48 CFR 42.704 - Billing rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Billing rates. 42.704... CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES Indirect Cost Rates 42.704 Billing rates. (a) The contracting... final indirect cost rates also shall be responsible for determining the billing rates. (b) The...

48 CFR 42.704 - Billing rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Billing rates. 42.704... CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES Indirect Cost Rates 42.704 Billing rates. (a) The contracting... final indirect cost rates also shall be responsible for determining the billing rates. (b) The...

48 CFR 42.704 - Billing rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Billing rates. 42.704... CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES Indirect Cost Rates 42.704 Billing rates. (a) The contracting... final indirect cost rates also shall be responsible for determining the billing rates. (b) The...

31 CFR 357.27 - Reinvestment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... AND BILLS HELD IN TREASURY/RESERVE AUTOMATED DEBT ENTRY SYSTEM (TRADES) AND LEGACY TREASURY DIRECT...) Treasury bills. A request by an owner for a single or successive reinvestment of a Treasury bill must be... the original bill, or by a subsequent transaction request received not less than ten (10) business...

31 CFR 357.27 - Reinvestment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... AND BILLS HELD IN TREASURY/RESERVE AUTOMATED DEBT ENTRY SYSTEM (TRADES) AND LEGACY TREASURY DIRECT...) Treasury bills. A request by an owner for a single or successive reinvestment of a Treasury bill must be... the original bill, or by a subsequent transaction request received not less than ten (10) business...

31 CFR 357.27 - Reinvestment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... AND BILLS HELD IN TREASURY/RESERVE AUTOMATED DEBT ENTRY SYSTEM (TRADES) AND LEGACY TREASURY DIRECT...) Treasury bills. A request by an owner for a single or successive reinvestment of a Treasury bill must be... the original bill, or by a subsequent transaction request received not less than ten (10) business...

Wound center facility billing: A retrospective analysis of time, wound size, and acuity scoring for determining facility level of service.

PubMed

Fife, Caroline E; Walker, David; Farrow, Wade; Otto, Gordon

2007-01-01

Outpatient wound center facility reimbursement for Medicare beneficiaries can be a challenge to determine and obtain. To compare methods of calculating facility service levels for outpatient wound centers and to demonstrate the advantages of an acuity-based billing system (one that incorporates components of facility work that is non-reimbursable by procedure codes and that represents an activity-based costing approach to medical billing), a retrospective study of 5,098 patient encounters contained in a wound care-specific electronic medical record database was conducted. Approximately 500 patient visits to the outpatient wound center of a Texas regional hospital between April 2003 and November 2004 were categorized by service level in documentation and facility management software. Visits previously billed using a time-based system were compared to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' proposed three-tiered wound size-based system. The time-based system also was compared to an acuity-based scoring system. The Pearson correlation coefficient between billed level of service by time and estimated level of service by acuity was 0.442 and the majority of follow-up visits were billed as Level 3 and above (on a time level of 1 to 5) , confirming that time is not a surrogate for actual work performed. Wound size also was found to be unrelated to service level (Pearson correlation = 0.017) and 97% of wound areas were < 100 cm2. The acuity-based scoring system produced a near-normal distribution of results, producing more mid-range billings than extremes; no other method produced this distribution. Hospital-based outpatient wound centers should develop, review, and refine acuity score-based models on which to determine billed level of service.

A/R systems reduce delayed and denied reimbursements.

PubMed

Escobar, Carlos

2007-01-01

The day-to-day benefits of a comprehensive billing and collections system are pro-active and preventive--administrators are increasingly learning that accelerating billings hastens collections and, ultimately, facility profitability. Effective billing and collections management services work closely with the facility, matching nightly "dumps" of patient files with transcripts. This marriage of otherwise disparate data creates a billing unit that reduces errors and ensures no billable procedures are lost. Ultimately, the goal of any medical practice that engages an ASP application or outsource solution is not to sit idly by while allowing a billing company to take control of a practice's revenue stream. The ability to track the billing process from transcript submission to payment provides a facility with all information necessary to manage cash flow, revenues, and even personal and practice financial planning.

48 CFR 942.704 - Billing rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 5 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Billing rates. 942.704... ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES Indirect Cost Rates 942.704 Billing rates. (b) When the contracting officer or auditor responsible for establishing billing rates, in accordance with 48 CFR 42.704, has not established...

48 CFR 942.704 - Billing rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 5 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Billing rates. 942.704... ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES Indirect Cost Rates 942.704 Billing rates. (b) When the contracting officer or auditor responsible for establishing billing rates, in accordance with 48 CFR 42.704, has not established...

48 CFR 942.704 - Billing rates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 5 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Billing rates. 942.704... ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT SERVICES Indirect Cost Rates 942.704 Billing rates. (b) When the contracting officer or auditor responsible for establishing billing rates, in accordance with 48 CFR 42.704, has not established...

31 CFR 357.27 - Reinvestment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., NOTES AND BILLS HELD IN TREASURY/RESERVE AUTOMATED DEBT ENTRY SYSTEM (TRADES) AND LEGACY TREASURY DIRECT...) Treasury bills. A request by an owner for a single or successive reinvestment of a Treasury bill must be... the original bill, or by a subsequent transaction request received not less than ten (10) business...

Graphene-based nonvolatile terahertz switch with asymmetric electrodes.

PubMed

Li, Yan; Yu, Hui; Qiu, Xinyu; Dai, Tingge; Jiang, Jianfei; Wang, Gencheng; Zhang, Qiang; Qin, Yali; Yang, Jianyi; Jiang, Xiaoqing

2018-01-24

We propose a nonvolatile terahertz (THz) switch which is able to perform the switching with transient stimulus. The device utilizes graphene as its floating-gate layer, which changes the transmissivity of THz signal by trapping the tunneling charges. The conventional top-down electrode configuration is replaced by a left-right electrode configuration, so THz signals could transmit through this device with the transmissivity being controlled by voltage pulses. The two electrodes are made of metals with different work functions. The resultant asymmetrical energy band structure ensures that both electrical programming and erasing are viable. With the aid of localized surface plasmon resonances in graphene ribbon arrays, the modulation depth is 89% provided that the Femi level of graphene is tuned between 0 and 0.2 eV by proper voltage pulses.

Analysis and Development of Management Information Systems for Private Messes Afloat

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-01

the development phase emphasis was placed on a three step approach starting with an analysis of the requirements as established by... oper - ating the mess divided by number of mess members Total Mess Bill Due Total of old bills, current bill, mess share owed, and special assessment 46...TRANSPARENCY THE SYSTEM BEHAVIOR IS TRANSPARENT TO THE USER. THAT MEANS THAT THE USER CAN DEVELOP A CONSISTENT MODEL OF THE SYSTEM WHEN WORKING

Understanding statements now a virtual cinch.

PubMed

Weber, Danielle B; Talaga, John

2005-04-01

With a click of the mouse, some patients are accessing and paying their hospital bills online. Novant Health revamped its patient billing process so it's easier to understand and use. Developing a clear, concise billing statement and then implementing an online bill presentment and payment system resulted in improved customer relations, fewer payment processing errors, and faster receipt of payment.

Acute pain management efficiency improves with point-of-care handheld electronic billing system.

PubMed

Fahy, Brenda G

2009-02-01

Technology advances continue to impact patient care and physician workflow. To enable more efficient performance of billing activities, a point-of-care (POC) handheld computer technology replaced a paper-based system on an acute pain management service. Using a handheld personal digital assistant (PDA) and software from MDeverywhere (MDe, MDeverywhere, Long Island, NY), we performed a 1-yr prospective observational study of an anesthesiology acute pain management service billings and collections. Seventeen anesthesiologists providing billable acute pain services were trained and entered their charges on a PDA. Twelve months of data, just before electronic implementation (pre-elec), were compared to a 12-m period after implementation (post-elec). The total charges were 4883 for 890 patients pre-elec and 5368 for 1128 patients post-elec. With adoption of handheld billing, the charge lag days decreased from 29.3 to 7.0 (P < 0.001). The days in accounts receivable trended downward from 59.9 to 51.1 (P = 0.031). The average number of charge lag days decreased significantly with month (P = 0.0002). The net collection rate increased from 37.4% pre-elec to 40.3% post-elec (P < 0.001). The return on investment was 1.18 fold (118%). Implementation of POC electronic billing using PDAs to replace a paper-based billing system improved the collection rate and decreased the number of charge lag days with a positive return on investment. The handheld PDA billing system provided POC support for physicians during their daily clinical (e.g., patient locations, rounding lists) and billing activities, improving workflow.

Modeling and Managing Risk in Billing Infrastructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baiardi, Fabrizio; Telmon, Claudio; Sgandurra, Daniele

This paper discusses risk modeling and risk management in information and communications technology (ICT) systems for which the attack impact distribution is heavy tailed (e.g., power law distribution) and the average risk is unbounded. Systems with these properties include billing infrastructures used to charge customers for services they access. Attacks against billing infrastructures can be classified as peripheral attacks and backbone attacks. The goal of a peripheral attack is to tamper with user bills; a backbone attack seeks to seize control of the billing infrastructure. The probability distribution of the overall impact of an attack on a billing infrastructure also has a heavy-tailed curve. This implies that the probability of a massive impact cannot be ignored and that the average impact may be unbounded - thus, even the most expensive countermeasures would be cost effective. Consequently, the only strategy for managing risk is to increase the resilience of the infrastructure by employing redundant components.

Administrative Costs Associated With Physician Billing and Insurance-Related Activities at an Academic Health Care System.

PubMed

Tseng, Phillip; Kaplan, Robert S; Richman, Barak D; Shah, Mahek A; Schulman, Kevin A

2018-02-20

Administrative costs in the US health care system are an important component of total health care spending, and a substantial proportion of these costs are attributable to billing and insurance-related activities. To examine and estimate the administrative costs associated with physician billing activities in a large academic health care system with a certified electronic health record system. This study used time-driven activity-based costing. Interviews were conducted with 27 health system administrators and 34 physicians in 2016 and 2017 to construct a process map charting the path of an insurance claim through the revenue cycle management process. These data were used to calculate the cost for each major billing and insurance-related activity and were aggregated to estimate the health system's total cost of processing an insurance claim. Estimated time required to perform billing and insurance-related activities, based on interviews with management personnel and physicians. Estimated billing and insurance-related costs for 5 types of patient encounters: primary care visits, discharged emergency department visits, general medicine inpatient stays, ambulatory surgical procedures, and inpatient surgical procedures. Estimated processing time and total costs for billing and insurance-related activities were 13 minutes and $20.49 for a primary care visit, 32 minutes and $61.54 for a discharged emergency department visit, 73 minutes and $124.26 for a general inpatient stay, 75 minutes and $170.40 for an ambulatory surgical procedure, and 100 minutes and $215.10 for an inpatient surgical procedure. Of these totals, time and costs for activities carried out by physicians were estimated at a median of 3 minutes or $6.36 for a primary care visit, 3 minutes or $10.97 for an emergency department visit, 5 minutes or $13.29 for a general inpatient stay, 15 minutes or $51.20 for an ambulatory surgical procedure, and 15 minutes or $51.20 for an inpatient surgical procedure. Of professional revenue, professional billing costs were estimated to represent 14.5% for primary care visits, 25.2% for emergency department visits, 8.0% for general medicine inpatient stays, 13.4% for ambulatory surgical procedures, and 3.1% for inpatient surgical procedures. In a time-driven activity-based costing study in a large academic health care system with a certified electronic health record system, the estimated costs of billing and insurance-related activities ranged from $20 for a primary care visit to $215 for an inpatient surgical procedure. Knowledge of how specific billing and insurance-related activities contribute to administrative costs may help inform policy solutions to reduce these expenses.

