Hospital Group Letter in
Support of the "Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform
Act of 2002" (H.R. 2768)
October 3, 2001
Representative Nancy Johnson
Chair
Subcommittee on Health
House Committee on Ways and Means
1136 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Dear Representative Johnson:
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we are writing
to urge passage of H.R. 2768, legislation to extend regulatory
relief to health care providers. This legislation addresses
a number of the concerns of providers encumbered with burdensome
paperwork requirements, and provides relief to our nation’s
hospitals.
We are particularly pleased to see the inclusion of provisions
in the legislation that create more equitable and fair treatment
to providers related to claims payment; provide for better
coordination of federal regulations; prohibit retroactive
application of substantive changes in regulations in most
cases; and adopt a “prudent layperson” standard for Medicare
fiscal intermediaries. These are good examples of the kinds
of relief providers must have to better address the needs
of beneficiaries.
At the same time, we would like to continue to work with
the subcommittee on additional issues related to regulatory
relief, particularly the need to provide due process rights
that allow providers to seek redress in court, and the issuance
of binding advisory opinions that will provide needed guidance
to providers on confusing and complex regulations. We look
forward to working with the subcommittee as the process moves
forward to further refine the legislation.
We appreciate your consideration of our views.
Sincerely,
American Hospital Association
Association of American Medical Colleges
National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems
Premier
VHA, Inc.
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