The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the Healthcare Reform Bill, signed into law last week by President Obama, includes several provisions from the National Pain Care Policy Act. The National Pain Care Policy Act is legislation designed to improve pain care for the more than 76.5…
Yet another way that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the Act), otherwise known as the Health Reform bill, impacts health care providers is the strengthening of the Federal False Claims Act (FCA). For example, Section 6402 of the Act amends Section 1128 B of the Social Security Act…
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and the Michigan Department of Information Technology (MDIT) a $14.9 million grant to encourage the expansion and success of health information technology (HIT) in Michigan. The funds, provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment…
A New York Times article from March 15, 2010, documents the most serious problem with cuts to Medicaid payments to doctors: doctors dropping out of the program. The article focused on doctors in and around Flint, Michigan. According to the article, in 2008 Medicaid reimbursements averaged only 72 percent of…
For the first time, Michigan providers must charge patients less than the previous year for copies of medical records. The Michigan Medical Access Act of 2004 regulates the access to and disclosure of medical records. Under the Act, the Department of Community Health has the responsibility to adjust on an…
A final rule published by the Department of Health and Human Services expanded the scope of the National Practitioner Data Bank to now include disciplinary information on all licensed health care professionals, including nurses, podiatrists, chiropractors, and physician assistants. Prior to this new rule, the databank, established under the federal…
On February 19, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm issued an Executive Order creating an independent Office of Health Services Inspector General (OHSIG) within the Department of Community Health. The Executive Order will become effective on October 1, 2010. Governor Granholm will have the responsibility to appoint the Health Services Inspector General.…
On January 5, 2010, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed legislation that expands the chiropractic scope of practice in the state of Michigan. The expansion is designed to restore the scope of practice that existed prior to when the Public Health Code was rewritten. Chiropractors in Michigan may now treat neuromuscular, skeletal…