CMS, AMA announce changes to ease ICD-10 transition
In a joint press release Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the American Medical Association announced changes to help providers make the transition to ICD-10 by the Oct. 1, 2015 deadline. The Hill (7/7, Sullivan) reports CMS said that for 12 months, Medicare claims will…
3 things the Supreme Court’s ACA ruling means for physicians
An AMA Viewpoints post by AMA President Steven J. Stack, MD. The Supreme Court of the United States delivered an historic decision Thursday morning in King v. Burwell. In a 6-3 decision, the justices ruled that subsidies should remain available for lower-income people who purchase their health insurance…
California governor signs bill to limit vaccine exemptions for children.
ABC World News (6/30, story 5, 1:25, Robach, 5.84M) reported that California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) “signed into law one of the toughest vaccine bills in the country” Monday, requiring all children attending school to be “fully vaccinated unless they have a medical reason not to be.” Parents…
Arkansas medical providers likely unprepared for costly coding switch
On Oct. 1, the coding system used by Arkansas medical providers for billing insurance companies and the government will change. Many providers probably won’t be ready, and if they aren’t, they will have trouble getting paid. The federal government is requiring medical providers, including 38,000 in Arkansas, to…
Physicians Boost the National and State Economy
Beyond their role of safeguarding a healthy community and a productive work force, physicians have a huge positive impact on the national and state economies, as demonstrated in an American Medical Association study that was completed in conjunction with state medical associations. The national report shows that each…
CDC HEALTH ADVISORY: Bird Infections with Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses
Bird Infections with Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N2), (H5N8), and (H5N1) Viruses: Recommendations for Human Health Investigations and Response Summary: Highly-pathogenic avian influenza A H5 viruses have been identified in birds in the United States since December 2014. The purpose of this HAN Advisory is to notify public…
Physicians influence the lowest growth rate in national healthcare cost since 1961
How physicians are slowing health care costs An AMA Viewpoints post by Barbara L. McAneny, MD, chair of the AMA Board of Trustees. As physicians, we hear firsthand from the media and other places how health care costs are out of control, and we’re often asked what can be done…
(S)aying (G)ood (R)iddance
No, you weren't dreaming. Congress really did get rid of SGR. So, now what? After twelve years and seventeen patches and eighteen years after the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 brought us the flawed SGR, we can say good riddance! Senate and House members from both sides of…
CONGRESS REPEALS SGR … BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
Tuesday, April 14, on a bipartisan vote of 92 to 8, the Senate passed H.R. 2, the "Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act," or MACRA. All six members of the Arkansas Congressional Delegation supported this legislation. The measure replaces the Medicare SGR formula for physician payments in place…
Supreme Court rules providers cannot sue states for higher Medicaid rates.
The Washington Post (4/1, Barnes) reports that the Supreme Court “narrowly ruled” Tuesday “that neither the Constitution nor federal law authorizes doctors and other health-care providers to go to court to enforce the law’s directive that the reimbursement rates set by states be ‘sufficient to enlist enough providers…
SGR Action and Claims Hold Update
"Very early on the morning of March 27, after completing a lengthy round of votes on the budget resolution, a handful of Senators blocked efforts to reach agreement on the rules for debate on H.R. 2, the “Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act,” which passed the House on…