News in brief - Sept. 4, 2000

Medicare succeeds in avoiding payments to barred physicians - AMA intensifies push for Senate passage of patients' bill of rights

Medicare succeeds in avoiding payments to barred physicians

Medicare appears to be doing a good job preventing payments to physicians who have been excluded from the program for being unqualified or abusive, or for committing fraud, according to a new report by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

In 1997, Medicare made improper payments, totaling $35,833, to just 21 excluded physicians. Questionable claims, totaling $90,654, were paid to another 12 physicians.

"The problems, while not serious, need to be solved," the report concluded. The OIG information was only on physicians in Medicare fee-for-service settings.

AMA intensifies push for Senate passage of patients' bill of rights

The AMA has launched a national grassroots campaign to mobilize support for final Senate passage of strong patients' rights legislation.

"More than 80% of the American people say they want a real patients' bill of rights," said AMA Board Chair D. Ted Lewers, MD. "We want them to join in demanding that the Senate leadership stop the foot-dragging and smoke screens and pass meaningful legislation."

Dr. Lewers said the public can call (800) 833-6354 to tell their senators that "it's time to put patients first."

The AMA strongly favors a patients' rights bill passed by the House last fall that covers many more people than does a Senate-passed bill and would hold managed care plans liable for health care decisions that result in harm to patients.

The AMA's National House Call campaign is traveling to several states during the election season to meet with patients, physicians and the media to call for passage of a strong patients' rights bill. The AMA has been on the road with its mobile home-based House Call campaign since last winter urging candidates to address a range of health care issues.