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Legislative Alerts

HHS: Return Overpayments within 60 Days

March 6, 2012

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) wants providers and suppliers who receive funds under Medicare to return overpayments within 60 days. Specifically, overpayments would have to be reported and returned by "60 days after the date on which the overpayment was identified; or any corresponding cost report is due, if applicable," according to a notice of proposed rule-making (NPRM) in the Feb. 16 Federal Register.

Congress approves measure averting 27 percent physician cut through 2012

A House-Senate Conference Committee tasked with identifying a compromise to avoid the pending 27.4 percent Medicare physician payment cut reached a 10-month deal that would maintain current physician payment rates through the end of the year. The measure was approved this afternoon by both the House and Senate. The measure now goes to President Obama for his signature. The President is expected to sign the bill.

HHS to Delay ICD-10 Compliance Date
 February 16, 2012

 Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius announced today that delay in implementation of ICD-10 is forthcoming.  The secretary said “We have heard from many in the provider community who have concerns about the administrative burdens they face in the years ahead.  We are committing to work with the provider community to reexamine the pace at which HHS and the nation implement these important improvements to our health care system.”

The new compliance date has yet to be announced.

Read the official statement:  http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/02/20120216a.html

CMS will re-examine ICD-10 timeline, Tavenner says

02/14/2012

The acting head of the CMS on Tuesday signaled that the agency will extend the timeline on ICD-10 implementation.
After speaking to attendees at the American Medical Association Advocacy Conference in Washington, acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner told reporters that the CMS will "re-examine the timeframe" through a rulemaking process. She did not say when that rulemaking process will begin but said the CMS would send details about the process in the coming days.

"There's concern that folks cannot get their work done around meaningful use, their work around ICD-10 implementation and be ready for exchanges," Tavenner said. "So we're trying to listen to that and be responsive."

Separately, Tavenner said she the CMS has had "good results" with accountable care organization applications and expects to make an announcement about selected applicants "at the beginning of the second quarter of this year."