1) Supposedly there are 159 new govt agencies, which will liley increase regulations on how physicians practice. (If we can't get an MRI for a suspicious HA, are we liable if there's a brain tumor?)
2)
Section 3134 -
Directs the Secretary periodically to identify physician services as being potentially misvalued, and make appropriate adjustments to the relative values of such services under the Medicare physician fee schedule. (so can the Secretary of Health randomly decide that a screening cscope is worth $100?)
3) (Sec. 6001, as modified by Sec. 10601) Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to prohibit physician-owned hospitals that do not have a provider agreement by August 1, 2010, to participate in Medicare. (so if Medicare reimburses at low rates and you choose not to participate, does that mean you can't open up a private practice clinic?)
4) Not in this bill, but as of Jan 1, 2010 cardiologists had Medicare cuts of 40% for nuclear imaging (stress tests) and echos. This will results in less caths/ICDs, etc.
5)
Section 3138 -
Requires the Secretary to determine if the outpatient costs incurred by inpatient prospective payment system-exempt cancer hospitals, including those for drugs and biologicals, with respect to Medicare ambulatory payment classification groups, exceed those costs incurred by other hospitals reimbursed under the outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS). Requires the Secretary, if this is so, to provide for an appropriate OPPS adjustment to reflect such higher costs for services furnished on or after January 1, 2011. (no idea what this means but it doesn't sound good)
6) Not sure if this is in the bill but I heard that states who have tort reform like Cali and Texas will not get govt subsidies if they don't reverse it.
there's more but 2700 pages is a lot to review!