Rheum rhaponticum Extract (ERr 731): Postmarketing Data on Safety Surveillance and Consumer Complaints

PubMed Central

Chang, Jyh-Lurn; Montalto, Michael B.; Heger, Peter W.; Thiemann, Eva; Rettenberger, Reinhard; Wacker, Jürgen

2016-01-01

Context Postmarketing surveillance data for a commercially available extract of Rheum rhaponticum (ERr 731) have not been published since the beginning of the reporting in 1993 in Germany about adverse events (AEs) that were believed to be associated with it. The extract is derived from the plant’s roots and is indicated for menopausal relief. In Germany, the extract has been marketed as Phytoestrol N and other related products—Phyto-Strol, Phyto-Strol Loges, and Phyto-Strol compact and as femi-loges. In the United States and Canada and in South Africa, the product had been marketed as Estrovera. Objective The study’s objective was to summarize the AE reports from Germany from 1993 to June 2014 and also to assess consumers’ complaints in North America and South Africa from the date of the extract’s launch to June 2014. Design AE reports recorded by 2 German holders of marketing authorizations, Chemisch-Pharmazeutische Fabrik Göppingen, for Phytoestrol N, and Dr. Loges + Co. GmbH, for femi-loges, were collected and analyzed. Consumers’ complaints in North America and South Africa that had been captured by the US distributor of Estrovera were also collected and analyzed. Results From 1993 to June 2014, approximately 140 million daily doses of the extract were placed on the German market, and 124 AE reports were recorded. The most common of those AEs were hypersensitivity, with 74 reactions, and gastrointestinal symptoms, with 47 reactions. From January 2009 to June 2014, approximately 13 million tablets of the supplement were sold in North America, and 79 complaints from consumers associated with a physical response to it had been recorded. The main complaints were gastrointestinal symptoms, with 23 cases, and failure to work as suggested, with 22 cases. From the date of the product’s launch in South Africa in February 2011 to June 2014, no consumer complaints have been reported. Conclusions The records related to postmarketing surveillance and consumers’ complaints suggest that the extract of R rhaponticum is generally safe for consumption. PMID:27547165

75 FR 79345 - Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-20

... accounting system for health care billing practices. It shall assist military treatment facilities in the... accounting system for health care billing practices. It shall assist military treatment facilities in the...; System of Records AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Defense, DoD. ACTION: Notice to Alter a System of...

Inventory and Billing Systems for Multiple Users.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frazier, Lavon

Washington State University developed a comprehensive supplies inventory system and a generalized billing system with multiple users in mind. The supplies inventory control system developed for Central Stores, a self-sustaining service center that purchases and warehouses office, laboratory, and hardware supplies, was called AIMS, An Inventory…

Integrated billing and accounts receivable management system needed to maximize payments and cope with managed care.

PubMed

Sanders, J; Wold, D; Sullivan, T

1999-01-01

The billing and accounts receivable management process in medical practices today has evolved into a multidisciplinary function. This function requires efficient, coordinated performance by physicians and all staff members, from the point of initial patient contact through aggressive follow-up on delinquent payments for services rendered. Offices with deficient or nonexistent billing and accounts receivable management systems typically experience collection ratios that are less than industry norms. They also experience poor cash flow and unnecessary overhead costs. To avoid costly inefficiencies and ensure that it maximizes payments from third-party payors and patients, a medical practice must have an integrated billing and accounts receivable management system that includes components outlined in this article.

Automated documentation error detection and notification improves anesthesia billing performance.

PubMed

Spring, Stephen F; Sandberg, Warren S; Anupama, Shaji; Walsh, John L; Driscoll, William D; Raines, Douglas E

2007-01-01

Documentation of key times and events is required to obtain reimbursement for anesthesia services. The authors installed an information management system to improve record keeping and billing performance but found that a significant number of their records still could not be billed in a timely manner, and some records were never billed at all because they contained documentation errors. Computer software was developed that automatically examines electronic anesthetic records and alerts clinicians to documentation errors by alphanumeric page and e-mail. The software's efficacy was determined retrospectively by comparing billing performance before and after its implementation. Staff satisfaction with the software was assessed by survey. After implementation of this software, the percentage of anesthetic records that could never be billed declined from 1.31% to 0.04%, and the median time to correct documentation errors decreased from 33 days to 3 days. The average time to release an anesthetic record to the billing service decreased from 3.0+/-0.1 days to 1.1+/-0.2 days. More than 90% of staff found the system to be helpful and easier to use than the previous manual process for error detection and notification. This system allowed the authors to reduce the median time to correct documentation errors and the number of anesthetic records that were never billed by at least an order of magnitude. The authors estimate that these improvements increased their department's revenue by approximately $400,000 per year.

Missed surgical intensive care unit billing: potential financial impact of 24/7 faculty presence.

PubMed

Hendershot, Kimberly M; Bollins, John P; Armen, Scott B; Thomas, Yalaunda M; Steinberg, Steven M; Cook, Charles H

2009-07-01

To efficiently capture evaluation and management (E&M) and procedural billing in our surgical intensive care unit (SICU), we have developed an electronic billing system that links to the electronic medical record (EMR). In this system, only notes electronically signed and coded by an attending generate billing charges. We hypothesized that capture of missed billing during nighttime and weekends might be sufficient to subsidize 24/7 in-house attending coverage. A retrospective chart EMR review was performed of the EMRs for all SICU patients during a 2-month period. Note type, date, time, attending signature, and coding were analyzed. Notes without attending signature, diagnosis, or current procedural terminology (CPT) code were considered incomplete and identified as "missed billing." Four hundred and forty-three patients had 465 admissions generating 2,896 notes. Overall, 76% of notes were signed and coded by an attending and billed. Incomplete (not billed) notes represented an overall missed billing opportunity of $159,138 for the 2-month time period (approximately $954,000 annually). Unbilled E&M encounters during weekdays totaled $54,758, whereas unbilled E&M and procedures from weeknights and weekends totaled $88,408 ($44,566 and $43,842, respectively). Missed billing after-hours thus represents approximately $530K annually, extrapolating to approximately $220K in collections from our payer mix. Surprisingly, missed E&M and procedural billing during weekdays totaled $70,730 (approximately $425K billing, approximately $170K collections annually), and typically represented patients seen, but transferred from the SICU before attending documentation was completed. Capture of nighttime and weekend ICU collections alone may be insufficient to add faculty or incentivize in-house coverage, but could certainly complement other in-house derived revenues to such ends. In addition, missed daytime billing in busy modern ICUs can be substantial, and use of an EMR to identify missed billing opportunities can help create solutions to recover these revenues.

Utility Bill Insert for Wastewater Services

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Intended for use by wastewater and water supply utilities, one side of the utility bill insert has information for customers that discharge to sanitary sewer systems; the other side is for customers with septic systems.

Proyecto de Ley por el Cual se Dicta el Estatuto General de Educacion y Pliego de Modificaciones Propuesto (Bill Establishing a General Statute for Education and Explanation of Proposed Modifications).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suarez Villa, Diego

This document contains the 1971 Colombian education bill and suggested bill modifications. The bill states educational objectives and establishes the structure of the national education system, the organization for educational administration, financing procedures, regulations for educational personnel, and the means for implementing the…

Grid-Connected Distributed Generation: Compensation Mechanism Basics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aznar, Alexandra Y; Zinaman, Owen R

2017-10-02

This short report defines compensation mechanisms for grid-connected, behind-the-meter distributed generation (DG) systems as instruments that comprise three core elements: (1) metering and billing arrangements, (2) sell rate design, and (3) retail rate design. This report describes metering and billing arrangements, with some limited discussion of sell rate design. We detail the three possible arrangements for metering and billing of DG: net energy metering (NEM); buy all, sell all; and net billing.

Home Energy Saver

Science.gov Websites

up zip code Case Studies Weatherization: Improving Home Safety and Reducing Your Energy Bill home energy efficient? Your House is a System Living Off The Sun, Or, No Electricity Bill Kermit was Cottage Energy Blogs 5 Most Effective Ways to Save on Your Energy Bill Updating Guest Bathroom With Energy

Improving hospital billing and receivables management: principles for profitability.

PubMed

Hemmer, E

1992-01-01

For many hospitals, billing and receivables management are inefficient and costly. Economic recession, increasing costs for patient and provider alike, and cost-containment strategies will only compound difficulties. The author describes the foundations of an automated billing system that would save hospitals time, error, and, most importantly, money.

29 CFR 1952.151 - Developmental schedule.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... steps provided by the Plan: (a) It is estimated that the draft bill will be enacted by April 1, 1973. (b) The Federal standards will be adopted on the date the bill is ratified. (c) A refresher course for inspectors will begin sixty (60) days after the enactment of the draft bill. (d) Merit system examinations of...

29 CFR 1952.151 - Developmental schedule.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... steps provided by the Plan: (a) It is estimated that the draft bill will be enacted by April 1, 1973. (b) The Federal standards will be adopted on the date the bill is ratified. (c) A refresher course for inspectors will begin sixty (60) days after the enactment of the draft bill. (d) Merit system examinations of...

29 CFR 1952.151 - Developmental schedule.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... steps provided by the Plan: (a) It is estimated that the draft bill will be enacted by April 1, 1973. (b) The Federal standards will be adopted on the date the bill is ratified. (c) A refresher course for inspectors will begin sixty (60) days after the enactment of the draft bill. (d) Merit system examinations of...

29 CFR 1952.151 - Developmental schedule.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... steps provided by the Plan: (a) It is estimated that the draft bill will be enacted by April 1, 1973. (b) The Federal standards will be adopted on the date the bill is ratified. (c) A refresher course for inspectors will begin sixty (60) days after the enactment of the draft bill. (d) Merit system examinations of...

29 CFR 1952.151 - Developmental schedule.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... steps provided by the Plan: (a) It is estimated that the draft bill will be enacted by April 1, 1973. (b) The Federal standards will be adopted on the date the bill is ratified. (c) A refresher course for inspectors will begin sixty (60) days after the enactment of the draft bill. (d) Merit system examinations of...

