In The Know: Stay Informed with Health Care News
Posted by Pauline Heidemann on Mon, Jan 09, 2012 @ 06:06 AM
This week, In The Know, looks at the following news stories: FDA Approves Pneumonia Vaccine for People Ages 50 and Older; Prepayment Audits Postponed by Medicare; FDA Bans Use of Antibiotic Cephalosporin in Animals; CMS Has Selected 73 Applicants for Innovation Advisors Program; National Hospice Sued for False Claims in a Whistleblower Suit.
FDA Approves Pneumonia Vaccine for People Ages 50 and Older
The FDA has approved the vaccine Prevnar 13 for people ages 50 and older to prevent pneumonia and invasive disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is currently estimated that approximately 300,000 adults 50 years of age and older are hospitalized yearly because of pneumococcal pneumonia. The new use for Prevnar 13 was approved under the agency’s accelerated approval pathway, which allows for earlier approval of treatments for serious and life-threatening illnesses. Prevnar 13 is already approved for use in children ages 6 weeks through 5 years for the prevention of invasive disease caused by 13 different serotypes of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and for the prevention of otitis media. The vaccine is manufactured by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. To read the Press Release, click on http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm285431.htm?source=govdelivery.
Prepayment Audits Postponed by Medicare
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided to delay reviews of the prepayment audits scheduled to start this month. CMS will provide at least 30 days notice before implementing the prepayment audits throughout 11 high-fraud states. Until then, Medicare recovery audit contractors will continue their “pay-and-chase” method of conducting reviews after issuing hospital payments. CMS is also postponing implementing a prior authorization process for scooters and power wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries who reside in states with high levels of fraud and error-prone providers. To read CMS’s Notice, click on http://https://www.cms.gov/CERT/02_Demonstrations.asp#TopOfPage.
FDA Bans Use of Antibiotic Cephalosporin in Animals
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an order to restrict a family of antibiotics commonly used to treat livestock, citing concerns that overuse may lead to the development of drug-resistant bacteria that can infect people. Beginning April 5th, cephalosporin can no longer be used to prevent diseases in cattle, swine, chicken, and turkey, although it can still be used to treat illness. It can still be used in ducks and rabbits. Cephalosporins are commonly used in humans to treat pneumonia and skin infections, as well as pelvic inflammatory disease, diabetic foot infections, and urinary tract infections. The prevalence of these antibiotics in livestock has been linked in several studies to the creation of drug-resistant “superbugs” that can spread to humans. To read the Press Release, click on http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm285704.htm?source=govdelivery.
CMS Has Selected 73 Applicants for Innovation Advisors Program
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has selected 73 health care professionals out of 920 applicants to research and implement new models of care delivery as part of its Innovation Advisors Program. The program is designed to test and refine new models to drive delivery system reform for Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP beneficiaries. The program will select and develop as many as 200 individuals from across the nation in its first year. To read the Press Release, including the names of the individuals selected, click on http://www.cms.gov/pf/printpage.asp?ref=http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/factsheet.asp?Counter=4240.
National Hospice Sued for False Claims in a Whistleblower Suit
The Department of Justice has filed a complaint in a whistleblower suit against a hospice provider for submitting false claims to Medicare for patients who were not terminally ill. AseraCare Hospice, a for-profit business, has approximately 65 hospice providers in 19 states. Medicare beneficiaries admitted to hospice care are not entitled to receive services that would help to cure their illness; rather they are entitled to receive palliative care aimed at relieving pain and symptoms of stress of terminal illness, which includes medical, social, psychological, emotional and spiritual services. The whistleblower suit was originally filed by two former employees. To read more, click on http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/January/12-civ-001.html.