Political Quotes

“I rise today to support the Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act. Since I have been in Congress, I have constantly heard from hospitals and physicians about the guessing game they must play in order to be compliant with Medicare regulations. The paperwork that providers must complete both for private insurance and for Medicare is overwhelming them. Where twenty years ago, it was uncommon to have more than one administrative person working in a physician's office, today it seems to be the norm to have multiple employees handling claims. Like a punch-drunk fighter, our nation's health care providers are dizzy from the barrage of notices, guidance, and issuances from Medicare describing ever-changing policies and regulations. Worse yet, many of these providers approach the billing process with trepidation. Fearful that they may be audited or have payments withheld, many physicians downcode so as to reduce their potential exposure even though they legitimately deserve reimbursement for a higher code. Moreover, a simple, honest mistake, providers fear, will result in harsh penalties and send them into a regulatory spiral, thus taking them away from their patients.”