The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added a new “Physician Compare” feature to the CMS Healthcare Provider Directory on December 30, 2010. Regulators hope the new feature will help Medicare and non-Medicare patients and their families identify and assess the quality of providers.
Author: Cynthia Marcotte Stamer
Join Project COPE: Help Develop Real Tools To Meaningfully Empower Patients & Improve Health Care Access, Affordability & Quality
With all the recent debate about health care policy reforms, it is important to keep the focus on the practical needs of patients and their families in dealing with an illness or disability, and simple steps that health care providers, employers, insurers and other payers, churches and other community organizations, and regular people can do to meaningfully help patients and their families effectively access and pay for care and meet other related challenges attendant to illness and disabilities.You can access information about how you can arrange for training on “Building Your Family’s Health Care Toolkit,” using the “PlayForLife” resources to organize low cost wellness programs in your workplace, school, church or other communities, and other process improvement, compliance and other training and other resources for health care providers, employers, health plans, community leaders and others here
Delivery Of CBO Scoring Opens Door For House Health Care Reform Vote As Early As Sunday
Time is running out for Americans to make their health care reform views known to key Congressional decision-makers. The stage now appears to be set for the House of Representatives to vote as early as Sunday on the latest version of health care reform backed by President Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other key Congressional Democrats, the Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872). Access the bill text, CBO text and tips for sharing your views here.
Getting Your Health Care Reform Message Heard By Key Congressional Leaders
With Congressional Health Care Reform at a critical point this week, many are asking which members of Congress to talk to, how to reach them and what to tell them. The following are some pointers on contacting the key decision-makers and structuring your message.
COBRA Subsidy Extension Enactment Requires Quick Action, Shows Subtle Reform Enactment While Health Care Reform Debate Continues
Congress’ quiet extension of the COBRA subsidy rules for involuntarily terminated employees and their dependents beyond their scheduled 12/31/09 expiration date and lengthening of the required subsidy period from 9 to 15 months shows that the big health care reform debate is not the only legislation Americans and American business needs to watch. (You can learn more about the COBRA Subsidy extension mandates at http/ /slphrbenefitsupdate.wordpress.com ).
FREE 12/5 DFW Area Workship Offers Parents Of Disabled Children Info On Dealing With Schools
Parents of children wtih developmental delays or other special needs often express frustration and confusion about dealings with their child’s school. The Warren Center For Children in Richardson Texas is hosting a FREE Workshop on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 9:30 – 11:30 am on “On How to Build a Positive Relationship With Your Child’s School.” Parents struggling with these complexities often experience workplace attendance and productivity issues. Employers and others who know parents struggling to cope with these issues may want to share information about this workshop or other similar resources.
Senate Majority Leader Reid Unveils “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid yesterday (November 18, 2009) unveiled the text of his proposed “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, H.R. 3590” health care reform bill that he indicated that he and certain other key Senate Democrats now back.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Baucus Introduces New Version of Health Care Reform, The America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) today (November 19, 2009) introduced his latest health care reform proposal, the America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009 (S.1796), the text of which is available for review here. Chairman Baucus’ introduction of S. 1796 follows the November 7, 2009 passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the massive health care reform proposal sponsored by Representative John Dingell (D-MI) and supported by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR. 3962). Review highlights and get link to text of bill here!
Health Care Reform Focus Moves To Senate After House Passess HR 3962
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the massive health care reform bill, H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962), after adopting an amendment prohibiting the use of federal funds for abortion services in the public option in a rare Saturday session.
Largest Organization of HR Professionals Says Tell Congress “No” to Pelosi’s Affordable Healthcare For America Act
In a rare weekend meeting, the House of Representatives is scheduled to consider H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act and, if Speaker Nancy Pelosi has her way, vote to pass it as […]