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HUD issues proposed refinancing rule for hospitals 01/29/2010
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today published a proposed rule for hospitals wishing to refinance debt for purposes other than construction under the Section 242 hospital mortgage insurance program. HUD began to allow such refinancing in July 2009. The AHA advocated for the change in the wake of the economic downturn, which has made it harder for hospitals to access capital. The proposed rule codifies the refinancing process. HUD will accept comments on the rule through March 30. The AHA plans to submit comments.
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Agencies issue mental health parity rule 01/29/2010
The departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury today issued an interim final rule implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. The 2008 law requires group health plans to offer the same financial and treatment limits for mental health and substance-related disorder benefits as they do for medical and surgical benefits. Under the rule, parity will apply separately to six classes of services: inpatient, in-network; outpatient, in-network; inpatient, out-of-network; outpatient, out-of-network; emergency treatment; and prescription drugs. Also, deductible, copayment and other out-of-pocket requirements for mental health and substance-related disorder benefits must be integrated with those for medical and surgical benefits. Plans beginning between Oct. 3, 2009 and June 30, 2010 are expected to make a "good faith" effort to comply with the law, and plans beginning after that must comply with the regulations, the departments said. The agencies will accept comments on the interim final rule through May 3, after which they will publish a final rule. The AHA plans to submit comments.
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CMS issues FAQ on Medicaid coverage for Haiti survivors 01/29/2010
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has published answers to frequently asked questions concerning the Medicaid coverage status of evacuees from the Jan. 12 Haitian earthquake. According to CMS, several areas have been targeted to receive evacuees based on their available medical facilities and substantial Haitian populations: Miami and Orlando, FL; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; New York; Philadelphia; and Boston.
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Federal project to study ICD risks, benefits 01/29/2010
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the American College of Cardiology have launched a $3.5 million study of the long-term benefits and risks of implantable cardioverter defibrillators in patients with ventricular fibrillation. They said the results will be helpful to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which has covered ICDs for certain patients since 2005 and requires certain Medicare patients receiving the devices to be enrolled in a national registry. The HMO Research Network, a consortium of 15 health care delivery systems, will conduct the study of 3,500 ICD patients from the National Institutes of Health's Cardiovascular Research Network.
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AONE opens registration for delegation trip to India 01/29/2010
The American Organization of Nurse Executives has opened registration for a nurse executives delegation to India, scheduled for Sept. 12-20. "This trip will create an important dialogue between U.S. and Indian nurse leaders and also continue to build upon international alliances AONE has created in past programs," said AONE Board President Pamela Rudisill, who will serve as delegate co-leader with AONE CEO Pamela Thompson. In recent years, AONE has partnered with People to People Citizen Ambassador Programs to bring nurse delegates to several countries, including Russia, China and South Africa. The delegations foster one-on-one dialogue with international counterparts in nursing administration and continue the tradition of professional diplomacy created by President Eisenhower in 1956. For more on the Indian delegation or to register online, visit the People to People Web site.
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