Partner to Testify Before Congressional Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Timothy Blanchard, a health law partner resident in the Los Angeles office of McDermott Will & Emery, will be testifying before the Committee on Small Business of the U.S. House of Representatives regarding Medicare regulatory problems faced by health care providers in complying with regulations and directives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and those of CMS's contractors. The hearing, "CMS: New Name, Same Old Game?" will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2002, at 9:30 a.m. (EST) in 2360 Rayburn HOB.
CMS, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for the Medicare and Medicaid programs. CMS, previously the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), was renamed on July 1, 2001, following an announcement by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.
Mr. Blanchard was invited to testify based on two law review articles he published regarding issues surrounding Medicare "medical necessity" policy and appeals processes. Mr. Blanchard focuses his practice on health care regulatory issues. He provides advice and represents health care providers regarding fraud and abuse; health care compliance programs, Medicare and Medicaid billing and payment audits and investigations; licensing and certification issues; quality assurance and utilization review.