Corner Office: Polaris's Bill Schickling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fialkoff, Francine; Hadro, Josh

2010-01-01

Bill Schickling has spent a good chunk of his professional life at what is now Polaris Library Systems, shaping both the older Galaxy system and the newer Polaris integrated library system (ILS). When he joined the company as a programmer in 1987, it was still part of Gaylord, known mostly for its furniture and supplies division. Schickling was…

Legislative Review. A Look at Higher Education in Week 15: April 13-17, 2009

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Dakota University System, 2009

2009-01-01

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from April 13 to 17, 2009. This Legislative Review reports that: (1) key bills move to conference committees. These bills are SB 2003 (the North Dakota University System (NDUS) budget bill), SB 2038 (the flexibility with accountability legislation), and…

An Analysis of Senate Bill 170, Ohio's Plan to Equalize School Finance.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cornett, Charles F.

This document analyzes specific provisions of the Ohio bill that attempts to revise the state's system of school finance. The bill attempts to resolve differences in valuation, tax rate, and wealth while providing basic educational services as well as services to nonpublic schools and to handicapped and special students. On the negative side, the…

An Analysis of the Tuition Advance Fund Bill.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Washington, DC. National Inst. of Independent Colleges and Universities.

The Tuition Advance Fund (TAF) bill is analyzed on theoretical economic grounds, and forecasts of the net costs of the proposed program up to 1990 are offered. The TAF bill proposes the establishment of a new system of college loans as an addition to existing programs to allow students to borrow tuition plus an allowance for other costs. Novel…

41 CFR 109-40.5004 - Government bills of lading.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Management Regulations System (Continued) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS AVIATION... officer to issue such Government bills of lading (see Title V, U.S. Government Accounting Office Policy...

41 CFR 109-40.5004 - Government bills of lading.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Management Regulations System (Continued) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS AVIATION... officer to issue such Government bills of lading (see Title V, U.S. Government Accounting Office Policy...

An Analysis Of Cyber Security And How It Is Affecting A Contract Writing System, Seaport

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

CONTRACT WRITING SYSTEM, SEAPORT June 2016 By: Bill Turner Daniel Belcher Danielle Allen Advisors: Raymond Jones Stacy McQuage...A CONTRACT WRITING SYSTEM, SEAPORT 5. FUNDING NUMBERS 6. AUTHOR(S) Bill Turner, Daniel Belcher, & Danielle Allen 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S...business support for the DOD—specifically, the contract writing system SeaPort. Is cybersecurity becoming too restrictive, making the ability to support the

Development of a module for point-of-care charge capture and submission using an anesthesia information management system.

PubMed

Reich, David L; Kahn, Ronald A; Wax, David; Palvia, Tanuj; Galati, Maria; Krol, Marina

2006-07-01

The use of electronic charge vouchers in anesthesia practice is limited, and the effects on practice management are unreported. The authors hypothesized that the new billing technology would improve the effectiveness of the billing interface and enhance financial practice management measures. A custom application was created to extract billing elements from the anesthesia information management system. The application incorporates business rules to determine whether individual cases have all required elements for a complete and compliant bill. The metrics of charge lag and days in accounts receivable were assessed before and after the implementation of the electronic charge voucher system. The average charge lag decreased by 7.3 days after full implementation. The total days in accounts receivable, controlling for fee schedule changes and credit balances, decreased by 10.1 days after implementation, representing a one-time revenue gain equivalent to 3.0% of total annual receipts. There are additional ongoing cost savings related to reduction of personnel and expenses related to paper charge voucher handling. Anesthesia information management systems yield financial and operational benefits by speeding up the revenue cycle and by reducing direct costs and compliance risks related to the billing and collection processes. The observed reductions in charge lag and days in accounts receivable may be of benefit in calculating the return on investment that is attributable to the adoption of anesthesia information management systems and electronic charge transmission.

Pay as you throw

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dahlen, Lisa, E-mail: lisa.dahlen@ltu.s; Lagerkvist, Anders

2010-01-15

Householders' response to weight-based billing for the collection of household waste was investigated with the aim of providing decision support for waste management policies. Three questions were addressed: How much and what kind of information on weight-based billing is discernible in generic Swedish waste collection statistics? Why do local authorities implement weight-based billing, and how do they perceive the results? and, Which strengths and weaknesses of weight-based billing have been observed on the local level? The study showed that municipalities with pay-by-weight schemes collected 20% less household waste per capita than other municipalities. Surprisingly, no part of this difference couldmore » be explained by higher recycling rates. Nevertheless, the majority of waste management professionals were convinced that recycling had increased as a result of the billing system. A number of contradicting strengths and weaknesses of weight-based billing were revealed.« less

Migration of the Japanese healthcare enterprise from a financial to integrated management: strategy and architecture.

PubMed

Akiyama, M

2001-01-01

The Hospital Information System (HIS) has been positioned as the hub of the healthcare information management architecture. In Japan, the billing system assigns an "insurance disease names" to performed exams based on the diagnosis type. Departmental systems provide localized, departmental services, such as order receipt and diagnostic reporting, but do not provide patient demographic information. The system above has many problems. The departmental system's terminals and the HIS's terminals are not integrated. Duplicate data entry introduces errors and increases workloads. Order and exam data managed by the HIS can be sent to the billing system, but departmental data cannot usually be entered. Additionally, billing systems usually keep departmental data for only a short time before it is deleted. The billing system provides payment based on what is entered. The billing system is oriented towards diagnoses. Most importantly, the system is geared towards generating billing reports rather than at providing high-quality patient care. The role of the application server is that of a mediator between system components. Data and events generated by system components are sent to the application server that routes them to appropriate destinations. It also records all system events, including state changes to clinical data, access of clinical data and so on. Finally, the Resource Management System identifies all system resources available to the enterprise. The departmental systems are responsible for managing data and clinical processes at a departmental level. The client interacts with the system via the application server, which provides a general set of system-level functions. The system is implemented using current technologies CORBA and HTTP. System data is collected by the application server and assembled into XML documents for delivery to clients. Clients can access these URLs using standard HTTP clients, since each department provides an HTTP compliant web-server. We have implemented an integrated system communicating via CORBA middleware, consisting of an application server, endoscopy departmental server, pathology departmental server and wrappered legacy HIS. We have found this new approach solves the problems outlined earlier. It provides the services needed to ensure that data is never lost and is always available, that events that occur in the hospital are always captured, and that resources are managed and tracked effectively. Finally, it reduces costs, raises efficiency, increases the quality of patient care, and ultimately saves lives. Now, we are going to integrate all remaining hospital departments, and ultimately, all hospital functions.

Hackers ring up big phone bills for hospitals.

PubMed

Gardner, E

1992-11-02

A big telephone bill--possibly in six figures--can be a painful way for a hospital to find out its phone system isn't secure. When unusually large long-distance bills start to show up, chances are a professional telephone hacker has broken in. According to experts, one in 15 businesses has been victimized by long-distance toll fraud, and loss estimates range from $900 million to $4 billion a year.

The big hurt: Trauma system funding in today's health care environment.

PubMed

Geehan, Douglas

2010-01-01

Trauma systems provide effective care of the injured patient but require major financial costs in readiness and availability of the extensive trauma team and specialized equipment. Traditional billing and collection practices do not fully recoup these costs. Effective use of the standard billing system is vital to the stability of a trauma system; however, a system wide funding mechanism provides an optimal, stable foundation. Efforts to provide sustainable trauma system funding are ongoing. Numerous state initiatives have been successful in funding trauma systems but a universal solution has yet to be found.

RadNet Air Data From Billings, MT

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page presents radiation air monitoring and air filter analysis data for Billings, MT from EPA's RadNet system. RadNet is a nationwide network of monitoring stations that measure radiation in air, drinking water and precipitation.

Impact of Alternative Rate Structures on Distributed Solar Customer Electricity Bills

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McLaren, Joyce A

Electric utilities are increasingly proposing changes to residential rate structures, in order to address concerns about their inability to recover fixed system costs from customers with grid connected distributed generation. The most common proposals have been to increase fixed charges, set minimum bills or instigate residential demand charges. This presentation provides results of an analysis to explore how these rate design alternatives impact electricity bills for PV and non-PV customers.

The New Departure Debate Surrounding Congressional Efforts to Create a National System of Education, 1871-1889

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Groen, Mark

2007-01-01

Congressman George Frisbie Hoar of Massachusetts introduced a bill "to establish a system of national education" on February 25, 1870. This bill, and others that followed, opened an acrimonious political debate that lasted for twenty years. The opening salvos of that debate, and the regional issues of ethnicity and religion that framed…

Landsat commercialization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richman, Barbara T.

1984-04-01

The House of Representatives will soon vote on a bill that outlines steps to commercialize the land remote-sensing system. The bill follows attempts last year to commercialize both the land and meteorological remote sensing satellite systems. Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has received bids from seven private companies interested in operating Landsat. The bids resulted from a request for proposals issued by the agency earlier this year. Commercialization of the meteorological satellite system was blocked in November.

A bill to establish a safety performance rating system for motorcoach services and operations.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY

2011-12-16

Senate - 12/16/2011 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Bill Calculator V1.0

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

2002-08-19

Utitlity tariffs vary significantly from utility to utility. Each utility has its own rates and sets of rules by which bills are calculated. The Bill Calculator reconstructs the tariff based on these rules, stored in data tables, and access the appropriate charges for a given energy consumption and demand. The software reconstructs the tariff logic from the rules stored in data tables. Changes are tallied as the logic is reconstructed. This is essentially an accounting program. The main limitation is on the time to search for each tariff element. It is currently on O(N) search. Also, since the Bill calculatormore » first stores all tariffs in an array and then reads the array to reconstruct a specific tariff, the memory limitatins of a particular system would limit the number of tariffs that could be handled. This tool allows a user to calculate a bill from any sampled utility without prior knowledge of the tariff logic or structure. The peculiarities of the tariff logic are stored in data tables and manged by the Bill Calculator software. This version of the software is implemented as a VB module that operates within Microsoft Excel. Input data tables are stored in Excel worksheets. In this version the Bill Calculator functions can be assessed through Excel as user defined worksheet functions. Bill Calculator can calculate approximately 50,000 bills in less than 30 minutes.« less

[Reviewing the shared strategy health bill: further measures to meet the structural challenges of the health system].

PubMed

Lombrail, Pierre

2014-01-01

This article reviews the draft health bill entitled "Federate health professionals around a shared strategy", currently submitted for consultation in the context of the national health strategy in France. This bill comprises innovative measures for prevention and health care in France. In particular, it is designed to develop, strengthen and structure the prevention sector, especially in children and young people. It is also designed to organize health care trajectories and acquire the necessary tools to promote their development. However, the bill sometimes presents limited ambitions in terms of objectives and means. In particular, the project comprises almost none of the necessary actions on the social determinants of health. Overall, the orientations of this bill represent a first major step towards a health policy in France beyond the field of health care. However, we must remain vigilant concerning application of these orientations in the process of elaboration of the bill and its related regulations, and implementation of the national health strategy.

