Government News of the Week: Medicare Compliance, Medicare Advantage and Part D, and Other Federal and State Developments

Government News
of the Week:

Medicare Compliance, HIPAA, Medicare Advantage and Part D, and Other Federal and
State Government Developments

Aug. 30, 2010

(1) The California legislature in late August approved SB 900, which creates a state-sponsored health insurance exchange, and AB 1602, which establishes the duties of the exchange....(more)

(2) Beneficiaries with higher incomes will be subject to a Part D income-related premium starting in 2011. But according to CMS, Part D plans most likely will not be responsible for collecting the additional money. That job will probably fall to the Social Security Administration and CMS. But this doesn’t mean there won’t be new burdens on plans.....(more)

Insurance Exchanges: How to Prepare for Their Impact on Small-Group and Individual Markets

A Webinar — Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Join us along with a panel of four industry insiders to find out how health insurance exchanges are likely to impact the individual and small-group markets … and steps they should consider taking today to get ready. Click here to register.

(3) The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on Aug. 25 that a proposed 1% fee on health insurance claims was unconstitutional....(more)

(4) The Part D program is in financial balance, according to the annual report of the Medicare Board of Trustees released Aug. 5.....(more)

Proven Strategies for Conducting Internal Investigations
A Webinar — Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Learn the steps and strategies hospitals and providers should employ to set up effective internal investigations and prevent major problems down the road — from Richard Kusserow, CEO of Strategic Management Services and former HHS Inspector General. Click here to register.

(5) Massachusetts is expanding its online prescription drug tracking system to deter substance abuse and prevent “doctor shopping,” The Boston Globe reports.....(more)

Compliance Pitfalls to Avoid When Implementing Electronic Health Records
A Webinar — Thursday, September 16, 2010
Find out what strategies you should use to limit compliance risks when implementing an electronic health records system so that your organization can avoid Medicare fines and penalties — from Bobbi Bonnet, the national practice leader for health information management compliance at Kaiser Permanente. Click here to register.

(6) CMS has combined the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder with Medicare Options Compare in an effort to help beneficiaries make more informed decisions, the agency said in an Aug. 16 memo....(more)

(7) At its Aug. 17 national meeting, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners adopted a resolution stating the organization’s commitment to protecting the role of health insurance sales agents....(more)

Star Ratings for Medicare Quality Bonuses:

Strategies for a New Era of Performance-Based Measurement

A Webinar — Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Find out the kinds of operational and clinical process elements needed to boost star ratings and earn the bonus dollars that can be the key to surviving in the post-reform era —- from John Gorman, CEO of Gorman Health Group, and Frank Ingari, the CEO of Essence Healthcare. Click here to register.

(8) New IRS Form 1099 requirements for businesses under the health reform law prompted a proposed amendment from Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) that has received a mixed reception from small-business groups....(more)

Additional government news can be found at
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