Health Care Reform News

CBO: MOST MEDICARE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS HAVEN’T SAVED MONEY

Most of the Medicare fee-for-service demonstration projects launched in the past two decades using disease management and value-based payments have failed to reduce costs, says a report by the Congressional Budget Office.

CBO ESTIMATES SAVINGS FROM RAISING MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY AGE

Raising the ages at which people can collect Medicare and Social Security would reduce federal spending and increase federal revenues by inducing some people to work longer, according to an analysis released by the Congressional Budget Office.

ASERACARE HOSPICE ACCUSED OF MEDICARE FRAUD

A national for-profit hospice care company that is partially owned by a San Francisco private equity firm, has allegedly bilked Medicare of millions of dollars, according to a legal complaint filed this week by the U.S. Department of Justice.

13 INITIATIVES FROM CMS CENTER FOR INNOVATION CENTER

One year ago, the CMS Innovation Center was launched to find new ways to reduce costs and improve quality. Established by the Affordable Care Act, the Innovation Center is charged with identifying, developing, testing, and disseminating alternative models of paying for, organizing, and delivering care. Read about their progress to date.

FEDS WINNING BATTLE AGAINST HEALTH CARE FRAUD

The latest data drawn from federal records by the Transactional Records Access Records showed total prosecutions jumped 68.9 percent to 1,235 cases compared to 2010.

HHS EXPANDS INITIATIVE TO PROTECT MEDICARE AND SENIORS FROM FRAUD

For the second consecutive year, CMS announced that $9 million in grants will be awarded to Senior Medicare Patrol programs in their efforts to educate senior citizens and Medicare beneficiaries in preventing Medicare fraud.

CMS ANNOUNCES NEW DEMONSTRATIONS FOR FRAUD, ABUSE AND WASTE

CMS has announced it will launch demonstration programs beginning in January 2012 targeting some of the most common factors that lead to improper payments.

CMS Ramps Up Anti-Fraud Claims, Enrollment Scrutiny

CMS intends to take a bigger bite out of fraud and abuse by strengthening its monitoring and analytics capabilities to prevent and detect suspicious activities. CMS will be using the latest technologies for a fraud prevention system to scrutinize Medicare claims.

Joint Select Committee Hears Budget Savings Suggestions Learn What Legislative Leaders, Key Stakeholders Submitted

Friday was the last day for Congressional committees to submit ideas to the super-committee for budget savings as it prepares its recommendation to Congress November 23. Industry groups also submitted suggestions amidst calls for the committee to open it meetings to the public and media. Notable submissions last week.