House Democratic leaders on Wednesday released a scaled-down version of the so-called "extenders" bill (HR 4213) in an attempt to draw enough support to pass the legislation, which would delay a 21-percent cut to Medicare physician reimbursement rates that is scheduled to take effect June 1.

Efforts by the federal government to eliminate Medicare fraud have produced $2.5 billion for the program's trust fund in fiscal year 2009, a 29-percent increase from the previous year, according to a report released by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder.

American Medical Association (AMA) officials said the group opposes a plan that congressional leaders reportedly are considering to increase physicians' Medicare reimbursements by one to two percent over the next several years, before a 37-percent cut to the payments in 2015.

Richard Baron, MD, an internist in a five-provider practice in Philadelphia with roughly 8,500 patients, conducted a year-long study using his practice's electronic health record system to evaluate the average daily workload of a primary care physician, USA Today reports.

On May 4, 2010, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed Senate Bill 1985 (SB 1985), which further clarifies the qualifications for the interpreting or supervising physician caring for a patient with a sleep disorder.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is committed to advancing the field of sleep research and promoting funding opportunities for sleep scientists. On Tuesday, May 4, and Wednesday, May 5, 2010, AASM Director of Health Policy and Government Relations Bruce Blehart will be in Washington, D.C., speaking with members of the U.S. Congress about the importance of maintaining adequate federal funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

On April 21, Governor Bob McDonnell signed House Bill 725 (SB 725) into law, establishing licensure for sleep technologists. Virginia is now the ninth jurisdiction to provide sleep technologists a specific licensing/certification pathway.

President Obama nominated Dr. Donald Berwick to be administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Last week Congress approved the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 (HR 4851), which temporarily delays the 21-percent cut to Medicare physician payments and extends unemployment benefits, including subsidies to help purchase COBRA coverage, the New York Times reported.

After a short-term reprieve from a 21-percent Medicare physician payment cut expired April 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) instructed its contractors to refrain from processing physician claims at the reduced rates for 10 working days.