HealthHombre will be offline for a few days.  We'll be conducting routine seasonal maintenance and continuing to prepare for introduction of new products and services this fall.  We'll be back online after Labor Day.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

• CMS Posts Final Rule on Revisions to Enrollment Requirements for DMEPOS Suppliers
• CMS Sets Listening Session on Implementation of ACA Requirements on Availability of Medicare Data for Performance Measurement
• HHS Posts Latest Weekly Compilation of ARRA-Related Communications Reports
• Report Looks at Detroit Expansion of Care Infrastructure
• News, Blogs, Journals

• CMS Posts Manufacturer-Level Data on Medicare Drug Spending in the Part D Coverage Gap
• Posting by CMS Official Blum Says Agency Eliminating Part D Duplication, Paperwork
• CMS Expands Medicare Coverage of Tobacco Cessation Counseling   (Final Coverage Decision Memo is Here)

• HHS Posts Additional FAQs on Grants to States for Health Insurance Exchanges
• HHS Posts Supporting Document to Justify Paperwork Reduction Act Submission on Insurers' Web Portals
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners Releases Updated Master List of Medical Loss Ratio Rebate Issues
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners Posts Summary of Session on Standard Definitions for Consumers

• Sebelius New England Journal Article Sees ACA Introducing "Revitalized Era" for Prevention
• Another NE Journal Piece Looks at Latest Attempt to Inject Market Forces into British National Health System 
• AHA, AAMC, and FAH Issue Statement at CMS Session on Extended Observation Services for Hospital Outpatients
• NACDS Publishes Profile of Pharmacy Data, Trends
• PhRMA Statement on New Medicines Stresses R&D Investments
• Policy Brief Recounts State Experiences in Medicaid Coverage of Low-Income Childless Adults
• NEJM Article Addresses Insurance Coverage of Children  (Journal Editorial is Here)
• AHRQ Statistical Brief Says Health Care-Related Infections Associated with Longer Lengths of Stay, Higher Costs
• AARP Report Addresses Trends in Retail Prices of Branded Drugs Widely Used in Medicare  (PhRMA Statement is Here)

• NICE Draft Guidance Recommends 2 Treatments for Multiple Myeloma

• HHS Federal Register Notice Provides for FMAP Adjustment for 3rd Quarter
• HHS Sets September Session of National Vaccine Advisory Committee
• NICE Recommends Against Glivec for Certain Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Indications
• NICE Guidance Calls for Use of Dronedarone as Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation in Certain Instances
• NICE Updated Guidance Recommends Remicade, Enbrel, and Humira for Psoriatic Arthritis
• News, Blogs, Journals

• CMS Posts Summaries of 2010 HCPCS Public Meetings
• CMS Solicits Nomination for Technical Expert Panel on Home Health OASIS Measures
• CMS Offers Reminder on Deadline for Transaction Standards

• American Hospital Association Submits Comments on Physician Fee Schedule
• Federation of American Hospitals Submits Comments on Physician Fee Schedule
• AAHomecare Issue Brief Outlines DMEPOS Competitive Bidding's Risks for Beneficiaries
• CBO Analysis Evaluates Deficit Effects of ACA, Physician Payment Fix, Other Policy Changes
• NAIC Releases Draft Insurance Definitions for Purposes of Consumer Information Requirements
• Updated Kaiser Commission Fact Sheet Addresses Role of Medicaid and CHIP in Providing Insurance Coverage for Children
• National Health Policy Forum Releases Background Paper on State and Local Public Health Agencies
• Mathematica Issue Brief Looks at Older American Act Services for Vulnerable Elderly
• OIG Releases Latest Criminal and Civil Enforcement Report
• OIG Releases Latest State Enforcement Report
• HHS Posts Weekly ARRA Financial and Activity Report
• Six Journalists Named National Library of Medicine Fellows

• BCBS of Minnesota Posts Revised Coverage Policy for Certain Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation Services
• NICE Issues Updated Guidance on Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Failure
• NICE Recommends Several Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis

• MedPAC Submits Comments to CMS on Proposed Physician Payment Rule
• HHS Posts Proposed Information Collection on Evaluation of HIT Professionals
• NICE Releases Second Draft of Appraisal of Avastin for Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
• News, Blogs, Journals

