News from the Health Law Gurus™ is a weekly summary of notable health law news from around the country with helpful links to related content. Check back every week for the latest health law news stories.
ICD-10 Compliance Deadline Is Now October 1, 2015 – Health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses (“Health Care Entities”) are required to comply with ICD-10 (which stands for the International Classification for Diseases, 10th Edition) on October 1, 2015, according to a new final rule (“Final Rule”) released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”). This means that Health Care Entities must be ready for ICD-10 on October 1, 2015 in order to receive reimbursement for claims. Health Care Entities are required to continue using ICD-9 through September 30, 2015. Read our full blog post here.
Pick-up Milk, Bread, and a Mental Health Screening from Your Local Supermarket – A pilot mental health kiosk was recently unveiled in a North Philadelphia ShopRite, which offers users the chance to screen for certain mental health conditions including bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, alcohol abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorders. This pilot was launched by the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, in conjunction with Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation, Screening for Mental Health, and Family Practice and Counseling Network. If the pilot is successful, the kiosk will likely be installed in other locations. To read more about the mental health kiosk, click here and here.
CMS Extends Temporary Moratoria on Enrollment of Ambulance Suppliers and Home Health Agencies for Another 6 Months – The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has extended the temporary moratoria on the enrollment of new ambulance suppliers and home health agencies in certain geographic areas, including Pennsylvania, for another six months. According to CMS, “circumstances warranting the imposition of the moratoria have not yet abated.” CMS, the Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice agree that significant potential for fraud, waste, and abuse continues to exist in these geographic areas. To read the notice in the Federal Register regarding the extension, click here.
Wall Street Journal Reports that Many Uninsured Will Qualify for ACA Exemptions – An August 6th Wall Street Journal article reports that “[a]lmost 90% of the nation’s 30 million uninsured won’t pay a penalty under the Affordable Care Act in 2016 because of a growing batch of exemptions to the health coverage requirement.” The article highlights the worry of insurance companies over the growing number of exemptions. For instance, without penalties to encourage the young and healthy to sign-up for health care coverage, insurance premiums may rise. To read the Wall Street Journal article written by Stephanie Armour, click here.
Lawrence is the Chair for Obermayer’s Health Care Law Department and Election Law Practice Group. Lawrence’s Health Care Law legal experience includes the representation of Pennsylvania County governments in Behavioral Health Managed...
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