Adam V. Russo | June 28, 2010
Tennessee. The state senate has approved a bill that will allow hospitals in the state to pay a fee to avoid $659 million in TennCare cuts. Gov. Phil Bredesen had proposed cutting $201 million from TennCare, the state’s Medicaid program, to help balance the state’s budget. The cuts would be averted through the hospital assessment. [...]
Adam V. Russo | June 28, 2010
Florida. The state legislature is ready to cut Medicaid funding for nursing homes and is considering cuts to numerous other health programs to balance the budget. The proposed 7% cut to Medicaid payments rates for nursing homes totals approximately $200 million. Nursing homes likely would be able to offset at least part of the $200 [...]
Adam V. Russo | June 21, 2010
(PLANSPONSOR.com) –
A new report from Mercer suggests that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) will result in the U.S. continuing to operate short term with disparate and conflicting approaches to provider payment, outcomes measurement, consumer engagement, and plan administration.
Adam V. Russo | June 21, 2010
President Obama, on March 23, 2010, signed the massive health care reform package approved by the House on March 21, 2010. In a series of votes, the House passed both H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the Affordable Care Act) and H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 [...]
Adam V. Russo | May 21, 2010
By JENNIFER HABERKORN
During the health care reform debate, physician lobbies including the American Medical Association, wanted a full overhaul of the Medicare formula, but agreed to back reform after Democrats said they would address it later.
Democrats in Congress have proposed easing a planned cut in payments to doctors under Medicare in an effort to stem [...]
Adam V. Russo | April 29, 2010
While the U.S. healthcare overhaul law passed last month included help for states to cover some costs of making sure all Americans have health insurance, in the long term some states may find their budgets stretched, Moody’s Investors Services said on Tuesday.
Healthcare Reform
The burdens could be even greater if the recovery from the recession that [...]
Adam V. Russo | March 31, 2010
Roberto Ceniceros
Most self-insured employers have their third-party administrator manage their Medicare reporting and compliance requirements, but others have turned to independents, several sources say.
The independent companies specialize in Medicare Secondary Payer compliance and reporting requirements under Section 111 of the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007.
Adam V. Russo | March 22, 2010
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a model information notice that all employers with group health plans must issue to employees by as early as May 1, 2010. The notice informs employees of potential state financial assistance for paying employer health insurance premiums.
Adam V. Russo | January 25, 2010
For the last few years, states have been leading the way toward more comprehensive health care coverage to ensure that more people have or can obtain health insurance. Because of the potential impact of this ongoing activity on employer-provided health insurance benefits, Spencer’s Benefits Reports provides regular updates about state health care reform.
Wisconsin. The state [...]
Adam V. Russo | January 19, 2010
The Office of the Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released two new memoranda on the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” as approved by the Senate on December 24.
In one memorandum, CMS Chief Actuary Richard Foster discusses the impact the bill would have on costs, savings, and coverage. The [...]
Adam V. Russo | December 15, 2009
Reid Still Looking For 60 Votes
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is still seeking support from a number of Senate Democrats who have yet committed to support his healthcare reform package. As reported, a compromise package was negotiated between a select group of liberal and moderate Senate Democrats, which Reid has sent to the Congressional Budget [...]
Adam V. Russo | December 3, 2009
This issue brief examines health reform and access to coverage for abortion services, a much-discussed subject in the reform debate. The paper discusses current law regarding federal and state policies that address abortion coverage, lays out key issues being debated regarding abortion coverage under health reform, and raises questions about the possible impact of the [...]
Adam V. Russo | December 3, 2009
This brief compares the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program provisions in the House health reform legislation, Affordable Health Care for America Act, as passed by the full House on Nov. 7, 2009, with the Senate Leadership bill, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as released on Nov. 18, 2009. It includes details about [...]
Adam V. Russo | August 12, 2009
John Cattie of the Garretson Firm, recently informed us about his firm’s “Learning and Resource Center” webpage which provides current material related to MMSEA and MSAs. To learn more about MMSEA and MSAs go to http://www.garretsonfirm.com/garretson/resources/
Adam V. Russo | August 7, 2009
by Janet Adamy and Elizabeth Williamson, The Wall Street Journal, www.wsj.com
Medical-device makers are adamant that U.S. health care needs fixing. They’re equally adamant that they shouldn’t have to pay for it.
“If you’re looking for savings, don’t come at us,” says Tim Trysla, a top industry representative. He has marched into the offices of 120 lawmakers, [...]
