According to data from a recent CMS inquiry, nearly a third
of the US Government’s $2.6 Trillion debt could be related to excessive medical
spending in the nation’s hospitals. The data came to light during the first
steps of CMS’s Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary (MSPB) Measure, which will provide
financial incentives to hospitals with efficient, patient-oriented care. We
first wrote about this CMS initiative in August of 2011.
Now, CMS has set October 2014 as the hard start for MSPB.
Supporters believe that the measure will bring about positive changes to the
ailing Medicare program, allowing the nation’s largest insurance provider the opportunity to save
on some of the exorbitant spending of the past.
Others are less enthusiastic.
UCLA Health System’s Dr. Tom Rosenthal told Kaiser Health
News, “I wouldn't take any of these cost measures to the bank…I think we need
to know a lot more before we start publishing lists of hospitals and doctors
and declaring who is most efficient.” Dr. Rosenthal is referring to CMS’s quiet
roll out of the Hospital Compare website, which lists
nationwide hospitals, and their MSPB score. Rosenthal, and many other
opponents, feel that other factors – such as the well-known regional spending
and health care usage discrepancies – could paint an inaccurate picture.
There is still plenty of time between today and 2014’s
October roll out, but most experts agree that CMS’s first steps have been
successful, even if a little imperfect.
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Pam Argeris is a thought leader in the Healthcare Industry and possesses extensive, hands-on experience with CMS compliance, and multiple regulatory bodies such as NCQA, JACHO, and DOI. In her role at Merrill Corp.,
Pam focuses on developing solutions for
compliance and quality assurance, delivered in a
cost effective manner to improve beneficiary
and prospect communications. You can contact Pam at Pamela.Argeris@merrillcorp.com.
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