Medicare Laboratory Payment Policy

Medicare Laboratory Payment Policy
Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 261
Release: 2000-12-04
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309183618

Clinical laboratory tests play an integral role in helping physicians diagnose and treat patients. New developments in laboratory technology offer the prospect of improvements in diagnosis and care, but will place an increased burden on the payment system. Medicare, the federal program providing coverage of health-care services for the elderly and disabled, is the largest payer of clinical laboratory services. Originally designed in the early 1980s, Medicare's payment policy methodology for outpatient laboratory services has not evolved to take into account technology, market, and regulatory changes, and is now outdated. This report examines the current Medicare payment methodology for outpatient clinical laboratory services in the context of environmental and technological trends, evaluates payment policy alternatives, and makes recommendations to improve the system.

Budget options

Budget options
Author: United States. Congressional Budget Office
Publisher:
Total Pages: 380
Release: 1977
Genre: Budget
ISBN:

Commission on Long-Term Care Report to the Congress, September 30, 2013

Commission on Long-Term Care Report to the Congress, September 30, 2013
Author: Commission on Long-Term Care
Publisher: Government Printing Office
Total Pages: 142
Release: 2013-10-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780160921025

The Commission on Long-Term Care was established under Section 643 of American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-240), signed into law January 2, 2013. The Commission was established with 15 members. Three members each were appointed by the President of the United States, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the minority leader of the House of Representatives. The Commission elected Dr. Bruce Chernof as its Chair and Dr. Mark Warshawsky as its Vice-Chair. The statute directed the Commission to: ..".develop a plan for the establishment, implementation, and financing of a comprehensive, coordinated, and high-quality system that ensures the availability of long-term services and supports for individuals in need of such services and supports, including elderly individuals, individuals with substantial cognitive or functional limitations, other individuals who require assistance to perform activities of daily living, and individuals desiring to plan for future long-term care needs." The statute further directed the Commission within 6 months of the appointment of Commissioners (by September 12, 2013) to: ..".vote on a comprehensive and detailed report based on the long-term care plan... [described above]... that contains any recommendations or proposals for legislative or administrative action as the Commission deems appropriate, including proposed legislative language to carry out the recommendations or proposals."