The FEHBlog has just returned to DC following a Christmas trip to Los Angeles. The Politico reports that the Governors of California and New York are understandably dismayed over the Senate health care reform bill‘s (H.R. 3590) financing of the Medicaid program which would impose significant unfunded mandates on their states. They are not alone. The Politico reports that thirteen Republican state attorneys general are urging the House and the Senate to delete the Senate bill’s provision that gives Nebraska a pass on these additional Medicaid expenses.
The big news today was the issuance of the long awaited definition of “meaningful use” of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology by healthcare providers, which is the touchstone for federal government funding of EHR technology expenses under the Recovery Act. According to a government press release, “A proposed rule issued by CMS [the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services] outlines proposed provisions governing the EHR incentive programs, including defining the central concept of “meaningful use” of EHR technology. An interim final regulation (IFR) issued by ONC [Office of the National Coordinator] sets initial standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology. Both regulations are open to public comment [for sixty days].”
Modern Healthcare reports that CMS is implementing the two month delay in the 21% cut in Medicare Part B reimbursement to physicians that President Obama recently signed into law as part of the FY 2010 defense appropriations act. “In a memorandum, the agency clarified that it would be instructing its Medicare contractors to hold claims for [2010] services paid under the [Medicare Part B] fee schedule for the first 10 business days of January. This will allow Medicare contractors time “to receive the new, updated payment files and perform necessary testing before paying claims at the new rates,” the CMS explained in its memo.”
AIS Specialty Pharmacy News reports on a December 8, 2009, Congressional hearing on the rising cost of prescription drugs as disclosed by an AARP study. “Specialty therapy prices increased 10.3% in the most recent period [ending in September 2009], up from the previous high of 9.3%. During the same time, AARP reported, prices for prescription nonspecialty drugs grew 9.3%.” Non-specialty drugs, typically small molecule pills, are subject to generic competion, while specialty drugs , typically biologic injectables, are not. That imbalance may change with the health care reform bill.
The New Jersey Newroom reports about a survey commissioned by Medco, a major prescripton benefits manager, finding that senior citizens have a hard time juggling their multiple prescripton medications. (Hey, it’s my job as a lawyer to belabor the obvious!) Medco has created a brochure to help folks manage their prescriptions which is available here.