Wachler & Associates Health Law Blog

Thirteen medical societies and several senior citizen advocacy groups have requested that CMS delay the enforcement of the new face-to-face encounter requirement.  These groups are seeking to delay the effective date to no sooner than July 1, 2011.  This new requirement stipulates that physicians, or a nurse practitioner working with the physician, conduct an in person consultation before the patient is covered by Medicare for certain procedures.  The requirement, which was enacted by the Affordable Care Act, was already delayed from  its original effective date of January 1, 2011, to April 1, 2011.  For a full explanation of the rule and its requirments, please see a recently authored article by Wachler & Associates attorneys Amy K. Fehn and Jennifer Colagiovanni entitled New Audit Risk for Home Health Agencies: Face to Face Certification Requirements.

Regardless of whether the new rule is delayed, having an up to date and effective compliance program will be necessary to ensure Medicare coverage of services.  To review an existing compliance program, or create a new program, contact an attorney at Wachler & Associates at 248-544-0888.

A Republican Senator out of Iowa, Chuck Grassley, has introduced a new bill to the Senate.  This bill, which is entitled the Strengthening Program Integrity and Accountability in Health Care Act of 2011, seeks to amend the Social Security Act in a way that prevents improper billing, either through fraud or abuse, and waste in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  These amendments would serve to bolster and expand upon the prevention measures implemented in last year’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

This Proposed legislation, which is part of a larger trend towards eliminating fraud and abuse in the health care arean, highlights the importance of providers maintaining up to date and comprehensive compliance programs.  To discuss new and existing compliance requirements and ways to meet these requirements, please contact a Wachler & Associates attorney at 248-544-0888. 

The Department of Health and Human Service’s Office for Civil Rights will be conducting a series of workshops to help educate and train state Attorney Generals in enforcing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 2009 (HIPAA).  These workshops will include reviews of HIPAA and state privacy laws and the new enforcement role of the Attorney Generals as promulgated under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH).

These workshops are part of a larger plan to increase awareness about HIPAA compliance and enforcement.  Experts anticipate an increase in HIPAA related enforcement activity in the coming months.  To discuss possible improvements to your current compliance program, or to develop a new program, contact a Wachler & Associates Attorney at 248-544-0888.

The Government Accountability Office released a report on March 2, 2011, which concludes that inefficiencies and duplication in Government Programs are costing taxpayers billions every year.  This report, entitled “Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, Save Tax Dollars and Enhance Revenue,” was issued to aid lawmakers in setting the federal budget.  The report claims that 10% of all Medicare payments are either fraudulent or otherwise improper and that these payments cost the federal government roughly $48 billion.  The report goes on further to specifically call on CMS and HHS to reign in these, and other health care related costs.  Reports such as this will undoubtedly increase audit activity from CMS contractors in an already aggressive audit environment.  If you are the subject of an audit from a RAC, ZPIC, MAC or other Medicare or CMS contractor, please contact a Wachler & Associates attorney.

The Justice Department is seeking clarification on a ruling made by U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson.  Judge Vinson, in his ruling on the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, suggested that the government was enjoined from implementation of the Act.  The DOJ now wants the Judge to clarify whether or not there is an injunction on the implementation of the Act.  This injunction would only be applicable to the 26 states that were a party to the suit.

The ruling on this case could have a significant impact on individuals and providers in the affected states and should be carefully watched.  For information on health care reform and compliance with the various provisions, please contact a Wachler & Associates attorney. 

According to a Department of Health and Human Services news release issued on Thursday, February 17, 2010, the Medicare Strike Force has indicted 111 health care providers for allegedly billing false claims to Medicare.  HHS called this the “largest ever federal health care fraud takedown.”

21 defendants were arrested in Detroit for allegations of billing false claims including home health care, nerve conduction tests, psychotherapy, physical therapy and podiatry.  Arrests were also made in Florida, New York, Texas, California, Louisiana and Illinois.

HHS also announced that it is expanding Strike Force operations to two additional cities – Chicago and Dallas.  Cities already under scrutiny of the Strike Force include Detroit, Miami, Houston, Brooklyn, Tampa and Baton Rouge.