Healthcare Law Briefs
1. OIG Posts Fiscal Year 2003
Semiannual Report (12/03)
"OIG Reports Major Financial, Enforcement Successes -- The Office of
Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
today announced that its initiatives produced savings for American
taxpayers of over $23 billion in fiscal year 2003, or approximately $1
billion more than last year's savings. This represents a return of $117
for each dollar spent on OIG audits, evaluations, investigations and
other activities."
The full Semiannual Report for fiscal year 2003, April - September is
available at the following link:
http://oig.hhs.gov/publications/docs/semiannual/2003/03fallsemi.pdf
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2. HHS Announces New Web Site to
Streamline Grants Process
The Department of Health and Human Services Dec. 9 announced a new Web
site that will allow individuals and organizations to electronically
find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all federal
grant-making agencies. HHS called the site, Grants.gov, "a simple,
unified 'storefront' for all customers of Federal grants to
electronically find, apply for, and manage grants." Grants.gov covers
more than 900 grant programs offered by the 26 federal grant-making
agencies. HHS said it hopes the site will streamline the process of
awarding over $350 billion annually to state and local governments,
academia, not-for-profits, and other organizations.
Dec. 10 -- BNA's Health Care Daily Report
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3. MCare Abatement Decided
SUMMARY
The General Assembly and Governor Rendell have reached a tentative
agreement on the budget that would raise the personal income tax from
2.8 percent to 3.07 percent, and on a two-year Mcare abatement program.
The legislature did not act on a proposal to deal with limits on
non-economic damages. The final vote is expected tomorrow in the State
Senate and Monday in the House of Representatives.
DETAILS
The Mcare abatement program for 2003 and 2004 will be funded through a
cigarette tax increase. The General Assembly agreed to an overall
increase in a cigarette tax of 35 cents per pack, with 25 cents directed
towards Mcare abatement.
Additional details of the Mcare abatement include:
-
General
surgeons, neurosurgeons, obstetricians/gynecologists, orthopedic
surgeons, family physicians who perform obstetrical services, and
nurse midwives will receive 100% abatement of Mcare assessments. All
other physicians will receive 50%.
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>For more information about the
topics presented in this newsletter please contact one of the
Healthcare
Attorneys:
>Read
the September 2003 issue of our HEALTHCARE
NEWSLETTER.
 Tucker Arensberg,
P.C.
1500 One PPG
Place Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412/566-1212
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