Value Based Purchasing and Health Care Reform

6th Circuit Court of Appeals Finds Individual Mandate Constitutional

"The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Cincinnati, said in a 2-1 decision that lawmakers had the legislative power to approve a central aspect of the reform bill -- the requirement that individuals obtain health coverage starting in 2014 or else pay a penalty."

For additional infromation, see the following:

White House wins health reform round in appeals court (American Medical News 6/29/2011)

Appeals Court Finds Mandate 'Rational' (Insurance News Net 6/30/2011)

Read the Ruling

 

CBO Releases SGR Alternatives Analysis

As stated in the document linked below, "[t]he Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that, under current law, payment rates for physician services will be reduced by 29.4 percent in 2012. That large reduction called for under current law follows several years of legislative action to either maintain or increase physician payment rates under the Medicare program when those rates were otherwise scheduled to decrease under the provisions of law known as Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) mechanism. Such legislative actions have overridden the SGR."

For additional information, see the following link:

Medicare's Payment to Physicians: The Budgetary Impact of Alternative Policies (Congressional Budget Office - June 2011)

 

HHS Proposes Accounting of Electronic Disclosures

Pursuant to both the HITECH Act and its more general authority under HIPAA, HHS proposes to expand the accounting provision to to require covered entities and business associates to account for disclosures of protected health information to carry out treatment, payment, and health care operations if such disclosures are through an electronic health record.

For additional information, see the following:

HHS Press Release: HHS announces changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule (5/31/2011)

HIPAA Privacy Rule Accounting of Disclosure Under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (5/31/2011)