Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

The following bills were introduced in the Senate: S. 1929. A bill to reduce health care disparities and improve health care quality, to improve the collection of racial, ethnic, primary language, and socioeconomic determination data for use by health care researchers and policymakers, to provide performance incentives for high-performing hospitals and community health centers, and to expand current federal programs seeking to eliminate health disparities. Introduced Oct. 27 by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and referred to the Committee on Finance. The following bills were introduced in the House: H.R. 4157. A bill to amend the Social Security Act to encourage the dissemination, security, confidentiality, and usefulness of health information technology. Introduced Oct. 27 by Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 4164. A bill to amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act, to require coverage of hearing aids under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and private group and individual insurance. Introduced Oct. 27 by Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and referred to the Committee on Government Reform. H.R. 4173. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit against income tax to subsidize the cost of COBRA continuation coverage for certain individuals. Introduced Oct. 28 by Rep. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.