NEWS BRIEFS
NEWS BRIEFS
AMAP, JCAHO, NCQA join efforts
The American Medical Accreditation Program along with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and the National Committee for Quality Assurance have announced they are joining forces in the development of performance measures.
Whereas previously each group worked independent of one another in developing its measurement criteria — and often duplicating each other’s efforts — the coalition, which will operate under the name Performance Measurement Coordinating Council, will serve as the clearinghouse, combining the work from all three organizations to compile a single set of measurements and standards.
More on Medicare fraud
Just as the government as announced a 45% drop in cases of Medicare overpayments during the fiscal year 1998, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. John Breaux (D-LA) have introduced the Home Health Integrity Preservation Act (S 255) designed to stem Medicare fraud and abuse.
Similar to the one introduced during the 105th Congress, S 255 would create additional conditions of participation (COP) home health agencies must conform to before being allowed to participate in the Medicare program.
Among the COPs is the requirement that any managing employee of a home health agency demonstrate "sufficient knowledge" and "prior education or work experience . . . in the delivery of health care," in addition to notifying the state licensing authorities within 15 days of hiring a managing employee. Still another would require an agency have in place a fraud and abuse program.
Concerns over the bill lie in the measure that would increase the discretionary authority of surveyors, establish a home health integrity task force, and remove certain bankruptcy protections from home health providers.
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