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Another year another non Obamacare deadline. The healthcare.gov is allowing another week to register due to a "glitch" just prior to the end of the registration period. Many states exchanges have done likewise but only for those who can attest that they had some undetermined problem attempting to join. This scam is the same as last year but to a much lesser scale. One might, if one is cynical, believe the "glitch" was not accidental. The total enrollment will be less than the CBO forecasts but more than the artificially low numbers the White House gave out so they could meet the artificial number.
Now the administration and the Blue states that did not live up to their lofty enrollment goals such as California will opt to give those who did not join Obamacare another bite at the apple. The people will have to April 30. Watch for another moving target that will eventually go all year.
The administration announced a 0.9 % decrease in the payments to Medicare HMOs. This is much less than the 10%n cut in the last two years. More is still needed.
The administration also closed a loophole in Obamacare that allowed some plans to be sold without hospital coverage. All plans must contain hospital coverage for 2016.
CMS is giving physicians a whole extra three weeks to submit attestations that they have met meaningful use. The deadline is now March 20. Meaningful use is a term coined for lying to get more money. Top
I wrote last newsletter about the new rules for oncologists being paid by Medicare. I did not write that the oncologists to be part of the new payment model will have to attest to MU. I am sure they will be rushing to do this to get less money. Top
Hospitals and other providers have until they read this (March 1) to notify HHS of any and all breaches of PHI affecting less than 500 individuals that occurred in the last calendar year. Top
The California AG (who is the frontrunner for US Senator in the 2016 election) has ruled that the sale of the six Daughters of Charity hospitals to Prime may go through. However she may have also scuttled the deal by stating that five of the six hospitals must be kept open for 10 years and offer the same services as before the purchase. The deal struck between the parties was that all were to be kept open for five years. Prime is now reconsidering the purchase.
A new report by California again blasts Kaiser for their deficiencies in their mental health system. They continue to have long waits for appointments and receive erroneous information. Top
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.