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CASCA’s Response to JAMA Article — Talking Points

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

The Associated Press wire story on the JAMA study that ran June 8 has so far only been picked up by the Denver Post locally, but we all should continue to monitor local media outlets to see if there is any additional coverage.

Unless the story receives more widespread pick-up we should view it…

Steris System 1 Processor: FDA Notice and Recommendations

Sunday, December 13th, 2009

FDA notified healthcare facility administrators and infection control healthcare professionals of important information regarding the regulatory status of the STERIS System 1 Processor (SS1) used in surgical and endoscopy suites for reprocessing, i.e., sterilizing or disinfecting, medical devices.

Click here to read more…

Injecting Value into Medical Decisions

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

It’s widely estimated that 30% of U.S. health-care spending—some $700 billion a year—is spent on tests, treatments and procedures that provide no value. But one man’s waste may be another’s life-saving treatment. And there are hundreds of medical quandaries with no clear answers…

To read more click here.

Medicare Releases Proposed 2010 ASC Payments

Monday, July 6th, 2009

Medicare has released its proposed 2010 ASC payment rates and policies.  The proposed rule is available here: www.ascassociation.org/2010rule.pdf.  CMS is proposing an inflation update of 0.6% (Medicare’s estimate of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers) and is not proposing to require ASC quality reporting in 2010. The ASC Association will provide further details…

MedPAC Releases June Report to Congress

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is an independent congressional agency established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105–33) to advise the U.S. Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program.

To read to the rest of the report click the link below:

http://www.medpac.gov/documents/Jun09_EntireReport.pdf

Obamas letter to the Senate

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

On June 3rd President Obama wrote a letter to Senators Kennedy and Baucus about what he wants to get passed in Health Care.

To read the letter click the link below:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Letter-from-President-Obama-to-Chairmen-Edward-M-Kennedy-and-Max-Baucus/

Kennedy Releases Draft Health Reform Legislation, Begins Mark-up

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

A new bill has been released to the senate. This bill is to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance  disease prevention, and strengthen the health care work-force.

To read this bill click the link below:

http://help.senate.gov/BAI09A84_xml.pdf

Turning up the HEAT to Stop Medicare and Medicaid Fraud

Monday, May 25th, 2009

Health care fraud perpetrators are stealing billions of dollars from the federal government, American taxpayers and some of our most vulnerable citizens. This not only drives up costs for everyone in the health care system, it hurts the long term solvency of Medicare and Medicaid, two programs upon which millions of Americans depend…

Interested?…

Insurance Headlines 2009

Monday, May 11th, 2009

Single-Payer Health-Care Advocates Disrupt Senate Hearing Wall (Street Journal, May 6, 2009) Eight advocates of government-run health care disrupted a Senate hearing Tuesday on health-care coverage, complaining that their viewpoint was shut out of Senate debate on the issue.

Health Insurers Agree to End Higher Premiums for Women (New York Times, May 6, 2009)…

Medicare National 2009 ASC Rates and HOPD Rates

Friday, May 8th, 2009

Here is a Excel file that shows the ASC Rates and HOPD Rates for 2009.

2009 ASC Rates and HOPD Rates

( Can also be found on Advocacy and Policy page under Medicare)…

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