Here are seven issues dealing with Medicare or Medicaid that occurred in the past two weeks.
1. Both the House of Representatives and Senate have passed legislation — the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 — which will temporarily avoid the long-discussed fiscal cliff of tax hikes and spending cuts. Yet again, the sustainable growth rate, which is the formula used to determine Medicare reimbursements to physicians, was temporarily delayed through 2013. However, the SGR fix and other healthcare extensions — which cost $30 billion — were paid for by several provisions that will siphon federal funds away from hospitals and health systems.
2. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) announced his state would expand its Medicaid program to an estimated 161,000 more people.
3. CMS announced that 1,557 hospitals will receive higher Medicare payments for quality ratings as part of the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
4. Florida Gov. Rick Scott and other Republicans agreed to require — pending federal approval — the state's Medicaid recipients to enroll in managed care plans in hopes of keeping healthcare costs down and better coordinating medical services.
5. Since the Supreme Court's ruling in June that Medicaid expansion is optional, hospitals in some states face dire financial situations, according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine.
6. After serving in the role for 18 years under multiple presidents and parties, CMS Chief Actuary Rick Foster announced he will retire.
7. Contrary to popular belief, Medicare spending is not spiraling out of control, according to a column by Princeton economics professor Uwe E. Reinhardt.
1. Both the House of Representatives and Senate have passed legislation — the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 — which will temporarily avoid the long-discussed fiscal cliff of tax hikes and spending cuts. Yet again, the sustainable growth rate, which is the formula used to determine Medicare reimbursements to physicians, was temporarily delayed through 2013. However, the SGR fix and other healthcare extensions — which cost $30 billion — were paid for by several provisions that will siphon federal funds away from hospitals and health systems.
2. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) announced his state would expand its Medicaid program to an estimated 161,000 more people.
3. CMS announced that 1,557 hospitals will receive higher Medicare payments for quality ratings as part of the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
4. Florida Gov. Rick Scott and other Republicans agreed to require — pending federal approval — the state's Medicaid recipients to enroll in managed care plans in hopes of keeping healthcare costs down and better coordinating medical services.
5. Since the Supreme Court's ruling in June that Medicaid expansion is optional, hospitals in some states face dire financial situations, according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine.
6. After serving in the role for 18 years under multiple presidents and parties, CMS Chief Actuary Rick Foster announced he will retire.
7. Contrary to popular belief, Medicare spending is not spiraling out of control, according to a column by Princeton economics professor Uwe E. Reinhardt.
More Articles on Medicare and Medicaid:
Top 10 Physician Complaints of 2012
12 of the Largest False Claims Settlements in 2012
The Year Ahead: 10 Challenges That Will Shape Hospital Strategy