Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has awarded a grant entitled, ``A Comparison of Multiple Methods To Incent Physicians To Adopt Electronic Prescribing Devices'' to Medco Health Solutions, Inc., 100 Parsons Pond Drive, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 in response to an unsolicited proposal. The period of performance is August 1, 2005 through July 31, 2006. The purpose of this grant is to fund an initial evaluation of the Southeastern Michigan e-Prescribing Initiative (SEMI) project. Through the use of e-prescribing, this program is intended to reduce the costs associated with the use of prescription drugs, and improve safety for patients, including Medicare beneficiaries, associated with an estimated 6,000 targeted physicians/prescribers in Southeastern Michigan. The project involves the active collaboration of multiple employers, insurance entities and care providers in eight counties in Southeastern Michigan. Partners include the Big Three automakers, Ford, General Motors and Daimler Chrysler; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan; Henry Ford Health System/Health Alliance Plan; Health Plus of Michigan; SureScripts, RxHub and MedCo. This is a unique project in terms of size, sponsoring organizations, patient base, geographic area, and approach. This project is consistent with CMS' goals to improve health care quality, patient safety, and the use of electronic prescribing. Funding of this unsolicited proposal will result in a desirable public benefit in that its aim is to provide needed information on the costs and critical success factors associated with the adoption of electronic prescribing, as well as to provide improvements in quality and safety of care delivery.

This proposed notice acknowledges the receipt of an application from the Accreditation Commission for Healthcare for recognition as a national accreditation program for home health agencies that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Section 1865(b)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act requires that within 60 days of receipt of an organization's complete application, we publish a notice that identifies the national accrediting body making the request, describes the nature of the request, and provides at least a 30-day public comment period.

This proposed rule would establish the Medicare Integrity Program (MIP) and implement program integrity activities that are funded from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund. This proposed rule would set forth the definition of eligible entities; services to be procured; competitive requirements based on Federal acquisition regulations and exceptions (guidelines for automatic renewal); procedures for identification, evaluation, and resolution of conflicts of interest; and limitations on contractor liability. This proposed rule would bring certain sections of the Medicare regulations concerning fiscal intermediaries and carriers into conformity with the Social Security Act (the Act). The rule would distinguish between those functions that the statute requires to be included in agreements with fiscal intermediaries and those that may be included in the agreements. It would also provide that some or all of the functions may be included in carrier contracts. Currently all these functions are mandatory for carrier contracts.

This proposed rule would set forth the requirements that heart, heart-lung, intestine, kidney, lung, and pancreas transplant centers must meet to participate as Medicare-approved transplant centers. These proposed revised requirements focus on an organ transplant center's ability to perform successful transplants and deliver quality patient care as evidenced by good outcomes and sound policies and procedures. We are proposing that approval, as determined by a center's compliance with the proposed data submission, outcome, and process requirements would be granted for 3 years. Every 3 years, approvals would be renewed for transplant centers that continue to meet these requirements. We are proposing these revised requirements to ensure that transplant centers continually provide high-quality transplantation services in a safe and efficient manner.