This week’s healthcare headlines were dominated by the surprising announcement that Secretary Sebelius had, for the first time, overruled an agency’s decision, namely the FDA’s approval of a drug for over the counter use for women under the age of 17. In other breaking news, CMS announced that qualified employers, insurance groups, and consumer groups will be able to utilize Medicare data to create report cards to measure the quality standards of physicians and hospitals, pursuant to Section 10332 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (P.L. 111-148). Also on Health Wolters Kluwer:
- The Recovery Audit Contractor program identified and collected $797.4 million in overpayments and returned $141.9 million in underpayments to Medicare providers in 2011.
- Another look at healthcare spending and Congressional efforts to curb it.
- A look at how a patent extension will delay biosimilar competition.
- Compensation for bone marrow donors is now acceptable in California.
- A look at our aging population.
- A look at how employer health plans are using financial penalties instead of incentives.
Employer health plans are using financial penalties instead of incentivies.
