New Healthcare Bill

[Steve Verno]

If I had been in the House, I would have been sitting in the corner. 

You know the Senate will make their changes, especially if a Senator sold his soul like a common lady of the evening, to the insurance company. 

When Barney Frank was asked about the healthcare reform bill, he replied, pay the darn thing.  Tee Hee Hee.

I am still reading the darn thing. Its great if you have trouble getting to sleep.

The Billing Company I used to work for had to enroll with Florida Medicare and Meicaid as a billing agent.   When I left and went on my own as my own company, I had to do the same. 

Now, off topic,  Golden Corral is giving a free dinner to anyone who served in the Military.  Its on the 16th of November.  Take Ted out for a free dinner.  Brenda and I am going to our local restaurant.  She has her Honorable Discharge Certificate ready. 

MY hats off to our other present and past men and women in uniform.   

[Danni R.]

Well, as a complete novice, outsider, and average citizen, I have to say I like the way it starts off right from the bat...

H.R. 3962
to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending --- (so far so good) - and for other purposes (is the point where I get suspicious!).

What other purposes? ROFLMAO

[Danni R.]

Excellent - only someone with your years of experience and expertise would have recognized and known this.

I wish you had been there in the House... they would have had to deal with you, and the issue.

It's an oxymoron to me... the idea was to put the big insurance carriers, and thus multi-million dollar heavy CEOs  in their place (dethrone them, from their beach resorts, if you wish!). So sad to hear. Now, the only way to fight back, is to write the congressman (again, and again.... how often have we done that already?). But persistence is the key.

However, where you say: "This new law is the beginning of regulation of medical billing.  The new law, if approved will mandate that any medical biller, also known as a billing agent, will be required to be registered with both Medicaid and Medicare as a billing agent.   Peter, this also means any biller or biling company that is outside the US. "

This may have its benefits. However, I do recall that this is not entirely new. Registration was already required years ago, i.e.e. all billing services (and clearinghouses) to register their offices with them, and providers needed a valid Medicare provider ID.

[Steve Verno]

I just downloaded the new Healthcare Bill passed by the House of Representatives. 

I just started reading it and I can see some problems. It makes reference to terms such as "prevailing rate" and balance billing.  BUT, it does NOT define these terms. 

I see this here in Florida.  The problem is that these terms are usually left up to the insurance company to define.

If this law allows balance billing, which it seems it does, only with non-contracted providers, then does this supersede Florida's no balance billing law, specifically, FS 641.3154?  (Rhetorical question)

This new bill appears to be developed with the asistance of the insurance industry and it may be very pro insurance company which would, in my opinion, be disasterous for us all, not just as billers, but also as patients. 

The 1,990 page document can be found here:

http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf

This new law is the beginning of regulation of medical billing.  The new law, if approved will mandate that any medical biller, also known as a billing agent, will be required to be registered with both Medicaid and Medicare as a billing agent.   Peter, this also means any biller or biling company that is outside the US. 

SEC. 1644. BILLING AGENTS, CLEARINGHOUSES, OR OTHER ALTERNATE PAYEES REQUIRED TO REGISTER UNDER MEDICARE.

(a) MEDICARE.—Section 1866(j)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(j)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

22 ‘‘(D) BILLING AGENTS AND CLEARING HOUSES REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED UNDER MEDICARE.—Any agent, clearinghouse, or other

25 alternate payee that submits claims on behalf of

1 a health care provider must be registered with

2 the Secretary in a form and manner specified

3 by the Secretary.’’.

Npte:  The same is also require with Medicaid.