Physicians ’ (ACEP) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule for physician payment and other Part B policy proposals for 2013 that affect the practice of emergency physicians and the patients we serve. First, we continue to urge CMS to work closely with Congress to replace

In the wake of the Mexican and Asian currency turmoil, the subject of financial crises has come to the forefront of academic and policy discussions. This paper analyzes the links between banking and currency crises. We find that: problems in the banking sector typically precede a currency crisis

-for-performance payment system could be designed to narrow those variations and serve as a transition to a new Medicare payment policy that would align physicians ’ incentives with improvements in both quality and efficiency. In particular, Medicare could stim-ulate greater efficiency by developing new payment methods

Chapter summary Medicare payment policies must be considered in the broader context of the nation’s health care system—including spending, delivery of care, access to and use of services—and pressure on federal and state budgets. Health care accounts for a large and growing share of economic

• allow the three temporary ambulance add-on policies to expire; • direct the Secretary to rebalance the relative values for ambulance services by lowering the relative value of basic life support nonemergency services and increasing the relative values of other ground transports. Rebalancing

change to the Medicare payment system.

Chapter summary This report’s analyses of Medicare payment policies must be considered in the broader context of the nation’s health care spending overall and the realities of the federal budget. Health care accounts for a large and growing share of total economic activity in the United States

tutional care continue to rise sharply, policy interest in the clinical characteristics of ben-eficiaries admitted to nursing homes and their variation across facilities has stimulat-ed research into case mix. Measures of Medicare skilled nursing facility (SNF) case mix are important in relating

Chapter summary In this chapter The Medicare hospice benefit covers palliative and support services for beneficiaries with a life expectancy of six months or less who choose to enroll in the benefit. In 2009, nearly 1.1 million Medicare beneficiaries received hospice services from nearly 3

recent Government Accountability Office study on bundling payment for ESRD services (8). The drama of these deliberations was illustrated when Chairman Bill Thomas told Medicare officials, “You seriously need to consider that your payment policy is killing people. ” At the core of this debate is concern