IRS Issues Final Rule on Medical Device Tax

This document contains final regulations that provide guidance on the excise tax imposed on the sale of certain medical devices.  The tax rate is 2.3 percent.  The final rule exempts medical devices that are purchased at retail outlets, via telephone or on the internet.

For more information please utilize the following link

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-12-07/pdf/2012-29628.pdf

If you have questions or need additional information please call Richard Dixon at

(321) 473-8561.

CMS Issues Updates for Corrections and Delayed Entries in Medical Documentation

CMS has issues guidance to MACs, CERT, Recovery Auditors, and ZPIC contractors.  Amendments and corrections must:

1.      Clearly and permanently identify any amendment, correction or delayed entry as such

2.      Clearly indicate the date and author of any amendment, correction or delayed entry

3.      Not delete but instead clearly identify all original content

For more information please utilize the following link

http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/Downloads/R442PI.pdf

If you have questions or need additional information please call Richard Dixon at

(321) 473-8561.

CMS Issues Provider Enrollment Application Fee Amount for 2013

The notice announces a $532 calendar year 2013 application fee for institutional providers that are initially enrolling in the Medicare, Medicaid, or Children’s Health Insurance program.  It also applies to institutions revalidating their Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP enrollment or adding a new Medicare Practice Location.

For more information please utilize the following link

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-11-30/pdf/2012-29003.pdf

If you have questions or need additional information please call Richard Dixon at

(321) 473-8561.

OIG Issues Compendium of Unimplemented Recommendations

The Office of Inspector General issued is Compendium of Unimplemented Recommendations.  It summarizes significant monetary and nonmonetary recommendations that, when implemented, will result in cost savings and / or improvements in program efficiency and effectiveness.  This includes two unimplemented issues for home health agencies, three unimplemented issues for hospices, and an unimplemented issue for Recovery Audit Contractors. 

For more information please utilize the following link

https://oig.hhs.gov/reports-and-publications/compendium/files/compendium2012.pdf

If you have questions or need additional information please call Richard Dixon at

(321) 473-8561.

Office of Civil Rights HIPAA Guidance Page

The Office of Civil Rights has a HIPAA Guidance Page. The page provides guidance about methods and approaches to achieve de-identification in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 Privacy Rule.  It explains and answers questions regarding the two methods that can be used to satisfy the Privacy Rule’s de-identification standard: Expert Determination and Safe Harbor. 

For more information please utilize the following link

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/coveredentities/De-identification/guidance.html

If you have questions or need additional information please call Richard Dixon at

(321) 473-8561.

OIG Releases Semiannual Report to Congress

The report showed expected recoveries of about $6.9 billion which consist of $924 million in audit receivables and $6 billion in investigative receivables. They have also identified $8.5 billion in savings for FY 2012 as a result of legislative, regulatory, or administrative actions. For fiscal year 2012,

3,131 individuals and entities were excluded from participating in health care programs. There were 778 criminal actions against individuals or entities that engaged in crimes against HHS programs and 367 civil actions, which include false claims and unjust-enrichment lawsuits filed in Federal district court, civil monetary penalties settlements, and administrative recoveries related to provider self-disclosure matters.

For more information please utilize the following link

 https://oig.hhs.gov/reports-and-publications/archives/semiannual/2012/fall/sar-f12-fulltext.pdf

If you have questions or need additional information please call Richard Dixon at

(321) 473-8561.

HHS Releases Proposed Incentives for Nondiscriminatory Wellness Programs

This document proposes amendments to regulations, consistent with the healthcare reform bill, regarding nondiscriminatory wellness programs in group health coverage.  These proposed regulations would increase the maximum permissible reward under a health-contingent wellness program offered in connection with a group health plan from 20 percent to 30 percent of the cost of coverage.  They also propose a further increase to maximum permissible reward to 50 percent for wellness programs designed to prevent or reduce tobacco use.  They also clarify reasonable design of health-contingent wellness programs and the reasonable alternative they must offer in order to avoid prohibited discrimination.  

The full proposed rule can be viewed using the following link:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-11-26/pdf/2012-28361.pdf