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2 Min Read

3 things you need to know about Medicare's claims data release

Physicians’ Medicare claims data—including billed charges and total payments—was released Wednesday to the public by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It’s already generating considerable attention.

Medicare & Medicaid
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4 Min Read

9 ways CMS' claim data release could mislead patients, reporters

In advance of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) public release of physician Medicare data—which could happen as soon as Wednesday—the AMA is working to prevent misinterpretation of what could be confusing billing and payment information for reporters and patients.

Medicare & Medicaid
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2 Min Read

New state laws aim to clear up patient confusion

Two states last month passed legislation that should provide increased clarity and transparency for patients trying to discern the qualifications of their health care professionals, bringing the total number of states with similar laws to 18.

Scope of Practice
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3 Min Read

New law buys more time for physicians to prepare for ICD-10

Implementation of the ICD-10 code set will be delayed at least one year, based on a provision in a federal law that will prevent the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from implementing the new code set before Oct. 1, 2015.

Claims Processing
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4 Min Read

Why permanent SGR repeal lost to another temporary payment patch

I posed an important question in an AMA Viewpoints post two weeks ago: Would the bipartisan legislative policy for repealing Medicare’s sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula turn into a missed opportunity? For Congress, it certainly did. For physicians, the story is more complicated.

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Leadership
Leadership Viewpoints
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2 Min Read

Casting aside reform bill, Congress passes another Medicare patch

The U.S. Senate Monday evening voted in favor of yet another temporary measure in a long line of Medicare payment patches, casting aside broadly supported legislative policy that instead would have reformed the Medicare payment update system.

Medicare & Medicaid
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3 Min Read

Meaningful use exemption added as EHR program moves forward

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced an addition to its hardship exemptions available to physicians who are unable to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records (EHR).

Medicare & Medicaid
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2 Min Read

Where we are on the road to physician-led integrated care

If you’re in a physician-led integrated practice setting, or moving in that direction, the annual meeting of the AMA Integrated Physician Practice Section (IPPS) will shed light on how physicians are shaping emerging care delivery and payment models.

Scope of Practice
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2 Min Read

House resorts to "trickery" in passing unwanted Medicare patch

In a move that is being called an “outrageous” ploy, the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday used a voice vote—absent the majority of representatives—to pass a Medicare payment patch strongly opposed by physician groups. 

Medicare & Medicaid