OIG Issues Advisory Opinion Regarding On-Call Compensation

PDF Icon Small OIG Issues Advisory Opinion Regarding On-Call Compensation
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently approved an on-call compensation arrangement that provides compensation to physicians for care provided to uninsured patients. However, the Advisory Opinion cautioned that compensating on-call physicians simply for being available, regardless of whether or not services are actually provided, may place hospitals' at risk for subsequent scrutiny from the OIG. (Read more...)

PDF Icon Small OIG and HHS Turn On The HEAT
The OIG and HHS have both recently stated their intent to increase efforts to expand the Attorney General's authority in Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs). HHS has also created a Healthcare Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) that will focus on increasing fraud prevention and elimination. (Read more...)

PDF Icon Small Payment Bundle Initiatives Proposed by Senate & CMS
Both the Senate Finance Committee and CMS have suggested proposals to bundle inpatient and outpatient payment for services to promote greater coordination and efficiencies of care. Critics have expressed concern that the blanket bundling could result in a withhold of payments and may not accurately adjust for patients with severe conditions. (Read more...)

PDF Icon Small Obama Signs HITECH Act for Healthcare IT
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, providing over $19 billion, including $2 billion in discretionary funds to spur the widespread adoption of Electronic Health Record usage in the US healthcare system. The Act has several incentives through Medicare, Medicaid, and other grant programs for the adoption of �meaningful use� of certified EHR systems.
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