Washington Update
By Jennifer Searfoss Miller, MGMA Government Affairs
NOTE: Jennifer Searfoss Miller will be one of our speakers at the 2004 NCMGM
Fall Conference.
Jennifer will be presenting "MGMA Washington Update" on Thursday, September
23rd.
Medical practices often receive
late and contradictory information on the actions of Capitol Hill and the
Administration affecting health care and daily administrative burdens. This
update will provide timely information on the status of Medicare
administrative simplification, Medicare reimbursement and fraud and abuse
compliance. The presentation will also address other hot topics under
consideration by Congress and federal regulatory agencies such as Stark II
Phase II and the implementation of ICD-10.
The biggest news coming out of Washington is the recent release of the
proposed 2004 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule which will be covered during
the session. The annual publication includes proposed payment rates for
covered services as well as changes to Medicare policy. Importantly, the
proposal includes the 1.5 percent increase in average Medicare physician
reimbursement for 2005. This increase represents the minimum amount approved
by Congress in last year’s Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and
Modernization Act (MMA) as a result of extensive advocacy by MGMA and
others. Without this mandated minimum, physician practices would face a
projected 3.7 percent cut for 2005.
CMS also proposed implementation of reimbursement changes for prescription
drugs administered in the physician office and a policy change that would
relax supervision requirements for certified physical and occupational
therapist assistants. Additionally, the proposed rule includes new
preventive benefits for patients approved in the MMA, including a one-time
physical for new Medicare enrollees, diabetes screening and cardiovascular
screening blood tests.
Thank you to our 2004 Alliance Sponsors. Click on the sponsors' name
to visit their web site:
Platinum Level
Medical Mutual
Silver Level
RSM McGladrey
Bronze Level
Applied Medical Systems
Archivus
C&S Research Corporation
Digital Sales and Service
Dixon Hughes, PLLC
Gotham
Images Inc.
Grant & Grant,
LLC
Heathcare Enterprises
MAG Mutual
Insurance
Marshall Erdman
& Associates