Category Archives: Policies

Farzad Mostashari, M.D., Coordinator for the National Health Information Technology Office, is delaying the implementation of the permanent electronic health records (EHRs) meaningful use certification program. The implementation is likely to be delayed until the summer of 2012. The permanent … Continue reading →

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released a report concerning essential health benefits under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care (PPAC) Act. The report recommended the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) be as specific as possible in deciding … Continue reading →

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that a Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative would increase Medicare payments to primary care providers who adopt a coordinated care model. Next year in several health care markets, the Centers of … Continue reading →

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is about to release a final rule concerning a Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. This effort is designed to save money and hopefully improve care. The rule’s purpose is to get hospitals to … Continue reading →

GAO is urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to strengthen its approach to physician quality reporting. Specifically, GAO is recommending that CMS be more methodical in order for the reports to be more reliable. In addition, GAO … Continue reading →