August 2010 - Posts

Associations Join Brief Supporting Payroll Tax Exemption for Medical Residents
August 31, 2010 9:23 AM by Frank Irving

Supreme Court case will be argued Nov. 8, likely decided in early 2011. The American Council on Education (ACE), a coordinating body for higher education institutions, has signed on to a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the Mayo Foundation in Read More...

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CMS Strengthens Medicare Enrollment Standards for Equipment Suppliers
August 30, 2010 12:15 PM by Frank Irving

New final rule adds protections against potentially fraudulent suppliers. On Aug. 26, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that increases protections for Medicare and beneficiaries from potentially fraudulent suppliers Read More...

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Medicare Expands Coverage of Tobacco-Cessation Counseling
August 27, 2010 11:38 AM by Frank Irving

New benefit will cover two individual tobacco-cessation counseling attempts per year. On Aug. 25, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced an expansion of Medicare coverage for evidence-based tobacco-cessation counseling. HHS Read More...

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Survey Finds COBRA Cost Increase for Unemployed in 2010
August 26, 2010 10:46 AM by Frank Irving

Current workers should expect to take on more of the expense related to health coverage next year. Health care costs for jobless Americans have seen a year-over-year increase, according to Aon Consulting, a benefits and human capital consulting business. Read More...

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CMS Offers Online Help to Prepare for January 2011 Testing of Transaction Standards
August 25, 2010 11:17 AM by Frank Irving

Agency also stresses need to prepare for 2013 compliance date for ICD-10 code sets. On Aug. 24, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a reminder to health care providers, health plans, clearinghouses and vendors about approaching Read More...

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HHS Announces $32 million to Support Rural Health Priorities
August 24, 2010 9:37 AM by Frank Irving

Funding included for rural hospitals, workforce, veterans and telehealth. On Aug. 23, Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced more than $32 million in fiscal year 2010 funds to increase access to health care for Americans Read More...

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Index Indicates Decline in Americans’ Confidence in Ability to Access and Pay for Health Care
August 23, 2010 11:10 AM by Frank Irving

Responses to all survey questions were more pessimistic in July than in previous months. A consumer sentiment index from Thomson Reuters indicates that Americans' confidence in their ability to access and pay for health care has hit its lowest level since Read More...

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CDC Survey Shows Rise in Teen Vaccination Rates
August 20, 2010 9:11 AM by Frank Irving

Gains made in protection from pertussis, meningitis and cervical cancer. Estimates released Aug. 19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show increases in nationwide coverage for vaccines specifically recommended for pre-teens. CDC's Read More...

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Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Premiums to Remain Stable in 2011
August 19, 2010 8:47 AM by Frank Irving

Average monthly premium paid by beneficiaries for Part D coverage will increase $1, CMS estimates. On Aug. 18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that average 2011 Medicare prescription drug plan premiums will remain similar Read More...

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New Grants Will Support Services for Underserved and Vulnerable Populations
August 18, 2010 9:30 AM by Frank Irving

Up to $250 million available to fund 350 new service delivery sites in FY 2011. On Aug. 9, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of up to $250 million in grants for new access points Read More...

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Proposed Physician Fee Schedule Update Implements Key Reform Provisions
August 17, 2010 10:57 AM by Frank Irving

CMS is accepting comments until Aug. 24; final rule will be effective Jan. 1, 2011. Guest commentary from Esther Chang, Peter R. Leone, Arnold Pamplona, Daniel Melvin, Emily Cook, Jeanna Palmer Gunville, Amy Kearbey, Webb Millsaps and Sarah Nelson, attorneys Read More...

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Employees Don’t Want to Receive Health Benefit Information Via Social Media
August 16, 2010 11:25 AM by Frank Irving

Survey finds most workers would prefer traditional mailings and e-mail. While many U.S. employees use social media for personal reasons, most are not interested in receiving information about their health benefits through social media, according to a Read More...

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Part 3: OCR Issues Proposed Modifications to HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules
August 13, 2010 9:24 AM by Frank Irving

Significant revisions to the Privacy Rule and Enforcement Rule. Guest commentary from Daniel F. Gottlieb, Bernadette M. Broccolo, Jennifer S. Geetter, Jerry Tichner, Jeanna Palmer Gunville, Sarah S. Nelson, Edward G. Zacharias and Stephen W. Bernstein, Read More...

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Part 2: OCR Issues Proposed Modifications to HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules
August 12, 2010 9:29 AM by Frank Irving

Restrictions and requirements for use of protected health information. Guest commentary from Daniel F. Gottlieb, Bernadette M. Broccolo, Jennifer S. Geetter, Jerry Tichner, Jeanna Palmer Gunville, Sarah S. Nelson, Edward G. Zacharias and Stephen W. Bernstein, Read More...

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OCR Issues Proposed Modifications to HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules
August 11, 2010 7:21 AM by Frank Irving

New standards imposed on business associates and their partners. Guest commentary from Daniel F. Gottlieb, Bernadette M. Broccolo, Jennifer S. Geetter, Jerry Tichner, Jeanna Palmer Gunville, Sarah S. Nelson, Edward G. Zacharias and Stephen W. Bernstein, Read More...

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President Freezes Discretionary Pay for Federal Political Appointees
August 10, 2010 10:22 AM by Frank Irving

Proposed budget for fiscal 2011 calls for salary freeze for senior political appointees. On Aug. 3, President Barack Obama issued a directive to the heads of U.S. executive departments and agencies calling for suspension of cash awards, quality-step increases, Read More...

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Policy Expert Shares Views on Health Reform
August 9, 2010 9:54 AM by Frank Irving

Interview with Paul Keckley, PhD, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. On Aug. 3, Politics of Health Care Editor Frank Irving conducted a phone interview with health economist and policy expert Paul Keckley, PhD, executive director Read More...

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CMS Issues Proposed Changes to Medicare GME Payments
August 6, 2010 10:16 AM by Frank Irving

Agency uses its discretion to propose changes outside of provisions mandated by ACA. Guest commentary from Eric B. Gordon, MD, and Emily J. Cook, attorneys with the law firm McDermott Will & Emery, LLP On July 2, 2010, the U.S. Department of Health Read More...

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Six States and DC Receive Federal Matching Funds Under EHR Incentive Program
August 5, 2010 10:09 AM by Frank Irving

Money awarded for planning activities including analysis of current HIT activities. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, established programs under Read More...

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Survey Points to Group Health Insurance Rate Hikes in 2011
August 4, 2010 8:48 AM by Frank Irving

Actuarial firm's preliminary results indicate highest premium increases in recent years. Group health insurance premiums will spike in 2011, according to preliminary research findings published Aug. 2 by actuarial and consulting firm Milliman. Early results Read More...

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CMS Issues Drug Manufacturer Agreement
August 3, 2010 10:00 AM by Frank Irving

Details now in place to provide 50 percent discount to Medicare Part D beneficiaries in 2011. Closing the drug benefit coverage gap for Medicare Part D beneficiaries is an important part of the Affordable Care Act signed by President Obama earlier this Read More...

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$51 Million in Grants Available to Help States Establish Insurance Exchanges
August 2, 2010 10:42 AM by Frank Irving

Applications due Sept. 1; stakeholder comments due Oct. 4. On July 29, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced two steps in the process of establishing health insurance exchanges. HHS said up to $1 million in grants per state are available Read More...

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