changes, Nursing Licensure
Feds to Investigate Primary Care Physician Shortage – UPDATED
Update: Politico reports that the Obama administration has scrapped its "mystery shoppers" plan to investigate the primary care physician shortage. *** The New York Times published a story about the Obama administration's plan to determine the extent of the primary care physician shortage. The government will send people posing as patients to make appointments and find out how easy or difficult it would be to see a doctor. As the health care reform law takes effect in a few years, the … [Read more...] about Feds to Investigate Primary Care Physician Shortage – UPDATED
TX Register Updates: July 12 Hearing, Medical Board Changes
The following information was obtained from the June 24 issue of the Texas Register: Public Notices HHSC proposes to the following per diem reimbursement rates for the non-state operated ICF/MR: Per Diem Rates Chart HHSC will hold a public hearing on July 12, 2011, at 9 a.m., to receive comment on proposed Medicaid payments for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment services. The public hearing will be … [Read more...] about TX Register Updates: July 12 Hearing, Medical Board Changes
Hospitals Courting Primary Care Physicians
The growing shortage of these doctors means they'll be in demand for the foreseeable future. The Washington Post features a story about hospitals in the Washington area trying to lure primary care physicians out of private practices. Hospitals in Texas also are courting primary care physicians. An aging population and doctors choosing more specialized fields of medicine have created a growing need for primary care physicians in East Texas, according to local doctors and hospital … [Read more...] about Hospitals Courting Primary Care Physicians
