Should you pursue Medicare or your Hospital Liens?
In states that have meaningful hospital lien laws, one decision that providers encounter with regularity is when to rely on a filed hospital lien versus when to release the hospital lien and pursue payment from Medicare. What makes this decision difficult is the fact that recovery based on a hospital lien is uncertain, both as to amount and timeframe of recovery.

Kentucky Medicare Procedure Change Alert
One of our clients in Kentucky informed us that Administar Federal, the Medicare intermediary in Kentucky, was requiring providers to have a personal injury protection (PIP) log on file in order to file certain Medicare claims.

The Importance of Hospital Liens
From our experience one thing that hospitals can do more of to increase their revenue is to file hospital liens in appropriate situations in states that have such laws.

Mental Health Parity Act Extended to December 31, 2004
President Bush signed legislation at the end of 2003 and the Department of Labor recently amended its interim final regulations to extend the sunset date of the Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA) from December 31, 2003 to December 31, 2004.

Federal Government Readying Closer Examination of State Medicaid Payments
The Federal Government is getting ready to confront states over the financing of Medicaid, starting with closely examining arrangements used by many states to obtain the greatest amount of federal funds while the state puts in the least amount of their own money. Currently, the federal government and the states divide up Medicaid costs, with the federal government usually paying at least 50 percent and occasionally more than 70 percent.

Supreme Court Ruling Allows Independent Review
In a highly anticipated ruling last year, the Supreme Court held in Rush Prudential HMO, Inc. v. Moran that ERISA does not preempt Illinois’ “independent review” statute.

Exciting Changes as Clark & Mascaro, P.C. Becomes Clark, Mascaro & Aziz, P.C.
Clark & Mascaro, P.C. is proud to announce many exciting changes taking place within our firm.

Supreme Court Upholds Kentucky’s “Any Willing Provider” Law
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on April 2, 2003 that states can require health care insurers to accept qualified providers who are willing to meet insurers’ terms and conditions for participation.

CMA in WebMD Article
Dealing with Rejection; Rejection and Insurance Woes

Bankruptcy for Providers Direct Health Plan
Atlanta-based Providers Direct Health Plan of Georgia Inc. has been ordered into bankruptcy by a Fulton County Judge.