OPINIONMedicare hassle relief: Victory in the House, now on to the SenateThe new legislation is a victory for medical practice, physicians, patients and the AMA.Editorial. Jan. 7, 2002. The House approved a very good bill by a 408-0 vote and the Senate version provides a solid starting point for improvements. Such is the very encouraging state of affairs for physicians to get relief from many of Medicare's most miserable hassles. The unanimous House vote marked a major win for the AMA and its partners in organized medicine. Even more striking than the margin in favor of HR 3391, the Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act of 2001, is the fact that within its nearly 150 pages is action on almost all of the Medicare hassles brought before lawmakers by organized medicine. Among the highlights of the measure are restraints on the use of extrapolation of a repayment amount based on a small review of charts. If repayments are required, the measure allows that in many cases they can be made in installments, instead of the current -- and potentially practice-busting -- 30-day deadline. Also, new evaluation and management documentation requirements would have to be field-tested before being implemented nationally. In addition, all changes of Medicare rules would be announced and implemented in a way that gives physicians a better chance to comply. There would also be a procedure in place for physicians to obtain preauthorization for procedures -- so that both doctor and patient will know that something will actually be covered -- something currently not available.
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Copyright 2002 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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