2009-11-12
House Advances Health-Care Reform Legislation: Now Is the Time
to Take Action to Support Physician Payment Fix
After months of highly contested
debate, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Affordable
Health Care for America Act” (HR 3962) to overhaul the nation’s health-care
system by a vote of 220 to 215. Legislation to correct the Medicare physician
payment formula and avert the 21 percent cut in Medicare fees scheduled for
January 1, 2010, was separated out of the health reform bill, but is scheduled
to be debated and voted on by the House during the week of November 16. All physicians are urged to take action and contact their representative to support
a physician payment fix. Read more.
ASH Practice Forum: New American Health-Care
Policy and the Practice of Hematology
Saturday, December 5, 6:00 - 7:30 pm, Marriott Convention
Center, Blaine Kern A/B
The Practice Forum will
address Medicare reimbursement changes in 2010, emerging health reform policies
and how these reforms will affect the practicing hematologist. Be sure to
join your colleagues at the networking reception that follows the event.
Speakers:
- Lawrence A. Solberg Jr., MD, PhD, Mayo
Clinic
Overview of Health-Care Reform Impact on Hematology
- Robert Berenson, MD, The Urban Institute
Health Payment Reform Issues and Their Impact on Hematology
- Dr. Peter Greenberg, MD, Stanford University
Cancer Center
Myelodysplastic Syndromes: An Illustration of the Impact of Drug
Treatment Costs on the Patient
A special reception for practitioners will
follow. Beverages and hors d'oevres will be provided. The reception
will take place in Blaine Kern E/F.
Medicare Releases
Final 2010 Payment Regulations; Physician Payment to Be Cut 21 Percent Absent
Congressional Action
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule that updates payment policies and rates under the
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2010. For 2010, Medicare
payments to doctors are scheduled to drop 21.2 percent, resulting in a
conversion factor of $28.3769 unless Congress intervenes. Read
more.
Medicare
Announces Changes to Hospital Outpatient Payment in 2010
CMS
released the final 2010 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System/Ambulatory Surgical Center rule. The rule announced that most
hospitals will receive an inflation update of 2.1 percent in their payment
rates for services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries in outpatient
departments. Read more.
Medicare RAC
Program Goes National – What You Need to Know
Medicare providers across the country are beginning
to prepare for the national roll-out of the permanent Medicare Recovery Audit
Contractor (RAC) program. Initially established as a demonstration project, the
RAC program is scheduled to become a permanent and national program in 2010. Read
more.
FDA Issues Drug
Warning on Dexferrum (Iron Dextran Injection)
The
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and American Regent are notifying health-care
professionals that anaphylactic-type reactions, including fatalities, have
followed the parenteral administration of iron dextran injection. The Boxed
Warning has been modified to include the following new information:
- To administer a test dose prior
to the first therapeutic dose; if no signs or symptoms of
anaphylactic-type reactions follow the test dose, administer the full
therapeutic dose.
- To observe for signs or
symptoms of anaphylactic-type reactions during administration of
Dexferrum®.
- To make clear that fatal
reactions have occurred following the test dose and have also occurred
when the test dose was tolerated.
- To note that patients with a
history of drug allergy or multiple drug allergies may be at increased
risk of anaphylactic-type reactions.
Read
the complete MedWatch
2009 Safety summary, including links to the Dear Healthcare
professional letter and the revised prescribing information.
Medicare
Contractors to Review Claims Data Related to Chemotherapy Administration
CMS
has directed Medicare contractors to review claims data related to Medicare
Part B chemotherapy administration and qualifications of non-physicians who
performed Medicare physician services. This directive comes as a result of
recent reports by the Office of the Inspector General concerning whether
Medicare paid appropriately for Part B services billed as chemotherapy
administration from 2005-2007. Read more.
CMS Announces 2008 PQRI
Payments and Feedback Reports
CMS
has begun distribution of 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)
payments. Read more.
ASH
Annual Meeting: Policy & Practice
Events You Will Want to Attend
This year’s ASH annual meeting in New
Orleans has several events that you should plan to attend, including the Special
Quality Symposium: Supply & Demand: Ensuring an Adequate National Blood
Supply and the Practice Forum: New American Health-Care Policy and the Practice
of Hematology. Read more.
Four Dates, Six Locations, One Great Program – The Only Official Highlights of ASH®
Each of the six upcoming 2010
Highlights of ASH meetings will provide exceptional opportunities to hear
leading hematology experts review the most clinically relevant abstracts and
present their perspectives on the latest findings, discuss real cases with
leaders in the field, and network with colleagues. Register
today to attend the meeting near you.
Meetings Dates and Locations: