New Postings on the Reed Smith Health Industry Washington Watch Blog
The Reed Smith Health Industry Washington Watch blog has been updated to discuss a variety of health policy developments, including the following:
- Legislative Developments. The House of Representatives has approved major health reform legislation, and attention now shifts to the Senate. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Extension Act has been signed into law, medical isotope product legislation has passed the House, and several Congressional panels have held hearings on health policy issues.
- Regulatory Developments. CMS has issued the final Medicare physician fee schedule, hospital outpatient prospective payment system (PPS), ambulatory surgical center payment system, and home health agency PPS rules for calendar year 2010. HHS has published an interim final rule with comment period strengthening HIPAA enforcement provisions, along with guidance documents addressing institutional review board review of research. The FTC has announced it is further extending the enforcement date for its Red Flag identity theft rules
- Other HHS Developments. CMS has posted the 2010 update to the HCPCS code set, and the agency is accepting applications for the 2011 HCPCS update. CMS also is instituting new requirements related to the ordering/referring provider on a DMEPOS claim. In addition, CMS is hosting a provider conference call on the ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Conversion Project. AHRQ has released a "Horizon Scan" on the impact of third-party payment on clinical trials. The HHS OIG has issued reports on Part D fraud and abuse, reassignment of Medicare benefits, and renal dialysis facility ESA policies.
