Medical Briefs
Good News for
Radiation Oncology - In early November, Medicare
"undid" some serious cuts that were proposed earlier
this year. The American Society for Radiation Oncology
(ASTRO) provided a good summary in their
press release.
CMS Releases Final 2010 Medicare Physician Fee
Schedule - On October 30, the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2010 final Medicare
physician fee schedule. The 21% cut is not fixed yet,
but it's getting closer and we DO expect it to get
fixed. Imaging cuts due to increasing utilization
assumption are to be phased in now over 4 years. Go to
the CMS
press release
for complete information. The Senate voted on
bringing their bill to the floor for debate, which also
includes a fix, but debate will not start until after
Thanksgiving. On November 19, the House of
Representatives voted 243-183 to approve the Medicare
Physician Payment Reform Act (HR 3961), which would
permanently revamp the Medicare physician payment
formula. Combining the House healthcare reform bill with
this Medicare physician payment change would raise the
deficit by $89 billion over 10 years, according to a
Congressional Budget Office analysis released
recently.
UnitedHealthcare Expands Radiology Notification Program - MGMA reports that beginning February 15, 2010, UnitedHealthcare will include all network physicians (including previously exempt “premium quality and cost efficiency”-designated physicians) in its radiology notification program. This program requires prior notification for CT scans, MRIs, MRAs, PET scans and nuclear medicine studies, including nuclear cardiology. The change amends page 31 of the UnitedHealthcare Physician, Health Care Professional, Facility and Ancillary Provider 2009 Administrative Guide.
Availability of
Doctors - According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an
average of 267 doctors were available per 100,000
individuals in the U.S. in 2006. Massachusetts had the
greatest
concentration of doctors, at 462 per 100,000 population,
while Idaho ranked lowest with only 169 doctors serving
each 100,000 state residents.
Medical School Enrollment Estimates - The
Association of American Medical Colleges’ annual survey
on medical school expansion indicates that first-year
enrollment in U.S. medical schools is
projected to grow 21% by 2012 (compared with 2002’s
level). The survey also found that more than 86% of
existing medical schools have either expanded the number
of enrolled first-year students or plan to do so within
the next five years.
Return Hospital Visits - According to a study in
the New England Journal of Medicine, almost 20% of all
Medicare patients admitted to the hospital are
readmitted within a month of being discharged, costing
an estimated $17 billion in 2004.
Health Care Commentaries is
provided by Somerset’s
Health Care Team
for our clients and other interested persons upon request. Since
technical information is presented in generalized fashion, no final
conclusion on these topics should be made without further review. For
additional information on the issues discussed, please contact a member
of our Health Care Team. This
document is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for
the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the
taxpayer.
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