CMS warns of fraudulent DME suppliers The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sent a letter this week to physicians asking them to pay attention to solicitations they receive from durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers and report any suspicious activity to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General (OIG). According to CMS, most fraudulent solicitations are obvious in their wording or their attempts to get physicians to approve unnecessary medical equipment and supplies. These marketing schemes by DME suppliers can include: •Unsolicited orders for medical equipment or supplies, often with wording ... January 31, 2014 General Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, Fraud and Abuse, Quality of Care 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medical board will collect CURES fees beginning April 1 The Medical Board of California announced it will soon begin collecting an additional $6 per year on physician license applications and renewals to fund the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES). The fees, authorized by SB 809, provide funding for ongoing maintenance and staffing of CURES. Physicians can expect to see an additional $12 ($6 per year) added to their licensing fees beginning April 1, 2014. CURES is an online database that allows authorized users, including physicians, pharmacists, law enforcement and regulatory boards, to access information about a ... January 14, 2014 General CURES, Medical Board of California, Quality of Care 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA urges CMS to postpone changes to QIO program The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently called for public comments on how it can best organize the national cadre of Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) contractors. The mission of the QIO program is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, economy and quality of services delivered to Medicare beneficiaries. Currently, CMS contracts with one organization in each state to serve as that state's QIO contractor. QIOs are private, mostly not-for-profit organizations, staffed by physicians and other health care professionals who are trained to review medical care, help beneficiaries with ... July 25, 2013 Medicare Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Insurance/Reimbursement, Quality of Care, Medicare 0 0 Comment Read More »
