27 Pakistanis participated in ‘Big Bang’ experiment

"Twenty-seven Pakistani scientists and engineers participated in ‘Big Bang’ experiment proving their excellence in this complex field.Briefing mediamen on Tuesday about the role of National Center of Physics (NCP) in the ‘Big Bang’ experiments being performed at CERN...

Medicare Recovery Audit Contractors Identify $371.5 Million in Improper Payments

On February 28, 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the Medicare recovery audit contractor (RAC) status document for fiscal year 2007 indicating that RACs in New York, California and Florida identified and corrected $371.5 million in improper payments.

HHS Secretary Releases Medicare Funding Warning Response Act of 2008

The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt, recently released a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Medicare Funding Warning Response Act of 2008 to address the Medicare funding warning issued by the Medicare Board of Trustees.

Medicare Proposes Coverage for Artificial Hearts

On February 1, 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that it proposes coverage (with evidence development) for artificial heart devices in Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in Food and Drug Administration approved studies.

Lower Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Costs Projected

On January 31, 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Press Release announcing that the overall projected cost of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit is $117 billion lower over the next 10 years than estimated last summer.

Senator Baucus Comments on Rising Medicare Costs

In a Press Release, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus commented on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recent report of rising Medicare costs in the journal Health Affairs.

Medicare Recovery Audit Contributes to Substantial Hospital Financial Loss

Medicare recovery audit accounts for nearly half of a hospital's $28 million financial loss in 2007.

GAO Audit Reveals $90 Million in Questionable Medicare Payments

In a recently released report to Congress, the Government Accountability Office reports that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services made approximately $90 million in questionable payments to contractors.

Medicare Part D Plans Not Meeting Requirements for Tracking TrOOP Costs

On December 17, 2007, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General released a report indicating that Medicare Part D plans have not met all requirements for tracking beneficiaries' true out-of-pocket costs.

Quality Measures Proposed for Medicare Special Needs Plans

On December 14, 2007, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the National Committee for Quality Assurance announced that they are seeking public comment on a set of proposed quality measures for Medicare Special Needs Plans.

Backdoor in Underground CMS

MadMax the coder of UndergroundCMS had inscribed a Backdoor in his script.read more at fasthack.blogspot.com 

CBO Reports U.S. Budget on Unsustainable Path

In testimony before the House Committee on the Budget, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office reported today that "[i]n the absence of significant changes in policy, rising costs for health care and the aging of the U.S. population will cause federal spending to grow...

CMS to Direct Review of Recovery Audit Contractor Decisions

In a December 10, 2007 article, The Sacramento Bee reports that Medicare officials recently informed Congress that policy inconsistencies were found in approximately 40 percent of the audit decisions of California's Medicare recovery audit contractor.