The MedSafe Compliance Corner

• Physicians Petition FDA to Change Narcotic Labeling
• Stolen Computer from Boston Hospital Risks PHI of 3,900 Patients
• Hospital Readmission Rates Remain Steady
• Hospitals Report Only One Percent of Patient Harm Events
• 15 New ACOs to Receive Advance Payments

Physicians Petition FDA to Change Narcotic Labeling

• CMS Names 89 New ACOs
• FDA Bans BPA from Baby Bottles and Toddler Cups
• Physicians Express Positive Views of EHR 
• CMS Proposes Pay Raise for Outpatient Departments
• FDA Approves Another Weight Loss Drug

This week, In The Know, looks at the following news stories: First Pioneer ACO Accepted by CMS; Record Number of New Drugs Approved; GSK Pays Billions for Improper Marketing Practices for Avandia; Medicare Patients Sue HHS Over Outpatient Status; Medicare to Increase Payments to Dialysis Facilities.

This week, In The Know, looks at the following news stories: Final Rule for ACOs Released; $1.84 Billion Recovered in Medicare Fraud in 2010; Cigna To Buy HealthSpring for $3.8 Billion; Jobs in Health Care Expected to Increase; HHS Office for Civil Rights Enforces Section 504 and the ADA.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced on October 20, 2011 that the anxiously-awaited Final Rule on Accountable Care Organizations has been published in the Federal Register. The final rule, “Medicare Program; Medicare Shared Savings Program: Accountable Care Organizations“ has been changed substantially from the proposed rule, after over 1300 comments were received in response.