Congress has recently passed the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Containing substantial Medicare and Medicaid provisions that are projected to realize more than $11 billion in federal spending savings in FY2006, the DRA will have a major impact on reshaping both of those government programs. Important changes include a significant revisions to Medicaid pharmaceutical reimbursement policies, the expansion of quality-based Medicare payment policies for hospital providers, changes in the calculation of DSH inpatient days, revisions to bad debt payments to skilled nursing facilities, increases in Medicare reimbursement to dialysis centers and to rural hospitals, restoration of the Medicare physician fee schedule conversion rate, mandates for fraud and abuse training programs, changes in DME capped rentals, and new Medicare reimbursement provisions affecting for imaging and outpatient surgical services.

This audiowebconference will identify and discuss critical areas of concern for hospitals, nursing homes, practitioners, and a broad range of other providers and suppliers. The session will be helpful in planning financial, budget, and compliance priorities.