A bill to redesignate the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System located at 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard in Bay Pines, Florida, as the "C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center".

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL

2013-10-28

Senate - 10/30/2013 Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-280. (All Actions) Notes: For further action, see H.R.3302, which became Public Law 113-49 on 11/13/2013. Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Low threshold optical bistability in one-dimensional gratings based on graphene plasmonics.

PubMed

Guo, Jun; Jiang, Leyong; Jia, Yue; Dai, Xiaoyu; Xiang, Yuanjiang; Fan, Dianyuan

2017-03-20

Optical bistability of graphene surface plasmon is investigated numerically, using grating coupling method at normal light incidence. The linear surface plasmon resonance is strongly dependent on Femi-level of graphene, hence it can be tuned in a large wavelength range. Due to the field enhancement of graphene surface plasmon resonance and large third-order nonlinear response of graphene, a low-threshold optical hysteresis has been observed. The threshold value with 20MW/cm² and response time with 1.7ps have been verified. Especially, it is found that this optical bistability phenomenon is angular insensitivity for near 15° incident angle. The threshold of optical bistability can be further lowered to 0.5MW/cm² by using graphene nanoribbons, and the response time is also shorten to 800fs. We believe that our results will find potential applications in bistable devices and all-optical switching from mid-IR to THz range.

Improved interfacial and electrical properties of GaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors with HfTiON as gate dielectric and TaON as passivation interlayer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, L. S.; Xu, J. P.; Zhu, S. Y.; Huang, Y.; Lai, P. T.

2013-08-01

The interfacial and electrical properties of sputtered HfTiON on sulfur-passivated GaAs with or without TaON as interfacial passivation layer (IPL) are investigated. Experimental results show that the GaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor with HfTiON/TaON stacked gate dielectric annealed at 600 °C exhibits low interface-state density (1.0 × 1012 cm-2 eV-1), small gate leakage current (7.3 × 10-5 A cm-2 at Vg = Vfb + 1 V), small capacitance equivalent thickness (1.65 nm), and large equivalent dielectric constant (26.2). The involved mechanisms lie in the fact that the TaON IPL can effectively block the diffusions of Hf, Ti, and O towards GaAs surface and suppress the formation of interfacial As-As bonds, Ga-/As-oxides, thus unpinning the Femi level at the TaON/GaAs interface and improving the interface quality and electrical properties of the device.

Prediction of the diffuse-field transmission loss of interior natural-ventilation openings and silencers.

PubMed

Bibby, Chris; Hodgson, Murray

2017-01-01

The work reported here, part of a study on the performance and optimal design of interior natural-ventilation openings and silencers ("ventilators"), discusses the prediction of the acoustical performance of such ventilators, and the factors that affect it. A wave-based numerical approach-the finite-element method (FEM)-is applied. The development of a FEM technique for the prediction of ventilator diffuse-field transmission loss is presented. Model convergence is studied with respect to mesh, frequency-sampling and diffuse-field convergence. The modeling technique is validated by way of predictions and the comparison of them to analytical and experimental results. The transmission-loss performance of crosstalk silencers of four shapes, and the factors that affect it, are predicted and discussed. Performance increases with flow-path length for all silencer types. Adding elbows significantly increases high-frequency transmission loss, but does not increase overall silencer performance which is controlled by low-to-mid-frequency transmission loss.

Legislative Review. A Look at Higher Education in Weeks 1 and 2: January 10-21, 2011

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Dakota University System, 2011

2011-01-01

This issue of "Legislative Review" takes a look at the news in higher education from January 10 to 21, 2011. This Legislative Review reports that: (1) The 11 North Dakota University System campuses provided testimony on HB 1003, the University System budget bill, Monday through Thursday, January 17-20, 2011; (2) SB 2056, a bill to…

U.S. SENATOR BILL NELSON AT FRICTION STIR WELD LAB

NASA Image and Video Library

2016-02-12

U.S. SENATOR BILL NELSON OF FLORIDA, RIGHT, LISTENS AS ANDY SCHORR, ASSISTANT MANAGER FOR SPACECRAFT/PAYLOAD INTEGRATION AND EVOLUTION, EXPLAINS THE PROGRESS OF NASA'S SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM DURING A VISIT TO NASA'S MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER ON FEB. 12, 2016

A bill to amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to establish a market-driven inventory system.

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Cowan, William M. [D-MA

2013-04-17

Senate - 04/17/2013 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

41 CFR 109-40.5003 - Commercial bills of lading.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Commercial bills of lading. 109-40.5003 Section 109-40.5003 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property Management Regulations System (Continued) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS AVIATION...

Integrating Bill of Materials Data Into the Armys Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-17

management with a concentration in human resources from Virginia State University and an MBA from Averett University, and he is a public policy...57 Army Sustainment November–December 2015 As the Army moves to an en-terprise resource planning... Resource Planning Systems  By LeQuan M. Hylton TOOLS The fielding of Global Combat Support System–Army has changed the way the Army manages bill

Robust and Effective Component-based Banknote Recognition for the Blind

PubMed Central

Hasanuzzaman, Faiz M.; Yang, Xiaodong; Tian, YingLi

2012-01-01

We develop a novel camera-based computer vision technology to automatically recognize banknotes for assisting visually impaired people. Our banknote recognition system is robust and effective with the following features: 1) high accuracy: high true recognition rate and low false recognition rate, 2) robustness: handles a variety of currency designs and bills in various conditions, 3) high efficiency: recognizes banknotes quickly, and 4) ease of use: helps blind users to aim the target for image capture. To make the system robust to a variety of conditions including occlusion, rotation, scaling, cluttered background, illumination change, viewpoint variation, and worn or wrinkled bills, we propose a component-based framework by using Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF). Furthermore, we employ the spatial relationship of matched SURF features to detect if there is a bill in the camera view. This process largely alleviates false recognition and can guide the user to correctly aim at the bill to be recognized. The robustness and generalizability of the proposed system is evaluated on a dataset including both positive images (with U.S. banknotes) and negative images (no U.S. banknotes) collected under a variety of conditions. The proposed algorithm, achieves 100% true recognition rate and 0% false recognition rate. Our banknote recognition system is also tested by blind users. PMID:22661884

The Canadian ISTAR Information-Centric Collaborative Workspace Concept. Paper 3: The Info-Centric Collaborative Workspace from a Systems Perspective

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-09-01

sympatico.caGuy ThériaultGeneral Dynamics Canada Ltd Charlie.jamieson@lmco.comCharlie JamiesonLockheed Martin Canada D.lacroix@oerlikon.caDenis LacroixOerlikon Contraves Inc Bill.wright@oculusinfo.comBill WrightOculus

41 CFR 102-118.290 - Must every electronic and paper transportation bill undergo a prepayment audit?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... and paper transportation bill undergo a prepayment audit? 102-118.290 Section 102-118.290 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property Management Regulations System (Continued) FEDERAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION TRANSPORTATION 118-TRANSPORTATION PAYMENT AND AUDIT Prepayment Audits of Transportation...

41 CFR 102-118.405 - Are my agency's prepayment audited transportation bills subject to periodic postpayment audit...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... prepayment audited transportation bills subject to periodic postpayment audit oversight from the GSA Audit... Management Regulations System (Continued) FEDERAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION TRANSPORTATION 118-TRANSPORTATION PAYMENT AND AUDIT Prepayment Audits of Transportation Services Waivers from Mandatory Prepayment Audit...

76 FR 58202 - TRICARE; TRICARE Sanction Authority for Third-Party Billing Agents

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-20

..., TRICARE Management Activity (TMA), or designee, with the authority to sanction third-party billing agents... instructions for submitting comments. Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 4800 Mark Center Drive.... Joy Saly, TRICARE Management Activity, Medical Benefits and Reimbursement Branch, telephone (303) 676...

An incentive plan for professional fee collections at an indigent-care teaching hospital.

PubMed

Stewart, M G; Jones, D B; Garson, A T

2001-11-01

The authors describe the implementation and development of an incentive plan to improve professional fee collections at an indigent-care teaching hospital. They theorized that an incentive plan based on relative value unit (RVU) productivity would increase billings and collections of professional fees. Unique RVU targets were set for individual services based on the number of faculty full-time equivalents and average reported productivity for academic physicians by specialty. The incentive plan was based on the level of expected faculty billings, measured in RVUs, for each department. A "base + incentive" model was used, with the base budget being distributed monthly throughout the year, and the incentive held as a "withhold" to be paid at the year's end only if the billing target in RVUs was met. Additionally, a task force worked with physician billing office and the hospital to improve collections. In the first year after implementation of the system was in place, important increases were noted in total RVU productivity (30.5% over the previous year) and in collections (49.5% over the previous year). Sixteen of 23 departments exceeded their incentive targets, and it was possible to make distributions of professional fees to those departments, to be used within the hospital system to enhance clinical services. Moreover, the plan created an overall positive attitude toward billings and documentation of faculty activities. The authors believe that this kind of incentive plan will be increasingly important for academic faculty working in public hospital systems.

Using support vector machines to detect medical fraud and abuse.

PubMed

Francis, Charles; Pepper, Noah; Strong, Homer

2011-01-01

This paper examines the architecture and efficacy of Quash, an automated medical bill processing system capable of bill routing and abuse detection. Quash is designed to be used in conjunction with human auditors and a standard bill review software platform to provide a complete cost containment solution for medical claims. The primary contribution of Quash is to provide a real world speed up for medical fraud detection experts in their work. There will be a discussion of implementation details and preliminary experimental results. In this paper we are entirely focused on medical data and billing patterns that occur within the United States, though these results should be applicable to any financial transaction environment in which structured coding data can be mined.

41 CFR 102-118.425 - Is my agency allowed to perform a postpayment audit on our transportation bills?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... perform a postpayment audit on our transportation bills? 102-118.425 Section 102-118.425 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property Management Regulations System (Continued) FEDERAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION TRANSPORTATION 118-TRANSPORTATION PAYMENT AND AUDIT Postpayment Transportation Audits § 102-118...

41 CFR 102-118.430 - What information must be on my agency's transportation bills submitted for a postpayment audit?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... on my agency's transportation bills submitted for a postpayment audit? 102-118.430 Section 102-118.430 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property Management Regulations System (Continued) FEDERAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION TRANSPORTATION 118-TRANSPORTATION PAYMENT AND AUDIT Postpayment...

41 CFR 102-118.295 - What are the limited exceptions to every bill undergoing a prepayment audit?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... exceptions to every bill undergoing a prepayment audit? 102-118.295 Section 102-118.295 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property Management Regulations System (Continued) FEDERAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION TRANSPORTATION 118-TRANSPORTATION PAYMENT AND AUDIT Prepayment Audits of Transportation Services...

41 CFR 102-118.320 - What information must be on transportation bills that have completed my agency's prepayment audit?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... on transportation bills that have completed my agency's prepayment audit? 102-118.320 Section 102-118.320 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Property Management Regulations System (Continued) FEDERAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION TRANSPORTATION 118-TRANSPORTATION PAYMENT AND AUDIT Prepayment Audits of...

