Industry News
 Medical news from the Government section of the news source for America's physicians
Updated: 1 hour 52 min ago Health reform tasks could overwhelm agencies, former federal official saysHHS, CMS and other departments must issue more than 40 health reform regulations, some of which will be complex and controversial.
Medicare anti-fraud effort leads to record arrestsMore than 90 people, including physicians, are charged with fraudulent activity involving more than $251 million in false claims to Medicare.
Recovery audits expanding to include MedicaidRACs also will seek out overpayments in Medicare private plans and the program's drug benefit.
HIV/AIDS national policy unveiledThe Obama administration plan does not propose significant increases in HIV/AIDS funding but instead calls for better coordination of existing resources.
CMS chief Dr. Berwick still may face hearingsRepublican lawmakers and some policy experts say the recess appointee's tenure won't carry the same weight as if he had been confirmed by the Senate.
Primary care boosted in proposed Medicare pay ruleCMS outlines new benefits and physician incentives for 2011 but also projects a 6.1% reduction to overall doctor pay.
Emergency department visits increase in MassachusettsEmergency physicians warn that the national health reform law, which is based on the state's overhaul, could further stress EDs.
Brief Medicare pay fix may mean showdown in lame-duck CongressLawmakers will wait until after the elections to tackle the Dec. 1 Medicare pay cut, observers predict.
"Meaningful use" final rule offers some flexibilityPhysicians now can defer up to five EMR objectives in the first two years and still qualify for Medicare or Medicaid financial incentives.
Physicians seek more Medicare PECOS reliefCMS holds off on automatically rejecting claims for enrollment noncompliance, but the AMA wants the deadline pushed back through regulation.
Health reform savings barely dent deficit, CBO saysA presidential commission to control the federal debt has few easy choices, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Emergency department visits increase in MassachusettsEmergency physicians warn that the national health reform law, which is based on the state's overhaul, could further stress EDs.
Short-term insurance buyers driving some costs in MassachusettsHowever, the overall cost effect is small, and it's unclear to what extent people are waiting until they get sick to purchase coverage.
Launch Medicare home care pilot project soon, lawmakers tell CMSThe Independence at Home demonstration is scheduled to begin in 2012, but two congressional Democrats want to see it start within six months.
Medicaid funding extension hitting roadblocks in CongressLawmakers have been unable to adopt a renewal of stimulus Medicaid funding. Governors warn that physician Medicaid pay could be cut.
Comparative effectiveness efforts expanding but still raising concernsSupporters hope a new institute launching in September will help guide the research and offset predictions of a rough road ahead.
Physician payment can vary widely for same proceduresSome doctors get twice the rates of others in the same area, a new study says. Researchers suggest lowering higher fees to cut health spending.
San Francisco plan for uninsured withstands final legal challengeThe U.S. Supreme Court won't review a lawsuit that restaurant owners filed against employer mandates in a city health program.
New CMS chief Dr. Berwick gets recess appointment, sidestepping SenateThe AMA and other physician organizations that supported the nomination hailed the move, but some GOP senators expressed outrage.
Uninsured jumped to 46.3 million in 2009Another 2.5 million U.S. adults joined the uninsured population as the ranks of the privately insured continued to decline, says a new report.
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