News From Around the Web
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has revised its instructions regarding the posting of the limiting charge after applying the electronic health record and physician quality reporting system negative adjustments. The MLN Matters article was revised on Jan. 15 to correct a typo on page 4. The reference should have stated "2 percent EHR negative adjustment $1.90 (95 x.02)." It incorrectly stated "2 percent PQRS." MLN Matters article
> CMS also has issued a news update reminding hospitals that 2015 is the last year that eligible hospitals can begin attesting for Meaningful Use and still earn an incentive payment. They should begin their 90-day reporting no later than April and attest by July 1. Eligible hospitals that miss this deadline still can earn a 2015 incentive payment and avoid the 2017 payment adjustment if they begin their reporting period by July 1 and attest by Nov. 30. However, they will be subject to the 2016 payment adjustment unless they apply and qualify for a hardship exception. Website
> The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has updated its health IT dashboard to include more information about how the regional extension centers (RECs) are helping providers meet Meaningful Use requirements. The update includes seven new quick stats, such as a new map on the percentage of priority primary care providers demonstrating Meaningful Use and the percentage of providers demonstrating Meaningful Use by practice type and area type. Dashboard
Health Finance News
> The American Hospital Association has lobbied Congress to preserve and boost payments for graduate medical education (GME). AHA Executive Vice President Rick Pollack sent a letter last week to Rep. Joseph R. Pitts (R-Pa.) asking that he closely review and consider GME funding. Pitts chairs the healthcare subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Pitts had published an open letter last month seeking information about the GME program, and had requested input from relevant parties. Article
> Nurses in Florida believe there is an "epidemic" of violence in hospitals, and want changes to make their workplace safer. National Nurses United has drafted legislation in Florida that would put safeguards in place in hospitals to prevent workplace violence. Meanwhile, hospitals have been creating their own internal police forces with arrest powers, and 30 states have made it a felony to attack healthcare workers while they're performing their duties. Article
Health Insurance News
> The Affordable Care Act isn't going anywhere. At least that was the consensus from last week's annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference in San Francisco. Article
And Finally... Talk about taking that missed appointment policy to extremes! Article