A bill to amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to include a system for indeterminate loss insurance claims, and for other purposes.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS

2011-05-26

Senate - 05/26/2011 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

A bill to amend chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, to modify the computation for part-time service under the Civil Service Retirement System.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH

2009-02-25

Senate - 04/12/2010 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 341. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

12 CFR 607.9 - Reimbursable billings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 6 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Reimbursable billings. 607.9 Section 607.9...-System entities each year subsequent to the issuance of their respective Reports of Examination. Amounts... remains unpaid at close of business on the due date, such amount or portion shall be considered delinquent...

Adjustment of inpatient care reimbursement for nursing intensity.

PubMed

Welton, John M; Zone-Smith, Laurie; Fischer, Mary H

2006-11-01

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun an ambitious recalibration of the inpatient prospective payment system, the first since its introduction in 1983. Unfortunately, inpatient nursing care has been overlooked in the new payment system and continues to be treated as a fixed cost and billed at a set per-diem "room and board" fee despite the known variability of nursing intensity across different care settings and diagnoses. This article outlines the historical influences regarding costing, billing, and reimbursement of inpatient nursing care and provides contemporary evidence about the variability of nursing intensity and costs at acute care hospitals in the United States. A remedy is proposed to overcome the existing limitations of the Inpatient Prospective Payment System by creating a new nursing cost center and nursing intensity adjustment by DRG for each routine-and intensive-care day of stay to allow independent costing, billing, and reimbursement of inpatient nursing care.

Reflections on My Time in the Wolfe Den

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stahl, H. Philip

2012-01-01

The three and a half years I spent as a member of the Infrared Group were transitional. Bill Wolfe was the nexus. Bill played a role in getting me to Arizona and keeping me there. He helped me advance professionally and taught me how to think like a systems engineer. He played a central role in my effort to earn a PhD. And, he helped start me in SPIE. This paper contains my personal and honest reflections on the impact which Bill Wolfe has had on me.

Development of an integrated utilities billing management system for the Navy Public Works Center San Diego, California

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Monsabert, S. de; Lemmer, H.; Dinwiddie, D.

1995-10-01

In the past, most buildings, structures, and ship visits were not metered, and flat estimates were calculated based on various estimating techniques. The decomposition process was further complicated by the fact that many of the meters monitor consumption values only and do not provide demand or time of use data. This method of billing provides no incentives to the PWC customers to implement energy conservation programs, including load shedding, Energy Monitoring and Control Systems (EMCS), building shell improvements, low flow toilets and shower heads, efficient lighting systems, or other energy savings alternatives. Similarly, the method had no means of adjustmentmore » for seasonal or climatic variations outside of the norm. As an alternative to flat estimates, the Customized Utility Billing Integrated Control (CUBIC) system and the Graphical Data Input System (GDIS) were developed to better manage the data to the major claimant area users based on utilities usage factors, building size, weather data, and hours of operation. GDIS is a graphical database that assists PWC engineers in the development and maintenance of single-line utility diagrams of the facilities and meters. It functions as a drawing associate system and is written in AutoLISP for AutoCAD version 12. GDIS interprets the drawings and provides the facility-to-meter and meter-to-meter hierarchy data that are used by the CUBIC to allocate the billings. This paper reviews the design, development and implementation aspects of CUBIC/GDIS and discusses the benefits of this improved utilities management system.« less

Dynamic CDM strategies in an EHR environment.

PubMed

Bieker, Michael; Bailey, Spencer

2012-02-01

A dynamic charge description master (CDM) integrates information from clinical ancillary systems into the charge-capture process, so an organization can reduce its reliance on the patient accounting system as the sole source of billing information. By leveraging the information from electronic ancillary systems, providers can eliminate the need for paper charge-capture forms and see increased accuracy and efficiency in the maintenance of billing information. Before embarking on a dynamic CDM strategy, organizations should first determine their goals for implementing an EHR system, include revenue cycle leaders on the EHR implementation team, and carefully weigh the pros and cons of CDM design decisions.

A bill to rescind amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2013 for the Department of Defense for the Medium Extended Air Defense System, and for other purposes.

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH

2013-04-09

Senate - 04/10/2013 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 35. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Automating payroll, billing, and medical records. Using technology to do more with less.

PubMed

Vetter, E

1995-08-01

As home care agencies grow, so does the need to streamline the paperwork involved in running an agency. One agency found a way to reduce its payroll, billing, and medical records paperwork by implementing an automated, image-based data collection system that saves time, money, and paper.

Toward a New Bill of Rights.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Urban League, Inc., New York, NY.

The theme of the 1976 Urban League Conference was "a new bill of rights" for all Americans. Rights of blacks and other minority groups were particularly emphasized. The subject of the right to black representation in the American political system was addressed by Samuel Du Bois Cook. The keynote address by Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. considered such…

41 CFR 102-117.85 - What is the difference between a Government bill of lading (GBL) and a bill of lading?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What is the difference... Contracts and Property Management Federal Property Management Regulations System (Continued) FEDERAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION TRANSPORTATION 117-TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT Acquiring Transportation or Related...

31 CFR 357.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... BILLS HELD IN TREASURY/RESERVE AUTOMATED DEBT ENTRY SYSTEM (TRADES) AND LEGACY TREASURY DIRECT General... the claimant for another Person to hold, transfer, or deal with the Security. Bill means an obligation... an entity described in section 19(b)(1)(A)(i)-(vi) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(1)(A...

31 CFR 357.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... BILLS HELD IN TREASURY/RESERVE AUTOMATED DEBT ENTRY SYSTEM (TRADES) AND LEGACY TREASURY DIRECT General... the claimant for another Person to hold, transfer, or deal with the Security. Bill means an obligation... an entity described in section 19(b)(1)(A)(i)-(vi) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(1)(A...

31 CFR 357.20 - Securities account in Legacy Treasury Direct ®.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... number. (c) If a bill is transferred from one Legacy Treasury Direct account to another, the price shown...-ENTRY TREASURY BONDS, NOTES AND BILLS HELD IN TREASURY/RESERVE AUTOMATED DEBT ENTRY SYSTEM (TRADES) AND... securities portfolio associated with an account master record. (c) Account master record. In order for a...

31 CFR 357.20 - Securities account in Legacy Treasury Direct ®.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... number. (c) If a bill is transferred from one Legacy Treasury Direct account to another, the price shown... BOOK-ENTRY TREASURY BONDS, NOTES AND BILLS HELD IN TREASURY/RESERVE AUTOMATED DEBT ENTRY SYSTEM (TRADES... the securities portfolio associated with an account master record. (c) Account master record. In order...

31 CFR 357.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., NOTES AND BILLS HELD IN TREASURY/RESERVE AUTOMATED DEBT ENTRY SYSTEM (TRADES) AND LEGACY TREASURY DIRECT... the rights of the claimant for another Person to hold, transfer, or deal with the Security. Bill means... means an entity described in section 19(b)(1)(A)(i)-(vi) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(1...

31 CFR 357.20 - Securities account in Legacy Treasury Direct ®.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... number. (c) If a bill is transferred from one Legacy Treasury Direct account to another, the price shown...-ENTRY TREASURY BONDS, NOTES AND BILLS HELD IN TREASURY/RESERVE AUTOMATED DEBT ENTRY SYSTEM (TRADES) AND... securities portfolio associated with an account master record. (c) Account master record. In order for a...

31 CFR 357.20 - Securities account in Legacy Treasury Direct ®.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... number. (c) If a bill is transferred from one Legacy Treasury Direct account to another, the price shown...-ENTRY TREASURY BONDS, NOTES AND BILLS HELD IN TREASURY/RESERVE AUTOMATED DEBT ENTRY SYSTEM (TRADES) AND... securities portfolio associated with an account master record. (c) Account master record. In order for a...

Access to Electronic Information, Services, and Networks: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Library Association, Chicago, IL. Office of Intellectual Freedom.

The American Library Association (ALA) expresses the basic principles of librarianship in its "Code of Ethics" and in the "Library Bill of Rights" and its interpretations. All library system and network policies, procedures or regulations relating to electronic resources and services should be scrutinized for potential…

The GI Bill of Rights Legacy to American Colleges.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ford, Brenda J.; Miller, Michael T.

The Servicemen's Readjustment Act, nicknamed the "GI Bill of Rights," influenced a social change in America and its higher education system that could be compared to that caused by the Industrial Revolution. Making college a realistic expectation for many Americans, it also made future generations look upon a college education as an…

Collaborative Governance: Structures for Success. The California and Yosemite Community College District Experience.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Draper, Brice; Van Groningen, Tom

Assembly Bill (AB) 1725 addresses the mission, functions, governance, finance, staffing, programs, services, and accountability of the California Community Colleges (CCC). Many of the bill's recommendations place emphasis on the 107 community colleges, the CCC Chancellor's Office, and the Board of Governors (BOG) becoming a single system of…

New York governor signs bill to track HIV cases by name.

PubMed

1998-07-24

Senate Bill 4422-B, a partner notification bill that uses name-based reporting to track HIV cases, was signed by New York Governor George Pataki on July 7, 1998. The new legislation requires physicians to report the names of all HIV-positive patients to the State Department of Health so that public officials can notify spouses, sexual partners, and needle-sharing partners of possible exposure. This information will become part of a State-wide case surveillance system. Patient advocacy and civil liberties groups did not support the bill, stating that it would erode the physician-patient relationship by breaching confidentiality. The new legislation does not apply to anonymous testing sites, although once individuals begin HIV-related medical treatment, their name will be sent to the State.

HIV in military.

PubMed

1996-05-31

The House of Representatives approved a defense authorization bill that requires the Pentagon to discharge service members who test positive for HIV antibodies. This is the second measure of its kind. Last year, Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-CA) pushed through Congress a similar measure that was repealed after encountering public opposition. President Clinton said he will veto the defense bill in its current form. The bill provides $13 billion in spending beyond the amount the Pentagon requested, resurrects plans for the Star Wars missile defense system, and rescinds Clinton's don't ask, don't tell policy toward gay men and lesbians in the military. Rep. Peter Torkildsen (R-MA) is confident that the HIV provision can be stricken when the bill goes to a House-Senate conference committee in a few weeks.

Valley Transit District: specialized transportation services for the elderly, handicapped, and low-income in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kocur, G.

