In Washington…HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson’s Budget Proposal...
For the first time in 20 years, the HHS budget proposal does not include any cuts in Medicare payments to hospitals. In addition, the $468.8 billion FY 2002 budget proposal calls for increasing the National Institutes of Health’s budget by $2.75 billion. In the Senate budget resolution process, an attempt failed which would have “walled off” Medicare Part A funds by mandating that at least 60 senators would first have to agree before the funds are used for any purpose other than hospital payments.
No Delay for HIPAA Privacy Rules...
Controversial privacy regulations contained within the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) were scheduled to go into effect April 14 after months of speculation that the rules would be either further delayed or changed substantially. Secretary Thompson announced that “the President is taking a bold and definitive step to protect the rights of citizens to keep their medical records confidential.” The President directed Secretary Thompson to make appropriate modifications. Hospitals will have until April 15, 2003 to come into compliance, and the AHA is pressing for modifications within the next 30 days.
And On Beacon Hill… House Ways and Means Budget Released on April 18...
The House Ways and Means Chairman, John Rogers (D-Norwood), released his budget on April 18, with the full House beginning debate on the budget on April 30.
Worth Noting…On April 18, the State’s Joint Health Care Committee heard public health bills, including bills related to asthma studies and a program to detect lupus cases early.