On December 1, 2016 the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announced that it was soliciting public comment on the key questions that would be used in its previously announced systematic review of clinical literature relative to lower limb prostheses. Comments were to be submitted no later than 11:59 pm on December 20, 2016. […]
On December 19, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the initial implementation of the Medicare prior authorization program that was authorized through the final rule published on December 30, 2015. As expected, CMS has chosen a cautious approach in implementing its prior authorization program. The initial list of codes subject to […]
The 114th Congress completed its work in a “beat the clock” enactment around 11:30 pm on Friday evening, December 9 by the Senate passing a Continuing Resolution (CR) just 30 minutes before the government would have shut down. That Continuing Resolution will keep the U.S. government operating through April, and without enacting the provisions of […]
In mid-2014, the American Hospital Association (AHA) filed suit against HHS challenging the long delays—far in excess of the statutory limit of 90 days—before RAC audit appeal cases are heard by an administrative law judge (ALJ). Early on, the District Court ruled against AHA, but was overruled by the Court of Appeals. In now ruling […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2017 Medicare DMEPOS fee schedule which will be effective for Medicare claims with a date of service on or after January 1, 2017. The 2017 Medicare fee schedule for orthotic and prosthetic services will be increased by 0.7% over 2016 rates. The 0.7% increase […]
