Medicare - amednews.com http://www.amednews.com/section/newsfeed News en-us http://www.amednews.com/article/20130515/government/130519965/8/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 Senate confirms Tavenner to lead CMS Acting chief Marilyn Tavenner officially takes over the $820 billion agency overseeing Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health programs. Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130515/government/130519965/8/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130513/government/130519972/7/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 Medicare proposes limits on hospital observation stays A Medicare patient would be considered an inpatient after spending at least two midnights in the hospital if the CMS rule change is finalized. Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130513/government/130519972/7/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130513/government/130519979/9/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 No Medicare cuts from IPAB in 2015 Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130513/government/130519979/9/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130513/government/130519974/1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 CMS: Do EHRs lead to upcoding? The Medicare agency is probing whether physicians are using paperless systems to bill costlier services, but doctors say EHR complexity is the real problem. Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130513/government/130519974/1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130506/government/130509964/9/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 New Medicare ordering and referring policy delayed Mon, 06 May 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130506/government/130509964/9/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130429/government/130429940/1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 Last chance for quality reporting before Medicare penalty kicks in Bonuses soon will run out and be replaced by pay cuts for noncompliance, but physicians and the Medicare agency are exploring alternatives to stop reductions. Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130429/government/130429940/1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130429/government/130429943/7/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 Medicare ban on gender reassignment surgeries challenged Backers of the change hope to build on an Oregon settlement in which the state altered its insurance policy in favor of transgender employees. Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130429/government/130429943/7/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130426/government/130429939/8/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 House SGR reform authors receive physician feedback The American Medical Association and other organized medicine groups want more changes to a framework that would repeal Medicare’s physician payment formula. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130426/government/130429939/8/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130423/business/130429993/8/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 Nonprofit hospitals feel pinch of sequester A Medicare payment cut will force hospital executives to offset losses, especially in states with large retirement communities, according to a report. Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130423/business/130429993/8/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130422/government/130429972/1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 Obama budget signals quicker trigger on Medicare pay cuts Physicians and hospitals express concerns about the White House budget's potential impact on pay, including a provision to accelerate work of a Medicare cost-cutting board. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130422/government/130429972/1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130422/government/130429978/4/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 Goodwill likely to break long deadlock on CMS chief Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner fields pointed questions on ACA implementation and entitlement reforms at the Senate hearing on her nomination for the permanent post. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130422/government/130429978/4/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130419/government/130419961/8/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 Price drops seen as Medicare equipment bidding intensifies Hundreds of additional suppliers are approved for round 2 of competitive bidding, but the industry wants a delay until the program can be investigated. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130419/government/130419961/8/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130415/government/130419968/6/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 House GOP floats new details of SGR reform plan Republicans say they want to repeal the Medicare doctor payment formula and phase in a new system that rewards higher-quality care. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130415/government/130419968/6/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130415/government/130419983/10/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 AMA reaffirms support for Medicare private contracting Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130415/government/130419983/10/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130415/government/130419987/10/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 ACA data “dashboard” will track chronic conditions Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130415/government/130419987/10/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130408/government/130409958/4/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 Volume, not quality, still determines most doctor pay A physician payment scorecard by an employer coalition also noted that a larger share of payments continues to go to specialists, not primary care doctors. Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130408/government/130409958/4/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130408/government/130409971/10/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 Closing Medicare drug coverage gap saves seniors $6 billion Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130408/government/130409971/10/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130401/government/130409980/4/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 IOM gives thumbs-down to Medicare regional value-based pay A proposal floated by lawmakers to decrease Medicare physician payment rates in higher-spending, lower-quality areas probably would punish efficient doctors, according to an interim report. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130401/government/130409980/4/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130401/opinion/130409985/4/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 Tools for physicians to reduce hospital readmissions An AMA report says medical practices should conduct assessments and take other steps in care coordination to keep patients from unnecessarily returning to the hospital. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130401/opinion/130409985/4/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 http://www.amednews.com/article/20130325/government/130329973/1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513 Budgets underscore wide health policy gulf between parties Contentious issues include Medicare and Medicaid restructuring, but both sides aim to disband Medicare's SGR funding formula. Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:00:00 EST http://www.amednews.com/article/20130325/government/130329973/1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=20130513