Rural Medicare resources related to rural health and human services, with information provided by the Rural Assistance Center Copyright 2008 Rural Assistance Center http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/medicare/ Washington DC July 15, 2008 -- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/23_ODF_PNAHP.asp#TopOfPage Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:18:26 CST http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/23_ODF_PNAHP.asp#TopOfPage AHA News reports that to avoid disruption in health care services and payments resulting from the July 1 Medicare payment cut for physicians and other providers paid under the 2008 physician fee schedule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today said it has instructed its contractors to hold, for 10 business days, claims for dates of service in July. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8886 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:26:57 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8886 Associated Press article reports that the Bush administration said Monday it is freezing a scheduled 10 percent fee cut for doctors who treat Medicare patients, giving Congress time to act to prevent the cuts when lawmakers return from a July 4 recess. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jucINN3POiwPC9YNtNKHQ2lSofkAD91KDU887 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:52:38 CST http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jucINN3POiwPC9YNtNKHQ2lSofkAD91KDU887 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today proposed new efforts to promote access to higher quality and more efficient health care delivered by the nations physicians to people with Medicare under the 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8874 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:11:17 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8874 Politico article reports that Senate Republicans narrowly blocked passage of the Medicare bill, which had sailed through the House only days before but fell one vote short of the 60 needed, meaning that physicians with elderly patients face an automatic 10.6 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements effective July 1, next Tuesday. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11389.html Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:18:13 CST http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11389.html This notice lists CMS manual instructions, substantive and interpretive regulations, and other Federal Register notices that were published from January 2008 through March 2008, relating to the Medicare and Medicaid programs. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-13110.htm Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:53:44 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-13110.htm This final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalizes the hospital conditions of participation requirements for hospitals that transfuse blood and blood components. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-13279.htm Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:32:54 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-13279.htm This final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implements a number of regulatory provisions that are applicable to all providers and suppliers, including durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-14440.htm Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:31:53 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-14440.htm The House voted 355-59 yesterday to pass H.R. 6331, Medicare legislation that would block a July 1 physician payment cut and includes a number of hospital provisions. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8847 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:46:08 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8847 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released information about an Ombudsman Program for the Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8844 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:27:57 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8844 Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and RankingMember Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today introduced legislation that would delay implementation of the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive acquisition program (CAP). http://www.senate.gov/%7Efinance/press/Bpress/2008press/prb.061708e.pdf Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:39:37 CST http://www.senate.gov/%7Efinance/press/Bpress/2008press/prb.061708e.pdf Long term care facilities such as nursing homes across America will, for the first time, have to protect their residents by installing sprinkler systems throughout their buildings if they wish to continue to serve Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, under a new regulation to be issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8820 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:00:40 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8820 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced it will soon launch a ground-breaking ranking system of Americas nursing homes, giving each a "star" rating. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8819 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:55:13 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8819 Premier Healthcare Alliance article reports that more than 1.1 million patients treated in five clinical areas at hospitals participating in a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Premier healthcare alliance pay-for-performance project are living longer and receiving recommended treatments more frequently. http://www.premierinc.com/about/news/jan-07/hqid-year2.jsp Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:34:19 CST http://www.premierinc.com/about/news/jan-07/hqid-year2.jsp HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today declared a public health emergency in the flood-stricken states of Iowa and Indiana, an action that gives HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare beneficiaries and their health care providers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8806 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:12:32 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8806 Describes a direction for Medicare payment and delivery system reform; makes recommendations to promote primary care; and examines hospitalphysician collaborative relationships. -- Medicare Payment Advisory Commission http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Jun08_EntireReport.pdf Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:17:04 CST http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Jun08_EntireReport.pdf AHA News reports that Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) yesterday introduced a Republican Medicare reform package that includes a number of hospital provisions while a competing Medicare bill (S. 3101) introduced last week by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) failed today to gain enough votes to begin floor debate. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8800 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:31:08 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8800 Today, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC)releases its June 2008 Report to the Congress: Reforming the Delivery System. http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Jun08_News_release_final.pdf Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:14:57 CST http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Jun08_News_release_final.pdf The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) Semiannual Report to Congress announced expected recoveries of $2.2 billion for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2008 from efforts to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in HHS programs. http://www.oig.hhs.gov/publications/docs/press/2008/semiannual_press_spring2008.pdf Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:14:01 CST http://www.oig.hhs.gov/publications/docs/press/2008/semiannual_press_spring2008.pdf HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today named 12 communities that will participate in a national Medicare demonstration project that provides incentive payments to physicians for using certified electronic health records (EHR) to improve the quality of patient care. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8786 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:59:29 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8786 Nearly four million people with Medicare living in ten communities across the nation will receive information about a new program that will lower their costs for certain medical equipment and supplies by changing how Medicare pays for these items, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8781 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:36:18 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8781 Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) last week unveiledlong-awaited legislation making reforms to Medicare. http://www.senate.gov/~finance/press/Bpress/2008press/prb060608.pdf Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:41:47 CST http://www.senate.gov/~finance/press/Bpress/2008press/prb060608.pdf The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that an additional $15 million will be distributed to State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) to help people with Medicare get more information about their health care choices. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8775 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:37:38 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8775 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Matters special edition article entitled Marketing Rules Reminders for DME Suppliers Including Contract Suppliers under the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. http://medicareupdate.typepad.com/medicare_update/2008/06/cms-releases-ar.html Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:32:35 CST http://medicareupdate.typepad.com/medicare_update/2008/06/cms-releases-ar.html This final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services revises the existing conditions of participation that hospices must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-1305.htm Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:05:20 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-1305.htm Washington DC September 4, 2008 -- Medicare Payment Advisory Commission http://www.medpac.gov/meeting_search.cfm?SelectedDate=2008-09-04%2000:00:00.0 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:49:31 CST http://www.medpac.gov/meeting_search.cfm?SelectedDate=2008-09-04%2000:00:00.0 Describes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services legal authority to support caregivers and the ways in which CMS currently supports caregivers through its programs. Intended to serve as a resource for organizations that work on behalf of caregivers. -- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services http://www.raconline.org/pdf/CMSCaregivers91907.pdf Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:58:04 CST http://www.raconline.org/pdf/CMSCaregivers91907.pdf Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Discussions of rural aspects of Medicare payment policies are included throughout the report. (Large file) -- Medicare Payment Advisory Commission http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Mar08_EntireReport.pdf Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:52:23 CST http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Mar08_EntireReport.pdf Discusses Medicare Advantage Plans. Enrollees are still in HMOs and other managed care plans, and the most rapid enrollment growth has been in private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans, which now account for 22% of Medicare Advantage enrollment. Addresses issues in rural areas. -- Kaiser Family Foundation http://www.kff.org/medicare/upload/7744.pdf Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:16:38 CST http://www.kff.org/medicare/upload/7744.pdf These state-by-state reports compare MA enrollment in December 2005 to that in September 2007, including information on overall and rural enrollment in all MA plans. -- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis http://www.unmc.edu/ruprihealth/Pubs/statesheets.html Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:25:19 CST http://www.unmc.edu/ruprihealth/Pubs/statesheets.html