1979-02-01

A multifaceted demonstration with special emphasis on service to the elderly and handicapped has been operating in the Lower Naugatuck Valley of Connecticut since January 1973. The system has included limited fixed-route service, demand responsive door-to-door service, subscription service, and contract bus service for social-service agencies and other groups in the Valley. An automated fare-collection system using credit cards and monthly billings to eliminate the need for cash payment was used from 1973 to 1975. Fare subsidization for handicapped and elderly citizens is facilitated by this computerized system which bills sponsoring agencies according to the use of the transportation servicesmore » by their clients during the previous billing period. The user-side subsidies and monthly billings were continued after 1975 using manual methods. Of the target population of 12,000 individuals, 600 are regular, heavy users of the Valley Transit District (VTD), with few of the others using the system at all. VTD users are primarily low-income, autoless elderly from small households. The system operates 10 vehicles daily to provide its services; the average hourly cost is near $12. The system has earned revenues equal to almost 50% of its costs, although 40% of its revenues have been derived from user-side subsidy funds. Finally, VTD has withstood several challenges in regulatory and institutional areas from private bus operators and has slowly expanded its services throughout the demonstration. It is currently operating in post-demonstration status under ongoing funding.« less

Arguments for amending smoke-free legislation in U.S. states to restrict use of electronic nicotine delivery systems.

PubMed

Phan, Tiffany M; Bianco, Cezanne A; Nikitin, Dmitriy; Timberlake, David S

2018-03-01

The uneven diffusion of local and state laws restricting the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) in the United States may be a function of inconclusive scientific evidence and lack of guidance from the federal government. The objective of this study was to assess whether the rationale for amending clean indoor air acts (CIAAs) is being conflated by issues that are not directly relevant to protecting the health of ENDS non-users. Online sources were used in identifying bills ( n  = 25) that were presented in U.S. state legislatures from January 2009 to December 2015. The bills were categorized into one of three groups: 1) bills amending comprehensive CIAAs ( n  = 11), 2) bills prohibiting use of ENDS in places frequented by youth ( n  = 5), and 3) remaining bills that varied between the two categories ( n  = 9). Arguments presented in committee hearings were coded as scientific, public health, economic, enforcement, freedom, or regulatory. Arguments pertaining to amendment of clean indoor air acts spanned several categories, many of which were not directly relevant to the aims of the legislation. This finding could assist lawmakers and expert witnesses in making arguments that yield greater success in amending legislation. Alternatively, inconclusive scientific data on the hazards of ENDS aerosols might encourage lawmakers to propose legislation that prohibits ENDS use in places frequented by youths.

Reform of the Buy-and-Bill System for Outpatient Chemotherapy Care Is Inevitable: Perspectives from an Economist, a Realpolitik, and an Oncologist

PubMed Central

Polite, Blase; Conti, Rena M.; Ward, Jeffery C.

2015-01-01

OVERVIEW Treating patients with cancer with infused or injected oncolytics is a core component of outpatient oncology practice. Currently, practices purchase drugs and then bill insurers, colloquially called “buy and bill.” Reimbursement for these drugs is the largest source of gross revenue for oncology practices, and as the prices of cancer drugs have grown over time, these purchases have had significant impact on the financial health of practices and pose a risk that jeopardizes the ability of many practices to operate and provide patient care. Medicare Part B spending on drugs is under political scrutiny because of federal spending pressures, and the margin between buy and bill, lowered to 6% by the Medicare Modernization Act and further decreased to 4.3% by sequestration, is a convenient and popular target of budgetary discussions and proposals, scored to save billions of dollars over 10-year budget windows for each percentage-point reduction. Alternatives to the buy-and-bill system have been proposed to include invoice pricing, least costly alternative reimbursement, bundling of drugs into episode-of-care payments, shifting Part B drugs to the Medicare Part D benefit, and revision of the failed Competitive Acquisition Program. This article brings the perspectives of policy makers, health care economists, and providers together to discuss this major challenge in oncology payment reform. PMID:25993241

Reform of the Buy-and-Bill System for Outpatient Chemotherapy Care Is Inevitable: Perspectives from an Economist, a Realpolitik, and an Oncologist.

PubMed

Polite, Blase; Conti, Rena M; Ward, Jeffery C

2015-01-01

Treating patients with cancer with infused or injected oncolytics is a core component of outpatient oncology practice. Currently, practices purchase drugs and then bill insurers, colloquially called "buy and bill." Reimbursement for these drugs is the largest source of gross revenue for oncology practices, and as the prices of cancer drugs have grown over time, these purchases have had significant impact on the financial health of practices and pose a risk that jeopardizes the ability of many practices to operate and provide patient care. Medicare Part B spending on drugs is under political scrutiny because of federal spending pressures, and the margin between buy and bill, lowered to 6% by the Medicare Modernization Act and further decreased to 4.3% by sequestration, is a convenient and popular target of budgetary discussions and proposals, scored to save billions of dollars over 10-year budget windows for each percentage-point reduction. Alternatives to the buy-and-bill system have been proposed to include invoice pricing, least costly alternative reimbursement, bundling of drugs into episode-of-care payments, shifting Part B drugs to the Medicare Part D benefit, and revision of the failed Competitive Acquisition Program. This article brings the perspectives of policy makers, health care economists, and providers together to discuss this major challenge in oncology payment reform.

Landsat bill passes in Congress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richman, Barbara T.

1984-04-01

Commercialization of the land remote-sensing system is virtually guaranteed with the successful completion last week of an informal conference on the differences in the House of Representatives and Senate versions of the Land Remote Sensing Commercialization Act (H.R. 5155). Moreover, the House ratified the compromise version on June 28; the Senate was expected to ratify the bill before the July 4 recess. The bill will then be sent to President Ronald Reagan for his signature. Also on June 28, the Secretary of Commerce announced his selection for final contract negotiations of two of the seven bids received this spring for the operation of Landsat.

Divining the Impact on Education of an Australian Bill of Rights with and American Rod.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Birch, I. K. F.

1986-01-01

Explores the common law-bill of rights debate in Australia and the probable impacts of extending constitutional and statutory rights to the educational system. Closely examined are compulsory education, the courts' role, children's rights, and the law and education interface, with reference to equality and quality issues in the United States.…

A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to establish and administer an awards program recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees providing services to students in pre-kindergarten through higher education.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA

2010-07-26

Senate - 07/26/2010 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Beginning of the end? North Mississippi Health Services' settlement of uninsured billing issues raises questions about future of hospital lawsuits.

PubMed

Taylor, Mark

2004-08-09

The first settlement in the uninsured billing case could be the sign of a full surrender or just a single defection, healthcare legal experts say. North Mississippi Health Services made the agreement before attorney Richard Scruggs, left, and his firm filed legal action against the system.

Resources for Teachers on the Bill of Rights.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patrick, John J., Ed.; Leming, Robert S., Ed.

Ideas and information that can enhance education about the constitutional rights of individuals in U.S. history and the current system of government in the United States are included in this book. The resource guide contains nine distinct parts dealing with aspects of learning and teaching about the Bill of Rights in both elementary and secondary…

A bill to establish a research, development, and technology demonstration program to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in combined cycle and simple cycle power generation systems.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-21

2009-06-24

Senate - 12/02/2009 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Passed HouseHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

A bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of Illabot Creek in Skagit County, Washington, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA

2009-03-18

Senate - 07/22/2009 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Facing Race: 2006 Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity. California

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krajcer, Menachem; Johnson, Tammy

2006-01-01

This Legislative Report Card assesses how California's governor and Legislature have handled bills it says affected racial inequities--or might have if they had been signed into law. The report examines an eclectic collection of bills that addressed the minimum wage, the creation of a single-payer health care system and other issues in education,…

76 FR 18062 - U.S. Securities; Sale and Issue of Marketable Book-Entry Treasury Bills, Notes, and Bonds; Book...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-01

...; Sale and Issue of Marketable Book-Entry Treasury Bills, Notes, and Bonds; Book-Entry Treasury Bonds... longer be opened and transfers of securities from other book-entry systems will no longer be [email protected] . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Legacy Treasury Direct [supreg] is a book- entry, non...

A bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of Illabot Creek in Skagit County, Washington, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA

2011-05-05

Senate - 01/13/2012 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 281. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Interfacial and electrical properties of InGaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor with TiON/TaON multilayer composite gate dielectric

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, L. S.; Xu, J. P.; Liu, L.; Lu, H. H.; Lai, P. T.; Tang, W. M.

2015-03-01

InGaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors with composite gate dielectric consisting of Ti-based oxynitride (TiON)/Ta-based oxynitride (TaON) multilayer are fabricated by RF sputtering. The interfacial and electrical properties of the TiON/TaON/InGaAs and TaON/TiON/InGaAs MOS structures are investigated and compared. Experimental results show that the former exhibits lower interface-state density (1.0 × 1012 cm-2 eV-1 at midgap), smaller gate leakage current (9.5 × 10-5 A/cm2 at a gate voltage of 2 V), larger equivalent dielectric constant (19.8), and higher reliability under electrical stress than the latter. The involved mechanism lies in the fact that the ultrathin TaON interlayer deposited on the sulfur-passivated InGaAs surface can effectively reduce the defective states and thus unpin the Femi level at the TaON/InGaAs interface, improving the electrical properties of the device.

Absorption coefficients of silicon: A theoretical treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsai, Chin-Yi

2018-05-01

A theoretical model with explicit formulas for calculating the optical absorption and gain coefficients of silicon is presented. It incorporates direct and indirect interband transitions and considers the effects of occupied/unoccupied carrier states. The indirect interband transition is calculated from the second-order time-independent perturbation theory of quantum mechanics by incorporating all eight possible routes of absorption or emission of photons and phonons. Absorption coefficients of silicon are calculated from these formulas. The agreements and discrepancies among the calculated results, the Rajkanan-Singh-Shewchun (RSS) formula, and Green's data are investigated and discussed. For example, the RSS formula tends to overestimate the contributions of indirect transitions for cases with high photon energy. The results show that the state occupied/unoccupied effect is almost negligible for silicon absorption coefficients up to the onset of the optical gain condition where the energy separation of Quasi-Femi levels between electrons and holes is larger than the band-gap energy. The usefulness of using the physics-based formulas, rather than semi-empirical fitting ones, for absorption coefficients in theoretical studies of photovoltaic devices is also discussed.

Boundary-Layer Control: In Memory of Bill Reynolds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, John

2004-11-01

Professor Bill Reynolds (1933-2004) inspired many students and colleagues with his never-ending curiosity and thought-provoking ideas. Bill's relentless energy, together with his hallmark can-do character and do-it-yourself attitude, led to many seminal contributions to mechanical engineering in general, and fluid mechanics in particular. He has left a lasting impact on many of us, especially for those who had the privilege of working closely with him. Some of my current work on boundary-layer control, the use of neural networks in particular, were inspired by many discussions with Bill. He was among the first to see the potential of control-theoretic approaches for flow control, which has become the main thrust of my current research. Without his continued encouragement, I would not have been deeply involved in this line of research; and perhaps, we would not have seen the current flurry of research activities in applying modern control theories to flow control. In memory of Bill Reynolds, who himself has contributed much to flow control, an analysis of boundary-layer control from a linear system perspective will be presented.

