Spending on Boomers 'Top of Mind' at CMS

Hospital spending will double to more than $1.3 trillion by 2017, making up roughly 30 percent of all healthcare spending and representing the largest portion, by far, of any provider group, according to the CMS.

Do You Believe It? I’m Not Convinced

CMS’ actuaries estimate that DME competitive bidding will produce the following savings for the Medicare trust funds beginning in FY 2009 ($ in millions):
2009 -- $ 640
2010 -- $1,030
2011 -- $1,100
2012 -- $1,190
2013 -- $1,290

Congress Proposes Increase for DME Surety Bond

A Senate bill introduced last week would impose a $500,000 surety bond requirement on providers of durable medical equipment (DME) to Medicare beneficiaries.

The bill, S.2603, the “Medicare Fraud Prevention Act of 2008,” would increase the $50,000 surety bond requirement by a factor of 10. The bill would also increase civil and criminal fines for Medicare fraud and abuse.

The bill is sponsored by Sens. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), David Vitter (R-La.), and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).

Stay tuned...

21 NSC Part B Supplier Standards AND Now 5 More!

• Locations must be open a minimum of 30 hours a week. The CMS is also seeking comments on whether to establish a minimum square footage requirement.
• Suppliers must have comprehensive liability insurance of $300,000 per incident.
• Cell phones, beepers and answering machines can't be used as the primary business phone during operating hours.
• Suppliers can't use "a contract individual or entity to provide a licensed service," requiring instead that personnel be on staff.
• Suppliers can't share a location with other Medicare suppliers, such as physicians or home health agencies.