Senate to debate new 6-month Medicare physician payment provision
Last night, Senate Democratic leaders introduced a substitute amendment to the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (H.R. 4213) that includes a provision calling for a 2.2 percent increase to Medicare physician payment for claims with dates of service of June 1 through Nov. 30, 2010.
The Senate was unable to bring the House-approved version of this legislation to the Senate floor for debate following a failed procedural vote yesterday. In late May, the House of Representatives passed legislation approving a 2.2 percent increase to Medicare physician payment rates for the remainder of 2010 and a 1 percent increase in 2011. In 2012, the payment levels would revert to current law, forcing physicians to confront an estimated 33 percent reduction.
The Senate may hold votes as early as today, however debate on this bill may continue late into the week before final votes are held. If the Senate approves the substitute amendment, the House of Representatives must still pass the underlying tax extenders bill before it becomes law. If the bill is signed into law, the pending Medicare physician payment cuts would then be scheduled to take effect on Dec. 1, 2010.
OIG To Recover More Than $3 Billion in Healthcare Fraud Enforcement
In its semiannual report to Congress this week, the Department of Health and Human Service’s (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced that it expects to recover more than $3 billion from enforcement activities conducted in the six-month period that ended March 31. In the same time period, the OIG:
- Excluded 1,935 individuals and entities from participation in federal health care programs;
- Brought 293 criminal actions against individuals or entities; and
- Initiated 164 civil actions (including some under the False Claims Act, unjust enrichment lawsuits, civil monetary penalties law settlements and administrative recoveries related to provider self-disclosure).
In the months ahead, the OIG will implement the healthcare fraud-related provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and oversee HHS’s healthcare reform activities. It will also continue its efforts with the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) in conjunction with the Department of Justice and HHS. HEAT initiatives include the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which coordinates law enforcement operations with other federal, state and local law enforcement entities in select cities around the country.
