In contradiction of President Obama’s campaign promises to let states create their own policies regarding medical marijuana use, the Obama administration released a memo approving federal prosecution of anyone in the business of cultivating or supplying marijuana to patients, whether or not they comply with state law. The original guidelines…
The University of California at Los Angeles Health System (UCLAHS) has agreed to settle potential HIPAA violations stemming from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR). UCLAHS has agreed to pay $865,500, along with implementing a plan of correction…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed to rescind the current signature requirement for lab requisitions. Currently, the 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule requires a physician’s or nonphysician provider’s signature on all lab requisitions for tests paid under the clinical lab fee schedule, regardless of whether there…
On June 14, 2011, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued an unfavorable advisory opinion addressing an existing and a proposed arrangement involving contracts between a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier and several independent diagnostic testing facilities (IDTF). The DME supplier (Requestor) provides continuous positive airway pressure supplies (CPAP), which…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued an advisory opinion stating that a physician recruitment arrangement including a non-competition provision meets the requirements of the physician recruitment exception under the Stark law. The approved non-compete arrangement restricts the physician from establishing, operating, or providing professional medical services…
A group of U.S. senators is seeking an inquiry into the expansion and potential abuse of physician-owned distributorships (PODs). PODs are entities that allow doctors to purchase ownership shares in an organization that buys products used in surgery. In separate letters to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)…
On June 8, 2011, the Health Information Technology Policy Committee (“HITPC”) advised the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) to push its deadline for Stage 2 meaningful use requirements to 2014. The current deadline is 2013 for providers who achieve Stage 1 meaningful use requirements in the 2011…
In February, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published its Final rule implementing changes in the provider enrollment processes. Effective March 25, 2011, providers participating in Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program will undergo an initial screening process prior to enrollment. In addition, providers are now required to…
AARP recently unveiled an online tool aimed at helping senior citizen beneficiaries fully understand their quarterly health care statements. This tool will aid in fully informing seniors of all charges the Medicare program has paid, along with dates, billing codes and a description of the medical service. The AARP website…
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently reported that it believes Medicaid is being inappropriately billed for certain nonmedical services (e.g. bathing, dressing and light housework). As a result of two recent audits, OIG has requested that North Carolina and Washington refund the federal government more $61 million resulting from…