Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

The following bills were introduced in the House: HR 5278. A bill to ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by making the antitrust laws apply to negotiations between groups of independent pharmacies and health plans and health insurance issuers in the same manner as such laws apply to collective bargaining by labor organizations under the National Labor Relations Act, to ensure integrity in the operation of pharmacy benefit managers, and to preserve access standards to community pharmacies under the Medicare outpatient prescription drug program. Introduced Oct. 7 by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Ways and Means. HR 5309. A bill to extend the filing deadline for certain Medicare claims to account for a delay in processing adjustments from secondary payer status to primary payer status. Introduced Oct. 8 by Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL), referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce. HR 5311. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide whistleblower protection to employees of clinical laboratories who furnish services under the Medicare program. Introduced Oct. 8 by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means. HR 5331. A bill to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to repeal the reduction in Medicare payment through competitive bidding for certain items of durable medical equipment. Introduced Oct. 8 by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NT), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means. The following bills were introduced in the Senate: S 2911. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make improvements in the Medicare competitive acquisition programs for certain items and services. Introduced Oct. 7 by Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL), referred to the Committee on Finance. S 2929. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend the minimum Medicare deadlines for filing claims to take into account delay in processing adjustments from secondary payer status to primary payer status. Introduced Oct. 7 by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-FL), referred to the Committee on Finance.