> The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued an interim final rule with comment period that implements several Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provisions, including requiring physicians and eligible professionals who order and refer covered items and services for Medicare beneficiaries to be enrolled in Medicare, as well as requiring providers and other Medicare participants to provide documentation on referrals to programs at high risk of waste and abuse. Federal Register notice
> It will be no surprise to hospitals that the percentage of nonelderly (under age 65) Americans who don't have employment-based health insurance coverage has increased during the recession, according to a study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) in Washington, D.C. However, even those lucky enough to have insurance from their employers have seen deductibles and co-payments for office visits rise. Press release
> Hospitals should beware of insurance agents bearing false policies. A Texas insurance agent has been found guilty of selling Valley Baptist Hospital in Harlingen, Texas, two fake and two altered insurance policies for hurricane coverage, reports Insurance & Financial Advisor. Article
> The Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services has published a free manual to help critical-access hospitals and federally qualified health centers forge partnership opportunities and strengthen rural healthcare service networks. Manual
And Finally... I guess this is keeping a positive attitude...sort of. Article