Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

The following bills were introduced in the Senate: S. 1563. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to protect and strengthen the safety net of children's public health coverage by extending the enhanced federal matching rate under the state children's health insurance program to children covered by Medicaid at state option and by encouraging innovations in children's enrollment and retention, to advance quality and performance in children's public health insurance programs, to provide payments for children's hospitals to reward quality and performance, and for other purposes. Introduced July 29 by Sen. Mike Dewine (R-OH) and referred to the Committee on Finance. S. 1569. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to facilitate the establishment of additional long-term care insurance partnerships between states and insurers in order to promote the use of long-term care insurance. Introduced July 29 by Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) and referred to the Committee on Finance. S. 1574. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a minimum update for physicians' services for 2006 and 2007. Introduced July 29 by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and referred to the Committee on Finance. S. 1575. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a demonstration program to increase the number of doctorally-prepared nurse faculty. Introduced July 29 by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. S. 1585. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to reduce the costs of prescription drugs for enrollees of Medicaid managed-care organizations by extending the discounts offered under fee-for-service Medicaid to such organizations. Introduced July 29 by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and referred to the Committee on Finance. The following bills were introduced in the House: H.R. 3617. A bill to amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for value-based purchasing in the payment for physicians' services under the Medicare Program, and for other purposes. Introduced July 29 Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) and referred the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 3633. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under the Medicare program of immunosuppressive drugs for Medicare beneficiaries who receive an organ transplant without regard to when the transplant was received. Introduced July 29 by Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH) and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.