Here are eight issues dealing with Medicare or Medicaid that occurred in the past week, starting with the most recent.
1. CMS released its annual report on the quality of healthcare and coverage for the 43.5 million children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in fiscal year 2011.
2. For 10 states, Medicaid and other healthcare programs were over budget as they planned for 2013 — more states than last year.
3. Primary care physicians who treat Medicaid patients in Rhode Island, New York, California, Michigan, New Jersey and Florida may be able to breathe a little easier next year: A report found their Medicaid pay rates are estimated to increase more than 100 percent.
4. Maine's 39 hospitals put pressure on state lawmakers to pay the $484 million owed them for treating Medicaid patients.
5. An OIG report discovered Medicare paid an average of $919 for beneficiaries' back braces between 2010 and 2011 — four times greater than the average $191 cost to suppliers.
6. Out of seven major payors, providers ranked Medicare Part B first in terms of overall satisfaction.
7. In a letter to lawmakers, the Alliance of Specialty Medicine called for a permanent fix to Medicare's formula for annual payment increases to physicians.
8. U.S. Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) proposed a halt on hospital provider fees across the nation, calling the funding measure a "massive bed tax gimmick."
9. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled California may chop Medicaid reimbursements rates to providers by 10 percent next year.
1. CMS released its annual report on the quality of healthcare and coverage for the 43.5 million children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP in fiscal year 2011.
2. For 10 states, Medicaid and other healthcare programs were over budget as they planned for 2013 — more states than last year.
3. Primary care physicians who treat Medicaid patients in Rhode Island, New York, California, Michigan, New Jersey and Florida may be able to breathe a little easier next year: A report found their Medicaid pay rates are estimated to increase more than 100 percent.
4. Maine's 39 hospitals put pressure on state lawmakers to pay the $484 million owed them for treating Medicaid patients.
5. An OIG report discovered Medicare paid an average of $919 for beneficiaries' back braces between 2010 and 2011 — four times greater than the average $191 cost to suppliers.
6. Out of seven major payors, providers ranked Medicare Part B first in terms of overall satisfaction.
7. In a letter to lawmakers, the Alliance of Specialty Medicine called for a permanent fix to Medicare's formula for annual payment increases to physicians.
8. U.S. Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) proposed a halt on hospital provider fees across the nation, calling the funding measure a "massive bed tax gimmick."
9. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled California may chop Medicaid reimbursements rates to providers by 10 percent next year.
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