On Friday, August 27, 2010, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new regulations (75 Fed. Reg. 52629) that make qualifying for and retaining Medicare billing privileges more stringent for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers. The new …
Approved Early Retiree Applications
September 2, 2010 Leave a Comment
If you submitted an application for the Early Retiree Reimbursement Program, you may have recently received notice of your approval from HHS. If you didn’t receive an approval notice and want to see if your plan, or any other plan, has been approved, HHS released the list of the first 2,000 approved applications …
OIG Okays Charitable Contribution Program To Encourage Physicians to Meet with Drug and Device Manufacturers
September 1, 2010 Leave a Comment
In a new twist on pay to play, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG”) has concluded that a charitable contribution program designed to encourage physicians and other health care providers to meet with drug and device manufacturer representatives does not violate …
CDRH Seeks to Assure Device Makers, But Holds Ground
August 31, 2010 Leave a Comment
In an August 31, 2010 webinar, representatives from FDA's Center for Devices and Radiologic Health (CDRH) fielded questions concerning the reports with preliminary recommendations issued earlier this month by the 510(k) Working Group and the Task Force on the Utilization of Science in Regulatory Decision Making. …
Time Period to Submit Medicare Claims Is Shortened to Twelve Months
August 26, 2010 Leave a Comment
The proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2011 (PFS) includes a proposal that Medicare fee-for- services claims for services furnished on or after January 1, 2010, must be filed within one calendar year after the date of services. This proposal by CMS is aimed at implementing Section 6404 of the Affordable …
Just Released: Model Claims Notices and External Review Guidance
August 24, 2010 Leave a Comment
The DOL has released three model notices in connection with the recent rules on internal claims and appeals and external review processes. The notices cover internal benefit determinations and external review decisions: Model Notice of Adverse Benefit Determination Model Notice of Final Internal Adverse …