In a Senate Finance Committee Majority Staff Report (the Senate Report) entitled, “Why Stark, Why Now?”, the Committee’s Chairman, Senator Orrin Hatch, argues that changes are needed to Stark Law. Georgia Stark Law and Physician Self-Referral Attorneys The Senate Report is, at a minimum, a strong indicator that calls for…
Earlier this month, the United States General Accounting Office (GAO) issued its monthly anticipated report (the Report) to Congress about the status of the Medicare Appeals backlog. The Report states on the first page, “Opportunities Remain to Improve Appeals Process,” which is a gross understatement and will likely be received…
CMS recently announced what it describes as the largest-ever multi-payer initiative to improve primary care in America,” known as Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+). Though much of the press release is couched in terms of improving patient care — and surely CPC+ is intended to do so — the real…
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced its preparation to move into its next phase of audits of healthcare covered entities and their business associates. According to HHS, “[t]he 2016 Phase 2 HIPAA Audit Program will review the policies and procedures adopted and employed by covered entities…
In making a decision to pursue medicine and healthcare as a livelihood, it is likely that most physicians today did not contemplate the extent to which legally binding contracts would govern and impact their professional lives. Few other careers carry the same potential for commitment to so much paper and…
Of the 2.5 million people who die in the U.S. in a year about 75% of those are 65 and older. As such, Medicare is the largest insurer of the cost of medical treatment during the last year of life, according to an article by the Henry J. Kaiser Family…
In the past two decades, a growing number of physicians in private practice dissatisfied with reimbursement rates, paperwork and other aspects of the federal Medicare program have opted out of the program. According to an article by William Buczko available on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website…
This week the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), through the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Richard S. Hartunian, announced a settlement with Medical Reimbursement Systems, Inc. (MRI) of DOJ’s allegations that MRI submitted false claims to the Federal TRICARE Program in violation of the…
High on the list of trends in the healthcare industry in 2016 is the advancement of technology in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and medical conditions. According to a recent online article in Healthcare Finance, thirty-two percent of consumers in 2015 had at least one health, medical or fitness…
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Final Rule earlier this week, which created prior authorization rules applicable to particular durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). The impetus for the rule is CMS’ determination that prior authorization will curb past issues with unnecessary utilization…