AMA: PHYSICIANS OUTRAGED AT TODAY'S STEEP MEDICARE CUT U.S. Senate Allows Cut To Begin, Seniors' Access To Health Care Now At Risk WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate's failure to act before today's 21 percent Medicare physician payment cut has put seniors at grave risk of reduced access to health care and choice of physician. "The Senate had over a year to repeal the flawed formula that causes the annual payment cut and instead they abandoned America's seniors, making them collateral damage to their procedural games," said AMA President J. James Rohack, M.D. "Physicians are outraged because the cut, combined with the continued instability in the system, will force them to make difficult practice changes including limiting the number of Medicare patients they can treat."

Using HIT as a ‘Game Changer’ in Health & Healthcare In late January, the Nashville Health Care Council welcomed a distinguished panel of experts for a discussion on the current state of health information technology and the potential going forward to utilize HIT to transform health and healthcare in America. Playing to a packed house, “Technology in Health Care: The Value and The Vision” shared the perspectives of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer; Harry Greenspun, MD, chief medical officer for Perot Systems Healthcare Group; George Lazenby, CEO of Nashville-based Emdeon; and Glen Tullman, CEO of Allscripts. CINDY SANDERS

LBMC Announces Hitech Task Force Following nearly of year of research and study to understand and properly address the requirements of the HITECH ACT of 2009, Lattimore Black Morgan & Cain announced last month the launch of the LBMC HITECH Task Force. The new task force was formed to assist hospitals and physician practices in the successful planning and implementation of the HITECH initiatives and ongoing compliance with the “meaningful use” provisions outlined by the Health and Human Services regulations as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Vital Signs A new long-term care business model will soon be available to Tennessee’s healthcare entrepreneurs. But many are wondering: Who’s going to stick a toe in the water and open the first Adult Care Home? The Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities last month was working to finalize the regulations defining this new type of long-term housing, which is designed to accommodate in a home-like setting up to five individuals dealing with traumatic brain injuries or dependent on ventilators. ERIN LAWLEY

Readying for Another Round of Audits Medicaid Integrity Program Audits Coming Soon to Tennessee Just when you thought you were beginning to get a handle on RAC ... here comes MIP, ZPIC and OIG. More than just another round of the federal government’s favorite game of “Guess the Acronym,” these particular letters could spell big trouble for providers across the nation. CINDY SANDERS

Green Hills Senior Health Center Opens New Purpose for Former Easter Seals Property The Woodmont Boulevard building that formerly housed the Easter Seals Center, a familiar Green Hills landmark, has gotten a new lease on life as an adult day care center providing weekday care, social activities and therapeutic assistance for local seniors. KELLY PRICE