• HHS, Treasury, DOL Announces Availability of Guidance, Related Resources on Health Plan External Reviews and Internal Claims/Appeals
• DOL Posts Technical Release on Interim Procedures for Carrying Out External Reviews
• HHS Posts Model Notices of . . . Adverse Determination . . . Final External Review Decision . . . Final Internal Adverse Determination

• CMS Posts Corrections to Proposed Physician Payment Rule
• CMS Instructions Provide for Implementation of ESRD Prospective Payment System and Related Consolidated Billing Requirements
• CMS Instructions Specify Policy Requirements for Use of JW Modifier for Discarded Drugs and Biologicals
• CMS Instructions Provide for Establishment of DMEPOS Specialty Code for Ocularists
• CMS Instructions Address Sharing of Medicare Revocation Information with State Medicaid Agencies and CHIP Plans

• Emanuel, DeParle Article Delineates ACA's Projected Effects on Practice of Medicine
• Survey Finds New Low in Americans' Confidence in Ability to Access and Pay for Care
• Towers Watson Says ACA to Drive Jump in Consumption of Preventive Services
• Institute of Medicine Posts Report on Value of Genetic and Genomic Technologies
• Study Surveys ASP-Based Pricing, Part D, Other Facets of Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement
• AHRQ Releases Scan of Measures for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services
• National Business Group on Health Says Quality Organizations Coalesce Around Health Plan Evaluation Program
• National Quality Forum Posts Agenda for Session on Care Coordination
• NICE Seeks Stakeholder Suggestions on Indicators for Quality Outcomes Framework
• NACDS Names New Political Affairs Director
• ONC Posts Agenda for August 26 Session of HIT Policy Committee Workgroup on Information Exchange
• HHS Video Explains Basics of EHR Incentive Program
• Study on New Technology Looks at Short-Term Subsidies, Long-Term Adoption in a Developing Country
• RW Johnson Foundation Study Examines Iowa Policies on Uninsured Children

• A/B MAC for Jurisdiction 4 Posts 8 Updated LCDs
• Oxford Posts Revised Policy for Drug Quantity and Level Limitations
• AHRQ Releases Draft Comparative Effectiveness Review for Screening and Treatment of C difficile Infections
• AHRQ Posts Draft Protocol for Technical Brief on Use of Non-Invasive Diagnostic Methods for Evaluating Skin Lesions

• AHRQ Adds 27 Items to Quality Measures Inventory  (August 23)
• Bureau of Labor Statistics Releases Survey of Household Expenditures for Health Care
• News, Blogs, Journals

• Institute of Medicine Initiates Project to Examine Accuracy of Geographic Adjustment Factors Used in Medicare Payments
• OIG Report Addresses Less-Than-Effective Part D Drugs
• OIG Report Finds Inappropriate Part B Payments for Transforiminal Epidural Injections
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners Posts Updated Master List of Medical Loss Ratio Rebate Issues
• CMS Memo to MA Plans, PDPs Provides Update on Plan Rating System and Plan Finder Tool
• CMS Memo to Part D Plan Sponsors Addresses Invalid Prescriber Identifiers in Claims Data
• CMS Releases Updated Data on Procedures Commonly Performed in ASCs
• CMS Posts Timeline for Implementation of Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Payments
• National Governors Association Posts Summary of HHS Health Reform Call with State Officials
• AHRQ Says Data Show Mountain States Have Lowest Potentially Avoidable Heart Failure Hospitalizations
• Families USA Fact Sheet Addresses ACA Provisions on Coordination of Enrollment in Medicaid, CHIP, and State Health Insurance Exchanges 

• Humana Posts Revised Florida/Puerto Rico Medicaid Coverage Policy for Valcyte® (Valganciclovir)  (8/19)
• DME MAC for Jurisdiction B Post Notice on Billing for Vancomycin Delivered Via External Infusion Pump
• DME MAC for Jurisdiction A Posts Revised Supplier Manual  (With Updates to Chapters 2, 5, and 10)

