Part B News Briefs

Why This Topic Matters

These short updates highlight operational and compliance issues that could affect Medicare claim processing, site-of-service reporting, and practice billing workflows. It also flags policy and legal developments that may matter to organizations tracking Medicare payment methodology and provider-based designation rules.

Article Sections

1. Y2K claim readiness and paper claim concerns

   Discusses Medicare claim-processing readiness issues and concerns about paper claims. The section focuses on operational impacts for practices and carriers.

2. MGMA salary survey highlights

   Summarizes physician compensation and gross charge trends reported in a medical group survey. The section compares broad movement across specialist and primary care categories.

3. PE-RVU lawsuit briefs

   Reviews competing arguments in a legal dispute involving practice expense relative value units and Medicare policy. The section notes positions taken by specialty societies, the Justice Department, and HCFA.

4. HCFA-1500 claim form correction for hospital services

   Describes a billing form update tied to services performed in hospital settings and transfer-related claim handling. The section references Medicare administrative instructions for claim submission.

5. Provider-based designation and hospital-owned physician practices

   Covers HCFA's response to an OIG recommendation concerning provider-based status for owned practices. The section focuses on site-of-service and Medicare payment policy concerns.