GAO Releases Report on Increasing Medicare Part B Prescription Drug Prices – On November 20, 2015, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on costs for new Medicare Part B drugs.  The GAO found that expenditures for new Medicare Part B drugs were concentrated among a small number of drugs and conditions, and most new Part B drugs were costly for beneficiaries. The full report is available here.

CMS Releases DMEPOS Fee Schedule for 2016 – On November 23, 2015, CMS released the DMEPOS fee schedule amounts for 2016.  The 2016 fee schedule amounts include adjustments for certain items to take into account information from the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program.  CMS’s fact sheet is available here. 

King & Spalding Healthcare Roundtable Regarding Physician Peer Review – On December 16, 2015, King & Spalding will host a Healthcare Roundtable titled, “When Worlds Collide: Balancing the Responsibilities of the MEC and HR in Physician Peer Review.”  The Roundtable will discuss the separate roles and responsibilities of the hospital’s human resources department and its medical staff, preserving the employment and independent contractor status of physicians, laws applicable to the peer review process and the rights of employees, and dealing with aging and disruptive physicians.  The Roundtable will take place in the Atlanta office of King & Spalding and is also available as a webinar.  More information and registration options are available here.