Health Care Compliance Blog

Medicare Fraud Strike Force Charges 111 Individuals and Expands Operations

2011-02-21T09:36:11-06:00

On February 17, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that the Medicare Fraud Strike Force has charged 111 defendants in 9 cities for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes. HHS and DOJ also announced the expansion of Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations to 2 additional cities – Dallas and Chicago.

via www.hhs.gov

House Republicans Vote To Defund Federal Health Care Reform

2011-02-19T13:12:34-06:00

Kaiser Health News reports that the House of Representatives passed a bill on Saturday morning to fund the government through the end of September, which included several amendments to defund the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The bill now goes to the Senate.

via www.kaiserhealthnews.org

Virginia to Seek Expedited Supreme Court Review of Affordble Care Act

2011-02-04T06:53:49-06:00

The Washington Post (Helderman, 2/3) reports that Virginia will ask that the U.S. Supreme Court immediately review the state's constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care Act. In doing so, the state would seek to bypass the Court of Appeals.

via www.washingtonpost.com

U.S. Senate to Vote on Repeal of Affordable Care Act

2011-02-02T07:37:46-06:00

According to an UPI.com article, the U.S. Senate may vote today on repealing the Affordable Care Act. This vote follows the introduction of the House passed repeal bill as an amendment by Senator Mitch McConnell.

Developing...

via www.upi.com

Senate Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing on Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act

2011-02-01T17:12:06-06:00

On February 2, 2011, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary will hold a hearing entitled "The Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act" at 10:00 a.m. (ET). A webcast of the hearing should be available here.

U.S. District Court Finds Affordable Care Act's Individual Mandate Unconstitutional

2011-01-31T20:13:48-06:00

Today, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida issued a decision declaring the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate unconstitutional and the Act void in its entirety. In brief, the Court found that the Act's individual mandate exceeded the bounds of the Constitution's commerce clause.

Decision in Federal Court Challenge to Affordable Care Act's Individual Mandate Expected Next Week

2011-01-28T22:14:53-06:00

Politico's Pulse (1/28, Kliff & Haberkorn) reports that the U.S. District Court (for the Northern District of Florida) decision on the legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act including the Act's individual mandate may be expected on Monday, January 31, 2011. In all, over 20 states are now plaintiffs in the case.

Developing...

via www.politico.com

Obama Administration to Renominate Berwick as CMS Administrator

2011-01-28T21:32:31-06:00

The Time.com Swampland blog (1/27, Pickert) reports that the Obama Administration will renominate Dr. Donald Berwick to be the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The Administration nominated Berwick last year but utilized a recess appointment.

via swampland.blogs.time.com

HHS Releases Request for Comments on Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan Program

2011-01-28T20:48:53-06:00

On January 28, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) released a display copy of a request for comments on the establishment of a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) program.

The Affordable Care Act requires that HHS establish the CO-OP program to foster the creation of qualified nonprofit health insurance issuers that will offer qualified health plans in the individual and small group markets. Under the CO-OP program, HHS will make loans to assist in funding start-up costs for qualified nonprofit issuers and award grants to assist such issuers in meeting state solvency requirements. HHS must award the loans and grants and begin funding distribution no later than July 1, 2013.

HHS is inviting public comment to aid in the development of regulations regarding this program. The request for comments is scheduled to appear in the Federal Register on February 2, 2011.

HHS Report Suggests Lower Insurance Premiums in 2014

2011-01-28T20:18:05-06:00

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services released a new report suggesting how much families and businesses may save on health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs under the Affordable Care Act in 2014.

Update: House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp Questions HHS Report