Administration Moves To Kick Medicare Abusers Out
The new rules would dump any doctor or medical provider with a pattern of bad billing the program. Elsewhere, the deadline to sign up for private Medicare plans looms.
The Wall Street Journal:
New Medicare Rules Aim To Reduce Abuse
The Obama administration on Wednesday strengthened Medicare’s authority to kick doctors and other medical providers out of the federal program for abusively billing the government. The move represents a significant shift in how the government tackles waste in Medicare, the insurance program for the elderly and disabled. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, the main part of Medicare issued $45.8 billion in improper payments, representing nearly 13 percent of its total spending. (Adamy, 12/3)
Modern Healthcare:
Medicare Moves To Keep Out 'Bad Actors'
Medicare plans to start ejecting providers with patterns of abusive billing, prompting physician organizations to question how the government will avoid snagging honest providers in the dragnet. The CMS finalized the policy and other new anti-fraud measures in a rule issued Wednesday that stems from provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The agency will deny or revoke Medicare billing privileges from providers and that routinely bill for services that don't meet Medicare requirements. (Dickson, 12/3)
The Associated Press:
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Deadline Looms
Millions of Medicare Advantage customers are fast approaching a deadline for a task they’d rather avoid: Researching and then settling on coverage plans for 2015. The annual enrollment window for the privately run versions of the government’s Medicare program for the elderly and disabled people closes on Sunday. (12/3)