Docs Say Senate Bill No Cure The revisions to the Senate health system legislation that led to the American Medical Association’s support did little to sway the opposition of the Louisiana State Medical Society. Ditto for the $300 million “fix” for the federal medical assistance percentage, or FMAP, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., negotiated in exchange for her vote. TED GRIGGS

Preparing for an Overwhelmed Medical System Louisiana Doctors Defining 'Crisis Standards' BATON ROUGE- Louisiana health professionals are developing guidelines that specify which patients would get access to lifesaving treatments — and which wouldn’t — during a severe pandemic, bioterrorist attack or natural disaster that overwhelms the medical system. From ProPublica SHERRI FINK

Children’s Hospital Opens Louisiana’s First Pediatric Cardiac ICU NEW ORLEANS – At the head of Ryleigh Hughes’ hospital bed an 18-inch, plush Mike the Tiger, sporting a No. 1 LSU football jersey, stands guard. The two-week-old recently underwent open-heart surgery to repair a congenital defect. She has fought with a tiger’s ferocity, and is recovering according to plan in Louisiana’s first pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), which opened in October 2009. CHRIS PRICE

RAC ‘n’ Roll Recovery Audit Contracting Rolled Out Nationwide After several years of anticipation, the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program was set for nationwide rollout last month. Despite the notice, many Medicare providers still are not adequately prepared to respond to a request for records. CINDY SANDERS

Legal Review: CMS Implements New Home Health Agency Change of Ownership/Transfer Restrictions The Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System regulations for 2010 contain new restrictions for a change or transfer of ownership regarding Home Health Agency (“HHA”). On December 18, 2009, CMS modified regulation 42 C.F.R. §424.550(c) regarding ownership changes occurring within 36 months after either: (1) the effective date of the provider’s enrollment in Medicare, or (2) the effective date of the last ownership change for the provider. This new regulation is more fully described in CMS Manual System, Pub 100-08 Medicare Program Integrity, Transmittal 318, December 18, 2009. The new restrictions took effect January 1, 2010.

Dr. William A. Brennan From Surgeon to Script Writer Just when you think you have Dr. William A. Brennan figured out, he throws out another surprising fact about himself. After practicing for 10 years in a bustling practice in Polk County, Fla., the board-certified neurosurgeon decided to switch gears and try cosmetic surgery. So, he moved across the coast to the plastic surgery capital of the world – Los Angeles, Calif. – and did a fellowship. He was there just long enough to catch the movie bug, writing a feature film screenplay. Then, he decided to return to the South, where he reestablished a neurology practice. LISA HANCHEY

In The News - January 2010