Renal Business Today

Medicare

QIP Performance Scores to be Posted

Dialysis clinics should be notified by Dec. 15 about their 2012 Performance Score Certificates (PSC), which must be posted in each facility in clear view of patients and caregivers. ...More
December 15, 2011
Posted in Blog, Government & Regulation, Practice Management
Medicare Rights Center Launches Medicare Rights University

The Medicare Rights Center today launched Medicare Rights University (MRU), a subscription-based online service that features comprehensive courses on key Medicare topics. Tailored to healthcare professionals, caregivers, consumers and others who need to learn or brush up ...More
April 7, 2011
Posted in News, Government & Regulation
What Would a Government Shutdown Mean for Dialysis?

DaVita chief medical officer Allen Nissenson kept it simple when describing the perpetual Medicare conundrum at this year's Renal Physicians Association (RPA) meeting: "Medicare takes in a certain number of dollars every year, and it pays out a certain number of dollars ...More
March 22, 2011
Posted in Blog, Government & Regulation
Study: Private Insurers Control Spending Better than Medicare

HOUSTON—Private insurers appear to be more effective in controlling health are spending differences between two Texas cities than Medicare, according to researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health. ...More
December 10, 2010
Posted in News, Business, Government & Regulation
Feds Charge Dozens in Largest Medicare Fraud Ever

A network of Armenian gangsters used fake healthcare clinics and other scams in an effort to cheat Medicare out of $163 million, according to U.S. authorities. This is the most extensive fraud by one outlet in the program's history. ...More
October 14, 2010
Posted in News, Government & Regulation, Practice Management
Diabetes Management Program Lowers Costs, Hospitalizations

SAN DIEGO—Medicare patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease can significantly reduce both the cost of their medical care and rates of hospitalization by participating in a telephone-based diabetes disease management program, according to a study presented June 21 ...More
June 21, 2010
Posted in News, Clinical & Pharma, Government & Regulation, Practice Management
ESRD Market Basket and How it Affects You

AS WE WAIT for the issuance of the final rule on the new end-stage renal disease bundle I am busy preparing ESRD facility cost reports for those providers with a fiscal year that ends on Dec. 31, 2009. ...More
June 16, 2010
Posted in Articles, Business, Government & Regulation, Practice Management
MedPAC Appoints Four New Members

WASHINGTON–Gene L. Dodaro, Acting Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), announced May 14 the appointment of four new members and the reappointment of two existing members to the Medicare Payment Advisory ...More
May 21, 2010
Posted in News, Government & Regulation
Reimbursement Changes Could Strengthen Fresenius

Next year’s proposed Medicare bundled-rate reimbursement changes could help Germany's Fresenius Medical Care to strengthen its already powerful role in the U.S. dialysis industry, according to Reuters News. Fresenius is the world’s largest dialysis provider. ...More
April 12, 2010
Posted in News, Business, Government & Regulation, Practice Management
Renal Care Ordered to Pay $19.4M for Billing Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—A federal judge ordered Renal Care Group, Renal Care Group Supply Company, and Fresenius Medical Care Holdings to pay $19.4 million because the group “recklessly disregarded federal law when billing the Medicare program for home dialysis supplies and ...More
March 23, 2010
Posted in News, Business, Government & Regulation