OIG Studies Resident Training in
Non-Hospital Sites
July 2, 2004 - Graduate medical education directors
at over 1300 hospitals are receiving requests for information from
the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector
General (OIG) for the purpose of fulfilling the Medicare Prescription
Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act's (MMA) requirement to study
the appropriateness of alternative payment methodologies for the
costs of training residents in non-hospital settings. The MMA requires
the results of the study to be submitted to Congress by December
2004.
The request seeks a range of information on accredited programs
in non-hospital sites, the non-hospital site's facility type, the
number of residents rotating to these sites and the length of the
rotations. Accompanying conference report language to the MMA also
requires that the study examine the effect of the change in the
Balanced Budget Act that allowed payment by Medicare "for graduate
medical education in non-hospital settings, including whether access
and numbers of physicians placing in rural and underserved areas
has increased;" examination of programs regarding "evidence
of possible misuse of federal money with respect to volunteering
supervising physicians;" "a determination whether supervisory
physicians are freely volunteering their time;" and a description
of incentives are offered to physicians who volunteer their times
as supervisory physicians (Continuing Medical Education credit hours,
hospital privileges, etc.).
Information:
Ivy Baer, Director & Regulatory Counsel
AAMC Health Care Affairs
ibaer@aamc.orc
(202) 828-0490
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