CHAMPUS to use some Medicare physician pay policies
Article Abstract:
The Defense Department is in the process of streamlining CHAMPUS, a health plan that covers six million military dependents and retirees. Using Medicare as a model, Defense will institute new visit codes and will base future payments on regionally adjusted national rates. Rates will be compared with Medicare and reduced by as much as 15% in cases where they are 50% higher. Unlike Medicare, CHAMPUS does not cap physician charges, so personal expenses for military personnel will be greater than for their civilian counterparts.
Publication Name: American Medical News
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0001-1843
Year: 1992
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ERISA reform will remove barrier to care
Article Abstract:
The Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) must be changed before inequities in health care can be redressed. For instance, an AIDS patient's benefits can be cut severely by employers who self-insure their workers. The Supreme Court has upheld the rights of self-insurers against state regulations to reform health care. The AMA supports changes in ERISA to allow states to prevent bad-faith actions by the self-insured, who may deny health insurance benefits to those in need.
Publication Name: American Medical News
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0001-1843
Year: 1992
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The bare-bones, low-risk, play-or-pay insider's guide to health reform jargon
Article Abstract:
Presented is a list of terms and phrases commonly used by politicians and others discussing health reform proposals. The list begins with 'adverse selection,' which refers to the higher risk patients left after insurance companies compete for healthy clients. Last on the list is 'waiver,' permission by the Health Care Financing Administration to bypass certain rules of Medicare or the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
Publication Name: American Medical News
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0001-1843
Year: 1992
User Contributions:
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