Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 1. December 2010 13:02
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provided initial guidance to states on November 18 on steps needed to plan, design, and implement health insurance exchanges under section 1311 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The guidance explains the functions that the ACA requires exchanges to perform, such as presenting benefit options to consumers and small businesses in an understandable format to stimulate comparison shopping and price competition. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 19. November 2010 08:44
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance to states on November 16 on payments to "health homes", for individuals with chronic conditions, per section 2703 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). "Health homes" are among several strategies under the ACA to try to contain the costs of unnecessary hospital admissions, re-admissions to hospitals soon after discharge, and inappropriate hospital outpatient department/emergency room use, while improving quality of care and treatment outcomes. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 19. November 2010 08:41
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published proposed rules on November 10 on implementing Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) programs in accordance with section 6411 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The proposed rules address funding for program start-up, operations, contingency fee payments to contractors from recoveries of overpayments, provider appeals procedures, and coordination with other audit programs. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 12. November 2010 02:07
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published proposed rules on November 8 under which 90 percent Medicaid Federal financial participation will be available on State expenditures for the design, development, installation and enhancement of new Medicaid eligibility systems, and 75 percent FFP will be available on expenditures for the maintenance and operations of new Medicaid eligibility systems. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 4. November 2010 04:51
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved California's "Bridge to Reform" demonstration proposal on November 2. The successful negotiation of this $10 billion plan to reform Medi-Cal is an enormous achievement for both California and CMS. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 29. October 2010 09:15
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on October 26 the availability of up to $335 million in FY 2011 supplemental grant funding to support expansion of primary and preventive care through community health centers, migrant health centers, public housing sites, and health services for homeless persons. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 29. October 2010 09:09
The New York State Department of Health and the New York eHealth Collaborative presented a comprehensive plan on October 26 to the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under which New York would invest $129 million in state and federal funds to enable medical professionals to instantly access secure medical histories, diagnoses, and other information vital to patient care. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 22. October 2010 12:45
The State of Georgia has agreed, in a comprehensive settlement of an ADA lawsuit, to increase its assertive community treatment, case management, supported housing and supported employment programs to serve 9,000 persons with mental illness more effectively in community settings over the next five years. [More]
