News From Around the Web
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has awarded Ellicott City, Maryland-based company Data Computer Corporation of America a contract to support the National Level Repository, which is the central system operating the Meaningful Use Incentive Program. The contract is for one year, with the possibility of four one-year extensionsm and is worth $24 million if all options are exercised. Announcement
> Joe White, the former chief financial officer of Texas' Shelby Regional Medical Center, has been sentenced to 23 months in federal prison and will repay Medicare more than $4 million for falsely attesting that the hospital met the Meaningful Use requirements in 2012. The medical center had received $785,655 as a result of White's false certification, according to ktre.com. Article
> The electronic eye registry of the American Optometry Association is expected to launch this week with three initial vendors: Eye Care Advantage by Compulink Business Systems, Maxim Eyes by First Insight, and RevolutionEHR by Health Innovation Technologies. Three additional vendors have agreed to participate, and other vendors are expected. Announcement
Health Finance News
> The American Hospital Association has raised a variety of concerns with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the proposed Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule for fiscal 2016, AHA News Now has reported. The nation's largest hospital trade group is most concerned with payment cuts to facilities participating in the Disproportionate Share Hospital program and proposed changes to the Quality Reporting Program and Hospital Readmissions Reductions Program. Article
> The Health Resources and Services Administration has proposed a new rule that would place a cap on how much drug manufacturers could charge safety-net hospitals participating in the 340B program for drugs intended for outpatient treatment. The proposed rule calls for pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in the 340B program to provide an estimated price for the first three quarters of any new drug they bring to market. If their actual price exceeds the estimate price, the manufacturer would have to issue a rebate to hospitals. Article
Health Insurance News
> If insurers change the plans they sell on a health insurance exchange too drastically, they could be shut out of that exchange for five years, according to a new memo from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Article
> Cigna officially rejected Anthem's takeover bid on Sunday, saying its board of directors is "deeply disappointed" with Anthem's recent negotiating tactics amid increasingly tense talks between the two health insurers. Cigna has rebuffed at least two previous takeover offers from its larger competitor. The offer that Anthem publicly announced Saturday--the only one Cigna confirmed--was $184 a share, according to a statement from Anthem. Article
And Finally... Maybe he should have tasted the food before fighting for more. Article