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5743) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5854) making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5855) making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5325) making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Nugent, Richard B. [R-FL-5

2012-05-30

House - 05/31/2012 Pursuant to a previous special order, amendments numbered 4 and 6 printed in House Report 112-504 are modified to include amendatory instructions. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in HouseHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Legislative Review. A Look at Higher Education in Week 4: January 26-30, 2009

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Dakota University System, 2009

2009-01-01

This Legislative Review reports that: (1) HB 1348, a bill to permit concealed weapons at public events and places, including North Dakota University System (NDUS) campuses, was heard in the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee Friday, January 30. The State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) opposes this bill unless it is amended to…

A bill to amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to consider reconstruction and improvement of flood protection systems when establishing flood insurance rates.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA

2011-06-28

Senate - 06/28/2011 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Using the iPhone for Assistive Technology: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ford, Chelsea; Rabe, Karl

2011-01-01

Parent and teacher collaborated to use the Apple iPhone as assistive technology to meet the needs of Bill, a 20-year-old student in the Saline Young Adult program, part of the Saline Michigan School System. Bill has an intellectual disability and this technology provided an effective, flexible and moderate cost solution that helped him meet his…

Academic Advising, Remedial Courses, and Legislative Mandates: An Exploration of Academic Advising in Florida Community Colleges with Optional Developmental Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woods, Chenoa S.; Richard, Keith; Park, Toby; Tandberg, David; Hu, Shouping; Jones, Tamara Bertrand

2017-01-01

In this article we report on our exploration of academic advising practices at 19 community colleges in the Florida College System after the implementation of Senate Bill 1720. This bill made developmental education optional for many students and mandated that colleges provide academic advising for all new students. Descriptive statistics of…

Green Remediation: Army Policy and Implementation

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-05-01

efficiency of chosen remediation strategies • Select remediation approaches, such as phytoremediation , that reduce resource use and impact on air...Objective: Wastewater Recycling POC: Bill Brawner, bill.brawner@us.army.mil Green Remediation Practices: – Leachate from several landfills...accumulated and applied to land as irrigation – Wastewater used to reduce the pressure on freshwater resources – Leachate application system reduces CO2

Utopian dream: a new farm bill.

PubMed

Nestle, Marion

2012-01-01

In the fall of 2011, I taught a graduate food studies course at New York University devoted to the farm bill, a massive and massively opaque piece of legislation passed most recently in 2008 and up for renewal in 2012. The farm bill supports farmers, of course, but also specifies how the United States deals with such matters as conservation, forestry, energy policy, organic food production, international food aid, and domestic food assistance. My students came from programs in nutrition, food studies, public health, public policy, and law, all united in the belief that a smaller scale, more regionalized, and more sustainable food system would be healthier for people and the planet.

Planning and Implementing Immunization Billing Programs at State and Local Health Departments: Barriers and Possible Solutions.

PubMed

Corriero, Rosemary; Redmon, Ginger

Before participating in a project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most state and local health departments (LHDs) were not seeking reimbursement or being fully reimbursed by insurance plans for the cost of immunization services (including vaccine costs and administration fees) they provided to insured patients. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Billables Project was designed to enable state and LHDs to bill public and private insurance plans for immunization services provided to insured patients. Identify and describe key barriers state and LHDs may encounter while planning and implementing a billing program, as well as possible solutions for overcoming those barriers. This study used reports from Billables Project participants to explore barriers they encountered when planning and implementing a billing program and steps taken to address those barriers. Thirty-eight state immunization programs. Based on project participants' reports, barriers were noted in 7 categories: (1) funding and costs, (2) staff, (3) health department characteristics, (4) third-party payers and insurance plans, (5) software, (6) patient insurance status, and (7) other barriers. Possible solutions for overcoming those barriers included hiring or seeking external help, creating billing guides and training modules, streamlining workflows, and modifying existing software systems. Overcoming barriers during planning and implementation of a billing program can be challenging for state and LHDs, but the experiences and suggestions of past Billables Project participants can help guide future billing program efforts.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis on the legislative production relating to healthcare in passage in the National Congress in the years 2007 and 2008.

PubMed

Santos, Viviane Cristina dos; Ferraz, Marcos Bosi

2013-01-01

The Federal Constitution of 1988 allowed the National Congress to contribute towards formulation of new public policies. The objective of this study was to analyze the legislative production that dealt with health issues that was in passage in the National Congress between January 2007 and December 2008. Descriptive-exploratory cross-sectional study with quantitative and qualitative approaches, conducted in a federal university. The analysis material for the study comprised 144 draft bills that were classified and subsequently randomly evaluated by 155 professionals working within the healthcare system. The analysis showed that the Workers' Party (PT) and Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) were the parties that presented the largest proportions of the draft bills (12.5% and 11.1%); 25.4% of the draft bills were presented by congress members with academic qualifications within healthcare and only 1.4% of the draft bills became transformed into legal regulations. In questionnaire responses, 51.5% of the evaluators did not consider the draft bills to be viable, 40.6% did not consider them to be relevant and 52.5% said that if the draft bills were not approved it would not be harmful to Brazilian society. In analyzing the data from this study, it was noted that the legislative production relating to healthcare was low and the transformation rate from draft bill to legal regulation was negligible. The results from the evaluation showed that the quality of legislative production was impaired.

Medicare Advantage reforms: comparing House and Senate bills.

PubMed

Biles, Brian; Arnold, Grace

2009-12-01

The Medicare Advantage (MA) program, which enables Medicare beneficiaries to enjoy private health plan coverage, is a major element of the current health care reform discussion on Capitol Hill--in large part because payments to MA plans in 2009 are expected to run at least $11 billion more than traditional Medicare would have cost. While the pending Senate and House bills both endeavor to reduce these extra MA payments, their approaches are different. The bills also differ on other aspects of reforming the MA program, such as plans' allowable geographic areas, their risk-adjustment systems and reporting requirements, their potential bonuses for achieving high-quality care and providing good management, and their beneficiary protections. This issue brief compares the above and other provisions in the House and Senate bills, which have a common overall goal to improve the value that Medicare obtains for the dollars it spends

Insurance and billing concerns among patients seeking free and confidential sexually transmitted disease care: New York City sexually transmitted disease clinics 2012.

PubMed

Washburn, Kate; Goodwin, Chris; Pathela, Preeti; Blank, Susan

2014-07-01

Historically, New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics have operated completely free of charge but will soon begin billing patients for services. To inform billing strategies, we surveyed NYC DOHMH STD clinic patients in fall 2012 to examine response to the prospect of billing insurance and charging sliding-scale fees for services. A total of 5017 individuals were surveyed from all patients accessing clinic services between September and December 2012 at 8 NYC DOHMH STD clinics. The anonymous survey was provided at registration to all patients, in English or Spanish. The data were analyzed to determine patient insurance status and other characteristics related to billing for STD services. More than half of respondents (51.0%) were uninsured, and 42.3% were unemployed. For 20.2% of respondents, billing would pose a considerable barrier to care. Nearly half of those insured (48.4%) said that they would not be willing to share insurance information with the STD clinics. Respondents who said they would not access STD clinic services if charged represent approximately 13,600 individuals each year who, if not promptly diagnosed and treated elsewhere, could be a continuing source of STIs including HIV. Confidentiality concerns and income are potential obstacles to billing insurance or charging a direct fee for STD services. New York City DOHMH plans to take the concerns raised in the survey findings into account when designing our billing system and carefully evaluate its impact to ensure that the need for accessible, confidential STD services continues to be met.

A bill to provide additional flexibility to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to establish capital standards that are properly tailored to the unique characteristics of the business of insurance, and for other purposes.

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH

2013-07-25

Senate - 03/11/2014 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection. Hearings held. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

A bill to require Comptroller General of the United States reports on the major automated information system programs of the Department of Defense.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK

2011-11-01

Senate - 11/01/2011 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (All Actions) Notes: For further action, see H.R.1540, which became Public Law 112-81 on 12/31/2011. Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

A bill to prohibit the provision of Federal funds to State and local governments for payment of obligations, to prohibit the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from financially assisting State and local governments, and for other purposes.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA

2011-02-01

Senate - 02/01/2011 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

A bill to prohibit the provision of Federal funds to State and local governments for payment of obligations, to prohibit the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from financially assisting State and local governments, and for other purposes.

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA

2013-01-23

Senate - 01/23/2013 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Uncertainties in the Value of Bill Savings from Behind-the-Meter, Residential Photovoltaic Systems: The Roles of Electricity Market Conditions, Retail Rate Design, and Net Metering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darghouth, Naim Richard

Net metering has become a widespread policy mechanism in the U.S. for supporting customer adoption of distributed photovoltaics (PV), allowing customers with PV systems to reduce their electric bills by offsetting their consumption with PV generation, independent of the timing of the generation relative to consumption. Although net metering is one of the principal drivers for the residential PV market in the U.S., the academic literature on this policy has been sparse and this dissertation contributes to this emerging body of literature. This dissertation explores the linkages between the availability of net metering, wholesale electricity market conditions, retail rates, and the residential bill savings from behind-the-meter PV systems. First, I examine the value of the bill savings that customers receive under net metering and alternatives to net metering, and the associated role of retail rate design, based on current rates and a sample of approximately two hundred residential customers of California's two largest electric utilities. I find that the bill savings per kWh of PV electricity generated varies greatly, largely attributable to the increasing block structure of the California utilities' residential retail rates. I also find that net metering provides significantly greater bill savings than alternative compensation mechanisms based on avoided costs. However, retail electricity rates may shift as wholesale electricity market conditions change. I then investigate a potential change in market conditions -- increased solar PV penetrations -- on wholesale prices in the short-term based on the merit-order effect. This demonstrates the potential price effects of changes in market conditions, but also points to a number of methodological shortcomings of this method, motivating my usage of a long-term capacity investment and economic dispatch model to examine wholesale price effects of various wholesale market scenarios in the subsequent analysis. By developing three types of retail rates (a flat rate, a time-of-use rate, and real-time pricing) from these wholesale price profiles, I examine bill savings from PV generation for the ten wholesale market scenarios under net metering and an alternative to net metering where hourly excess PV generation is compensated at the wholesale price. Most generally, I challenge the common assertion that PV compensation is likely to stay constant (or rise) due to constant (or rising) retail rates, and find that future electricity market scenarios can drive substantial changes in residential retail rates and that these changes, in concert with variations in retail rate structures and PV compensation mechanisms, interact to place substantial uncertainty on the future value of bill savings from residential PV.

Saving billions of dollars--and physicians' time--by streamlining billing practices.

PubMed

Blanchfield, Bonnie B; Heffernan, James L; Osgood, Bradford; Sheehan, Rosemary R; Meyer, Gregg S

2010-06-01

The U.S. system of billing third parties for health care services is complex, expensive, and inefficient. Physicians end up using nearly 12 percent of their net patient service revenue to cover the costs of excessive administrative complexity. A single transparent set of payment rules for multiple payers, a single claim form, and standard rules of submission, among other innovations, would reduce the burden on the billing offices of physician organizations. On a national scale, our hypothetical modeling of these changes would translate into $7 billion of savings annually for physician and clinical services. Four hours of professional time per physician and five hours of practice support staff time could be saved each week.

