Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) news from FierceHealthcare
News
National study names 75 hospitals as 'best value'
A group of 75 hospitals have been named by research firm Data Advantage as offering the highest quality of care in the U.S. These 75 facilities came out on the top of the firm's 2009-2010 Hospital... Read more...
Medical imaging societies ask CMS to cover more PET scans
A group of seven medical imaging societies have come together to protest a limit CMS imposes on PET scanning for initial patient treatment evaluations. The groups would like to see CMS expand... Read more...
SPOTLIGHT: OIG may tighten Medicare, Medicaid auditing programs
Providers are just beginning to get adjusted to the idea that they're facing far more auditing scrutiny, most notably from the RACs. Now, it's possible things will get a bit tougher yet, with the HHS... Read more...
New physician self-referral rules could change hospital deals
About a year ago, CMS approved major changes to existing anti-self referral arrangements by changing the rules for the Medicare hospital inpatient PPS system. Now, as of October 1, the rules will... Read more...
CMS investigates Humana letter to beneficiaries on health reform
CMS has launched an investigation of Humana after questions were raised over letters it sent to its beneficiaries on the subject of health reform. Officials are looking into the issue of whether... Read more...
Feds: Lousiana owes $362M for overpayments to its public hospitals
CMS has formally given the state of Louisiana a pretty nasty fiscal demand: The agency has told state officials that during the mid-1990s, it overpaid state-run charity hospitals for care provided to... Read more...
OIG: CMS anti-fraud efforts failing for lack of prompt claims analysis
Since 1999, states have been required to use the Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS) to report fee-for-service Medicaid claims. The MSIS reporting program was designed to help both... Read more...
Reform bills may extend Medicare coverage for kidney transplant drugs
Since 1973, Medicare has covered treatment for any American citizen with end-stage renal disease, and 80 percent the bill for costly immunosuppressive medications. However, CMS will only pay the bill... Read more...
WellPoint gets Medicare Advantage, Part D back
CMS has given WellPoint back permission to market Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans after a nine-month ban on accepting new enrollments. CMS had imposed the ban in January after receiving... Read more...
Hospitalists recommend changes to 'bundled payment' model
A think tank made up of hospitalist groups has released a white paper suggesting some changes to the emerging bundled payment model for episodes of care. Generally speaking, they're arguing for CMS... Read more...
