February 17, 2012
Medicine takes center stage in D.C.
Kevin Hoppock, MD
KMS PresidentI just returned from the AMA National Advocacy Conference and wish to give a bit of a Washington update. Each time that I have had the opportunity to run on the Mall, or walk the halls of Congress, I have been moved by all that this country has been and can be. This year as I jogged at sunset between the White House and Washington Monument I was saddened to consider just how ugly the partisan politics has become and how difficult it is to enact even common sense legislation that has broad bipartisan support.
Health-related bills see discussion at Statehouse
Rachelle Colombo
Hearings were held this week in the House Insurance committee on HB 2565, an insurer mandate to provide pricing information to providers in real time via an 837-P form. There were several proponents in addition to KMS which supported the bill's intent of reducing patient and providers' administrative burden in determining pricing and coverage. Opponents to the bill argue that insurers already provide this information through customer support and web portals. These time-consuming and inefficient processes could be automated through the use a standardize transaction such as the 837-P form, saving both providers and payers time. Action has not yet been scheduled on the bill.
Medicare cuts avoided–again
The details are still being finalized, but reports from the Hill indicated that conferees have reached agreement on extending the payroll tax holiday, unemployment insurance benefits and current Medicare physician payment rates to the end of the year.
Reports indicate the 27.4 percent physician payment cut scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2012 has been averted and replaced with a payment freeze through the end of the year; Congress remains unable to agree on a permanent fix to the flawed SGR formula. The cost of this short-term fix was reportedly offset through reductions in a number of health care programs, including Medicaid disproportionate share payments to hospitals, Medicare bad debt payments to hospitals, federal Medicaid payments to Louisiana and the prevention fund created by the Affordable Care Act. Other expiring Medicare policies were also extended through the end of the year, including the "floor" on geographic adjustments to the physician work component of the Medicare fee schedule, the therapy cap exemption process, and ambulance add-on payments.
HHS announces delay in ICD-10 implementation
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that HHS will initiate a process to postpone the date by which certain health care entities have to comply with International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition diagnosis and procedure codes (ICD-10).
ICD-10 was initially slated for implementation in October 2011, but delayed until October 1, 2013. The AMA has stepped up their efforts in requesting a halt to the mandated rollout of ICD-10. In a letter to Secretary Sebelius the AMA cited cost, complexity and the burden it places on physicians as they try to comply with several federal initiatives, including adoption of electronic medical records and quality improvements. And given the difficulties many practices are having with the transition to Version 5010, the HIPAA electronic transactions upgrade necessary for supporting ICD-10, a delay could prove helpful.
More information regarding ICD-10 may be found at the CMS website and the AAPC website.
Wichita surgeon joins Board of Healing Arts
Wichita surgeon Eustaquio Abay, MD recently joined Garold Minns, MD, Kim Templeton, MD and Carolina Sorio, DO as a member of the Board of Healing Arts.
"The addition of Dr. Abay to the Kansas Board of Healing Arts will bring years of experience and wisdom to the Board," said Jon Rosell, Executive Director of the Medical Society of Sedgwick County. "As a long-time surgeon in the Wichita community Dr. Abay is a strong advocate for quality patient care and will work tirelessly to help the Board accomplish its mission of safeguarding the public though licensure, education and discipline of those who practice medicine in Kansas."
CMS decides not to change EMTALA
CMS has decided not to change the current Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) regulations. The decision was in response to an advance notice of proposed rulemaking that indicated CMS was reconsidering its current policy which provides that: 1) a hospital's EMTALA obligation ends upon the admission of a patient as an inpatient, and 2) EMTALA does not apply to the transfer of an inpatient to a hospital with specialized capabilities such as a burn unit.
The decision, published in a Request for Comment in which CMS states that it is maintaining its current policy that EMTALA does not extend to inpatients or to the transfer of inpatients to hospitals with specialized capabilities. CMS did indicate they would continue to monitor the issue and is providing a 60-day comment period.
If you have questions regarding EMTALA contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , KMS Director of Healthcare Finance.
