Health Imaging & IT - October 2007 - (Page 10) n e W s u p d At e gOv ER n M En T WATC H Major imaging companies challenge reimbursement cuts Medical imaging equipment manufacturers, such as GE Healthcare, Philips Medical Systems, Siemens Medical Solutions and Varian Medical Systems, are pushing the Bush administration and Congress to slow down on the cuts in Medicare payments for imaging procedures. Executives from the four imaging companies gathered at the White House in September to meet with the presidential advisers to press their case that the industry is being asked to bear an unfair burden as Congress and the administration look to restrain Medicare spending. The Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA), a division of the National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association (NEMA), is attempting to resist additional regulations and legislation that they say will threaten Medicare patients’ access to necessary, but expensive, imaging studies. VA secretary warns replacement about healthcare IT challenges The resigning Veteran Affairs (VA) secretary, James Nicholson, has reported on the current healthcare IT challenges to House Veteran Affairs Committee, such as reducing the backlog of disability claims and easing the transition of service members between the Department of Defense (DoD) VA Secretary James Nicholson and VA medical systems. The Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes has urged the VA and DoD to improve the interoperability of their EHR systems to enhance the delivery of care. CHAMP bill set to throw U.S. health IT implementation into disarray In addition to the significant cuts in medical imaging reimbursement, the Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 (CHAMP) will usurp progress currently being made for health IT deployment in U.S. physician offices and replace it with a onesize-fits-all system designed for Medicare providers. The CHAMP bill, H.R. 3162, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in September, and a separate version, S. 1893, to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), was passed by the Senate earlier this year. Section 905 of the CHAMP legislation, “Implementation of Health Information Technology under Medicare,” delineates seven specifications for health IT systems to be used by all healthcare providers under the Medicare program. CMS hires 16 contractors for $4B IT upgrade The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded 16 contractors its $4 billion enterprise system development (ESD) contract. The contracts are intended to create an IT resource over the next 10 years to help the agency technologically deal with the rise in the number of health benefits recipients. CMS has employed 16 contractors, eight large businesses and eight small firms, for a decade-long ESD program to provide services ranging from application design to software maintenance. Clinton co-sponsors DRA imaging cut moratorium The ACR reported that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) has signed on as a cosponsor to the Access to Medicare Imaging Act of 2007 (S.1338). The bill, introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR), has garnered the support of 28 senators. The House companion bill, H.R. 1293, introduced by Reps. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and Joe Pitts (R-PA), now has 156 co-sponsors representing over one-third of the House. The ACR said that Sen. Clinton’s co-sponsorship is a show of support for a moratorium on the severe cuts to medical imaging reimbursement contained in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). The cuts, which reduced reimbursement for particular imaging services by up to 50 percent, have been in effect since January. HHS bestows nearly $100M for healthcare IT Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Elizabeth Duke announced $61 million in new health center grants to help half a million people in the United States obtain access to comprehensive primary and preventive healthcare services. In addition HRSA said it would award $31.4 million in grants to help centers adopt EHR systems and other health information technology. CMS cracks down on physician self-referrals The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) want to crack down on doctors, who refer patients to businesses in which they have a financial stake. Many physicians have profited from investing in MRI facilities, surgery centers and diagnostic sites, only to send their patients to them. Critics believe that self-referrals promote the unnecessary ordering of exams or procedures where the doctor stands to benefit. Yet, supporters affirm that a doctor’s investment in new facilities improves medical services. CMS said the self-referrals are “creating incentives for overutilization and corrupting medical decision-making.” The new rules are slated to become law in January 2008. 10 O C T O B E R 2 0 07 | Health Imaging & IT STAY CONNECTED: For daily news, log onto HealthImaging.com HealthImaging.com HOOVER INSTITUTION http://HealthImaging.com http://HealthImaging.com
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