January 1, 2007  Legislation

Outpatient Surgery

Whistle Blowing

Outpatient Surgery

CMS has issued its final rule regarding outpatient prospective payment systems.  The vast majority of procedures will still be allowed although if the procedure can be done in the physician office, it will reimbursed only at that level.  CMS did add an additional 21 procedures to the approved list.  CMS is now mandating a 25% copay by the patient for screening colonoscopy.  This is up from 20%.  There will be more changes in the ensuing years.        Top

Whistle Blowing

A new federal law takes effect requiring all hospitals to teach their employees and staff about whistle blowing and the non retaliation by the hospital. The hospitals must teach how to detect fraud.  The law also applies to Medicaid institutions that receive at least $5 million per year from the program.        Top

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DISCLAIMER: Although this article is updated periodically, it reflects the author's point of view at the time of publication. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the information presented.