Legislative Updates
Battling Observation Status
Posted on: 4/18/2012
In November, the Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA) filed a class action lawsuit (Bagnall v. Sebelius) against HHS. The Lawsuit states that Medicare is using "observation status" to deny reimbursement to beneficiaries for hospital services and nursing home stays, and that the use of observation status is a violation of the Medicare statute, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of seven Medicare beneficiaries who had to pay the majority of their hospitalization costs because they were classified as "outpatient."
On May 3, Policy Attorneys from the Center for Medicare Advocacy who have been involved in the case will kick off the 2012 ACMA Webinar series by discussing the topic of Observation Status. Their session, titled Medicare Observation Status: When a Hospital Stay is Not a Hospital Stay, will provide updates on the “nationwide problem of observation status in acute care hospitals.”
To read more about the lawsuit on the CMA website, click here.
For more information on the webinar, click here.
, ,Announcements
Supporting our Oklahoma Members
The ACMA National office expresses its condolences for the devastation and loss felt in Moore and throughout the state of Oklahoma. As a close-knit family of case management professionals, we will assist our Oklahoma members in any possible way. Please let us know if we can assist you during this time by contacting our national office at 501-907-2262 or via email at theacma@acmaweb.org. If you know of an ACMA member who has been directly impacted, please notify the ACMA national office.
2014 ACMA National Conference Call for Presentations
ACMA is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2014 ACMA National Conference, April 10-13, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. Presentations must be submitted by June 28, 2013. Submit your presentation now
ACMA Compass Orientation Program
Compass is a comprehensive orientation program designed to provide training for new case management staff or serve as a refresher for existing staff. Developed by an interdisciplinary taskforce of case management leaders, the program is available for training 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and there is no limit on the number of staff members who may be entered and trained in the system - www.acmaweb.org/Compass
We are Going to Chicago
Chicago, Illinois will be the host city for the 21st Annual Case Management Conference and 15th Annual ACMA Meeting. The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, April 10-13, 2014. Visit the 2014 conference website to learn more - www.casemanagementconference.com
Conference Evaluations Available Online
Evaluation forms for 2013 ACMA conferences are available online at www.acmaweb.org/evaluation
