News in brief - April 7, 2003

Paperwork burden bill advances - Advocate for physician issues answers call to duty - Bill aims to boost colorectal screening - Tax credit bill introduced - Florida medical center settles fraud charges

Paperwork burden bill advances

The drive for regulatory relief has revved up again with the passage of the Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act of 2003 by the House Ways and Means health subcommittee. The bill largely mirrors a bill passed last year by the House but includes some modifications to reflect steps already taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The legislation contains key physician due-process rights, enhanced clinician education and assistance efforts, contractor reform, improved appeals processes, and a streamlining of the regulatory process.

Advocate for physician issues answers call to duty

William Rogers, MD, has left his post as the director of the Physicians' Regulatory Issues Team at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to return to active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. Dr. Rogers, an emergency physician and a lieutenant commander assigned to a trauma platoon in the Navy Reserve, was sent to the Middle East when the conflict with Iraq commenced in mid-March.

During his absence, his duties will be carried out by Richard Lawlor, DC, senior outreach specialist in CMS' Office of the Administrator.

Bill aims to boost colorectal screening

Seeking to raise the low levels of colorectal cancer screening, Rep. Benjamin Cardin (D, Md.) introduced the Colon Cancer Screen for Life Act of 2003. Despite congressional approval in 1997 for Medicare to pay for the screenings, the percentage of beneficiaries taking advantage of the benefit has increased by only 1%.

The bill would address the three main reasons cited for low participation rates: declining Medicare reimbursement, a lack of coverage for consultations before the screening colonoscopy and the statutory requirement that beneficiaries satisfy the $100 annual Part B deductible.

Tax credit bill introduced

A new House bill would offer advanceable, refundable health insurance tax credits of $1,000 per individual and $3,000 per family, but it would go beyond the Bush administration proposal by offering an extra 50% subsidy for the cost of premiums above the tax credit amounts.

Reps. Kay Granger (R, Texas) and Albert Wynn (D, Md.) introduced the Securing Access, Value and Equality in Health Care Act in March. The credit would phase out at $65,000 for individuals and $105,000 for couples.

Business and medical groups have supported tax credits to help the uninsured afford health coverage. But experts have said tax credits alone are unlikely to make a significant dent in the number of uninsured Americans.

Florida medical center settles fraud charges

Leesburg (Fla.) Regional Medical Center in March paid the United States nearly $1.5 million to settle allegations that it committed Medicare fraud by upcoding a pneumonia diagnosis code, a violation of the False Claims Act. The medical center also entered into a corporate compliance agreement with the Dept. of Health and Human Services. The agreement is designed to monitor the hospital to ensure that it complies with Medicare and other federal health program standards.