Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

In its last-Friday-of-the-month flurry of regulations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued technical corrections to two rules: the Aug. 1, 2002 rule laying out payment rates for the hospital inpatient prospective payment system and the April 4, 2003 rule on Medicare+Choice appeal and grievance procedures. The agency also delayed an important provision of the Stark physician self-referral rule and issued new regulations on provider enrollment (see related stories above). In addition, CMS announced its receipt of a request from the Community Health Accreditation Program for continued approval of deeming authority for hospices. Two advisory bodies will hold meetings in May, CMS directed. The Advisory Panel on Medicare Education will convene on May 21 in Washington. The Practicing Physicians Advisory Council will meet May 19, also in Washington. The agency also asked for comments on extension of or revision to a slate of information collection activities including:
the hospital request for certification in the Medicare/Medicaid program;
the hospice survey and deficiencies report form;
the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments adverse action extract; and
the authorization agreement for electronic forms transfer. To see the rules and notices, go to www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a030425c.html.