The Office of the Inspector General issued a favorable opinion regarding an affiliation between an Air Force medical group and a community hospital. The arrangement involves an Air Force medical group (medical group) located on a military base and a community hospital located near the base. As a result of…
ACO Start-Up Costs According to a study conducted by the American Hospital Association, the costs associated with starting an accountable care organization (ACO) range from $5.3 million to $12 million. The study was based on a review of the start up costs of four ACOs currently in existence. Additionally, it…
Over $365 Million in Improper Payments Identified By RACs Since October 2009 CMS recently reported that RACs have identified $312.2 million in overpayments from October 2009 through March 2011. During the same period, $52.6 million in underpayments were identified. While these figures are well below the over $1 billion in…
As of April 20, 2011, a statement, writing, or action by a health care professional to an individual, or an individual’s family, that expresses sympathetic feelings towards that individual’s pain or death cannot be used against the professional in an action for medical malpractice. However, this bill does not apply…
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid issued a new rule that will make it easier for hospitals to use telemedicine when treating patients. The final rule, which takes effect sixty days following its publication, removes unnecessary burdens for hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) to use telemedicine to serve patients…
Over $30 billion has been set aside by the government to use for incentive payments in an effort to get health care professionals to switch to electronic records. One reason for the push towards electronic records is the ability exchange patient information between systems. As a way to efficiently capture…
The ONC announced last Wednesday that the Medicare electronic health record (EHR) incentive payments will begin disbursement this week. The payments will be made to providers who have met all of the program conditions, including the meaningful use requirements. Eligible participants can expect to receive a payment based on 75%…
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued an unfavorable advisory opinion with respect to a joint venture between a pharmacy and long term care facilities. The proposed arrangement would include a long term care pharmacy incorporated in the requestor’s market area. The owners of the long term care pharmacy…
The percentage of physicians in the United States using electronic health records (EHR) has increased by nine percent (20% to 29%) over the past twelve months. The push towards electronic records has been firmly supported by the current and previous presidential administrations. The Obama Administration aims to have at least…
On May 4, 2011, the Seventh Circuit Court was faced with the issue of whether a doctor’s actions violated the anti-kickback statute (United States of America v. Borrasi). Dr. Roland Borrasi was convicted of Medicare fraud after he accepted payments in the form of a salary from a psychiatric hospital…