• AHRQ Solicits Instruments for Measuring How Well Health Plans and Providers Address Patients' Health Literacy Needs
• HHS Posts Federal Register Notices on Sessions of . . . HIT Policy Committee . . . Policy Committee Workgroups
• News, Blogs, Journals

• RW Johnson Foundation Health Care Consumer Confidence Index Shows Americans' Attitudes Stable Over Past Year Despite Reform Controversy
• Joint Commission Posts International Library of Clinical Measures
• CBO Releases Update on Budget and Economic Outlook (Here are . . . Summary . . . Director's Blog Post)
• Hewitt Survey Finds Use of COBRA Holds Steady, Despite Ending of Subsidy
• AHRQ Statistical Brief Provides Estimate of Uninsured Population Under Age 65

• CMS Issues Proposed National Coverage Memo for Ventricular Assist Devices as Destination Therapy 
• A/B MAC for Jurisdiction 9 Releases Revisions to LCD on Ranibizumab (Lucentis®)
• A/B MAC for Jurisdiction 9 Posts New LCD on Flow Cytometry
• A/B MAC for Jurisdiction 5 Posts . . . Responses to Comments . . . Final Text . . . for LCD on Fluorescein or Indocyanine Green Angiography
• A/B MAC for Jurisdiction 7 Posts Updated Listing of Approved ICD-9 Codes for Anti-Cancer Drugs
• CMS Posts Revised Article on Pressure Reducing Support Surfaces
• DME MAC for Jurisdiction A Acts on CPAP, Announcing  . . . Documentation Changes . . . Continuation of Complex Reviews
• DME MAC for Jurisdiction A Post Notice on Coding for Pneumatic Compression Devices

• CMS Names 5 New Members to APC Advisory Panel
• CMS Posts Proposed Information Collections on OPPS Pass-Through Payments, Advisory Opinions, Other Topics
• CMS Approves Continued Deeming Authority for American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities
• News, Blogs, Journals

• NE Journal of Medicine Piece Addresses New Priorities for Biomedical Innovation, with Separate Articles on . . . Cost Issues and Robot-Assisted Surgery . . . A New Consumer-Driven Genomic Era
• RW Johnson Foundation Paper Details Lessons for Implementing Patient-Centered Medical Home Pilot Projects
• American Academy of Actuaries Releases Health Reform Glossary
• MGMA Survey Finds Compensation Generally Static for Practice Management Professionals
• National Quality Forum Posts Public Comments on Membership, Operating Procedures for Measures Partnership
• Study Finds EHR Incentive Program Harbors "Hidden" Functional Requirements Associated with Quality Measures Reporting
• National Business Group on Health Survey Finds Most Large Employers Planning Benefit Plan Changes Despite ACA Ambiguities
• HHS Posting Addresses Questions Concerning Pre-Existing Conditions
• NGA Posts Summary of HHS Weekly Health Reform Call with State Officials
• HHS Releases Weekly ARRA Financial and Activity Report

• CMS Bulletin Provides Guidance on FMAP Extension
• CMS Says Drug Plan Premiums Stable for 2011
• CMS Releases Updated 2011 PDP Enrollment, Disenrollment Guidance  (Summary is Here)
• CMS Releases Updated 2011 MA Plan Enrollment, Disenrollment Guidance (Summary is Here)

• A/B MAC for Jurisdiction 12 Issues Bulletin on Coverage Status of Provenge®
• BCBS of Rhode Island Release New Coverage Policy for Provenge®
• A/B MAC for Jurisdiction 4 Says That, Starting in October, Simponi® is Non-Covered 
• BCBS of Kansas Releases Revised Coverage Policies for . . . Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs . . . Homocysteine Testing . . . Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs . . . Periureteral Bulking Agents as a Treatment of Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) . . . Total Facet Arthroplasty
• BCBS of Rhode Island Posts Revised Coverage Policies for . . . Cone Beam CT Scan . . . DME Rent/Purchase and Repair/Replacement
• BCBS of Tennessee Posts Draft Coverage Policy for CT Angiography for Coronary Artery Evaluation
• Medicare Plans New Reviews of Medical Necessity of Chiropractic Services