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Compared to the rest of the country, Iowa (at 17 percent) ranks near the top among states in its proportion of Medicare beneficiaries and, at 13 practicing physicians per 1,000 beneficiaries, ranks close to last among states in its ratio of physicians to Medicare beneficiaries. Additionally, Medicare reimbursement to Iowa physicians ranks among the lowest in the country - averaging around 80th out of 89 payment localities. Despite these factors, nationwide the quality of Iowa's health care is ranked 2nd overall.
The Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Geographic Adjustment Factors in Medicare Payment released its supplemental findings and recommendations to its June 1 report on the geographic practice cost indices (GPCIs) for physicians and the geographic wage index for...
Medicare payment equity through reform of the geographic practice cost indices (GPCIs) remains a top advocacy priority for IMS. Medicare's proposed calendar year (CY) 2012 physician payment rule indicates a five percent drop in Iowa's geographic adjustment factor (GAF), due in large measure to the January...
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), which advises Congress on Medicare payment policy, has recently discussed the possibility of adopting a proposal to address the SGR. The proposal would repeal the SGR using a broad range of budget offsets. However, to bring down the cost of repeal,...
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has now published a proposed regulation detailing Medicare physician payment policies for 2012. The rule, which is open for comment until close of business on Aug. 30, 2011, confirms that unless Congress intervenes, Medicare's physician conversion...
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has released its initial report on Geographic Equity in Medicare Payment with a national conference call on June 1. IMS leaders and staff participated in the call.
It is too early to ascertain the impact of the initial set of recommendations on Iowa physician practices, and the final report...
In response to continued concerns from medical providers, CMS has issued a proposed rule that makes changes to the e-prescribing penalty program. This program was established in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). To encourage the adoption and use of e-prescribing,...
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released on March 31 the proposed rule on Medicare accountable care organizations (ACO) and the Federal Trade Commission-Department of Justice draft statement of policy. The AMA is in the midst of fully reviewing the proposed rule and looks forward...
With the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), physicians now have more opportunities to ensure Medicare patients receive preventive services beyond the initial preventive physical exam. A new brochure, introduced by the AMA, will help physicians help patients navigate the new Medicare coverage...
The American Medical Association, along with medical societies representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia and 57 national medical specialty societies, called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to use the $200 million allocated by Congress to provide physicians with...
Every three years, federal law requires CMS to review the geographic practice cost indices (GPCIs) and their values as applied in each of Medicare's 89 Part B payment localities. The review is to be conducted in consultation with appropriate representatives of physicians. CMS will conduct its next GPCI...