Modelling of auctioning mechanism for solar photovoltaic capacity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poullikkas, Andreas

2016-10-01

In this work, a modified optimisation model for the integration of renewable energy sources for power-generation (RES-E) technologies in power-generation systems on a unit commitment basis is developed. The purpose of the modified optimisation procedure is to account for RES-E capacity auctions for different solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity electricity prices. The optimisation model developed uses a genetic algorithm (GA) technique for the calculation of the required RES-E levy (or green tax) in the electricity bills. Also, the procedure enables the estimation of the level of the adequate (or eligible) feed-in-tariff to be offered to future RES-E systems, which do not participate in the capacity auctioning procedure. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the optimisation procedure developed the case of PV capacity auctioning for commercial systems is examined. The results indicated that the required green tax, in order to promote the use of RES-E technologies, which is charged to the electricity customers through their electricity bills, is reduced with the reduction in the final auctioning price. This has a significant effect related to the reduction of electricity bills.

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013: content, commentary, controversy.

PubMed

Kelly, B D

2015-03-01

Ireland's Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill (2013) aims to reform the law relating to persons who require assistance exercising their decision-making capacity. When finalised, the Bill will replace Ireland's outdated Ward of Court system which has an all-or-nothing approach to capacity; does not adequately define capacity; is poorly responsive to change; makes unwieldy provision for appointing decision-makers; and has insufficient provision for review. To explore the content and implications of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill. Review of the content of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill and related literature. The new Bill includes a presumption of capacity and defines lack of capacity. All interventions must minimise restriction of rights and freedom, and have due regard for "dignity, bodily integrity, privacy and autonomy". The Bill proposes legal frameworks for "assisted decision-making" (where an individual voluntarily appoints someone to assist with specific decisions relating to personal welfare or property and affairs, by, among other measures, assisting the individual to communicate his or her "will and preferences"); "co-decision-making" (where the Circuit Court declares the individual's capacity is reduced but he or she can make specific decisions with a co-decision-maker to share authority); "decision-making representatives" (substitute decision-making); "enduring power of attorney"; and "informal decision-making on personal welfare matters" (without apparent oversight). These measures, if implemented, will shift Ireland's capacity laws away from an approach based on "best interests" to one based on "will and preferences", and increase compliance with the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Funny money: the attentional role of monetary feedback detached from expected value.

PubMed

Roper, Zachary J J; Vecera, Shaun P

2016-10-01

Stimuli associated with monetary reward can become powerful cues that effectively capture visual attention. We examined whether such value-driven attentional capture can be induced with monetary feedback in the absence of an expected cash payout. To this end, we implemented images of U.S. dollar bills as reward feedback. Participants knew in advance that they would not receive any money based on their performance. Our reward stimuli-$5 and $20 bill images-were thus dissociated from any practical utility. Strikingly, we observed a reliable attentional capture effect for the mere images of bills. Moreover, this finding generalized to Monopoly money. In two control experiments, we found no evidence in favor of nominal or symbolic monetary value. Hence, we claim that bill images are special monetary representations, such that there are strong associations between the defining visual features of bills and reward, probably due to a lifelong learning history. Together, we show that the motivation to earn cash plays a minor role when it comes to monetary rewards, while bill-defining visual features seem to be sufficient. These findings have the potential to influence human factor applications, such as gamification, and can be extended to novel value systems, such as the electronic cash Bitcoin being developed for use in mobile banking. Finally, our procedure represents a proof of concept on how images of money can be used to conserve expenditures in the experimental context.

Mapping the route to medication therapy management documentation and billing standardization and interoperabilility within the health care system: meeting proceedings.

PubMed

Millonig, Marsha K

2009-01-01

To convene a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss medication therapy management (MTM) documentation and billing standardization and its interoperability within the health care system. More than 70 stakeholders from pharmacy, health information systems, insurers/payers, quality, and standard-setting organizations met on October 7-8, 2008, in Bethesda, MD. The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) organized the invitational conference to facilitate discussion on strategic directions for meeting current market need for MTM documentation and billing interoperability and future market needs for MTM integration into electronic health records (EHRs). APhA recently adopted policy that specifically addresses technology barriers and encourages the use and development of standardized systems for the documentation and billing of MTM services. Day 1 of the conference featured six foundational presentations on health information technology (HIT) trends, perspectives on MTM from the profession and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, health care quality and medication-related outcome measures, integrating MTM workflow in EHRs, and the current state of MTM operalization in practice. After hearing presentations on day 1 and having the opportunity to pose questions to each speaker, conference participants were divided into three breakout groups on day 2. Each group met three times for 60 minutes each and discussed five questions from the perspective of a patient, provider, or payer. Three facilitators met with each of the groups and led discussion from one perspective (i.e., patient, provider, payer). Participants then reconvened as a complete group to participate in a discussion on next steps. HIT is expected to assist in delivering safe, effective, efficient, coordinated care as health professionals strive to improve the quality of care and outcomes for individual patients. The pharmacy profession is actively contributing to quality patient care through MTM services focused on identifying and preventing medication-related problems, improving medication use, and optimizing individual therapeutic outcomes. As MTM programs continue to expand within the health care system, one important limiting factor is the lack of standardization for documentation and billing of MTM services. This lack of interoperability between technology systems, software, and system platforms is presenting as a barrier to MTM service delivery for patients. APhA convened this invitational conference to identify strategic directions to address MTM documentation and billing standardization and interoperability. Participants viewed the meeting as highly successful in bringing together a unique, wide-ranging set of stakeholders, including the government, regulators, standards organizations, other health professions, technology firms, professional organizations, and practitioners, to share perspectives. They strongly encouraged the Association to continue this unique stakeholder dialogue. Participants provided a number of next-step suggestions for APhA to consider because of the event. Participants noted the pharmacy profession's success in building information technology systems for product transactions with systematic, organized, methodical thinking and the need to apply this success to patient services. A unique opportunity exists for the profession to influence and lead the HIT community in creating a workable health technology solution for MTM services. Reaching consensus on minimum data sets for each functional area--clinical, billing, quality improvement--would be a very important short-term gain. Further, participants said it was imperative for pharmacists and the pharmacy community at large to become actively engaged in HIT standards development efforts.

Implementation of a handheld electronic point-of-care billing system improved efficiency in the critical care unit.

PubMed

Fahy, Brenda G; Ketzler, Jonathan T

2007-01-01

Coding and billing are time consuming and important considerations for critical care practitioners. A 1-year prospective, observational study incorporated the use of a personal digital assistant and MDeverywhere software (Hauppauge, New York) for patient coding and billing. Twelve months of data were examined before electronic implementation (pre-elec) and compared with a 12-month period after implementation (post-elec) by using an unpaired t test or z test with P < .05 considered significant. The total number of charges was 2479 pre-elec and 2243 post-elec. The days from date of service to billing for services significantly decreased from 37.8 pre-elec to 12.4 post-elec (P < .001); days in accounts receivable significantly decreased from 92.0 to 73.0 (P < .001). The net collection rate increased from 44.7% pre-elec to 49.3% post-elec (P < .001). Duplicate charges significantly decreased from 5.0% pre-elec to 1.4% post-elec ( P < .001). The return on investment was 1.97-fold (197%). The initiation of personal digital assistant technology to facilitate billing and coding resulted in significant improvements.

To enact title 54, United States Code, "National Park System", as positive law.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21

2011-05-23

Senate - 08/02/2012 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (All Actions) Notes: A page further explaining the bill is available from the Office of the Law Revision Counsel at http://uscode.house.gov/codification/t54/index.html. Tracker: This bill has the status Passed HouseHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Electricity Bill Savings from Residential Photovoltaic Systems: Sensitivities to Changes in Future Electricity Market Conditions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Darghouth, Naim; Barbose, Galen; Wiser, Ryan

2013-01-09

Customer-sited photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States are often compensated at the customer’s underlying retail electricity rate through net metering. Calculations of the customer economics of PV, meanwhile, often assume that retail rate structures and PV compensation mechanisms will not change and that retail electricity prices will increase (or remain constant) over time, thereby also increasing (or keeping constant) the value of bill savings from PV. Given the multitude of potential changes to retail rates and PV compensation mechanisms in the future, however, understanding how such changes might impact the value of bill savings from PV is critical formore » policymakers, regulators, utilities, the solar industry, and potential PV owners, i.e., any stakeholder interested in understanding uncertainties in and potential changes to the long-term customer economics of PV. This scoping study investigates the impact of, and interactions among, three key sources of uncertainty in the future value of bill savings from customer-sited PV, focusing in particular on residential customers. These three sources of uncertainty are: changes to electricity market conditions that would affect retail electricity prices, changes to the types of retail rate structures available to residential customers with PV, and shifts away from standard net-metering toward other compensation mechanisms for residential PV.« less

The usefulness of handheld computers in a surgical group practice.

PubMed Central

Blackman, J.; Gorman, P.; Lohensohn, R.; Kraemer, D.; Svingen, S.

1999-01-01

We designed a system using hand-held computers allowing physicians in the hospital setting to access their surgical schedules, to track patients in multiple hospitals, and to quickly enter billing information. The physicians would then update their schedules and pass billing information electronically when they returned to the office. The system was successfully implemented, it was well accepted by clinicians and staff users, and it showed an increased capture of charges. Whether an economically important effect on the number of days to post hospital charges will be evident after follow-up data has been collected. PMID:10566447

Bill Parsons with Discovery Processing Team

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-08-29

Mark McGee (right) shows the bead blasting completed on the rudder speed brake on orbiter Discovery to Shuttle Program Manager Bill Parsons (center). McGee is manager, Orbiter Processing Facility, with United Space Alliance. At left is Mark Nappi, deputy associate program manager, ground operations, USA. The work was part of Orbiter Major Modifications (OMM) that were recently completed on Discovery. The OMM work ranged from wiring, control panels and black boxes to gaseous and fluid systems tubing and components. These systems were deserviced, disassembled, inspected, modified, reassembled, checked out and reserviced, as were most other systems onboard. The work included the installation of the Multifunction Electronic Display Subsystem (MEDS) - a state-of-the-art “glass cockpit.”

Coding and Billing in Surgical Education: A Systems-Based Practice Education Program.

PubMed

Ghaderi, Kimeya F; Schmidt, Scott T; Drolet, Brian C

Despite increased emphasis on systems-based practice through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies, few studies have examined what surgical residents know about coding and billing. We sought to create and measure the effectiveness of a multifaceted approach to improving resident knowledge and performance of documenting and coding outpatient encounters. We identified knowledge gaps and barriers to documentation and coding in the outpatient setting. We implemented a series of educational and workflow interventions with a group of 12 residents in a surgical clinic at a tertiary care center. To measure the effect of this program, we compared billing codes for 1 year before intervention (FY2012) to prospectively collected data from the postintervention period (FY2013). All related documentation and coding were verified by study-blinded auditors. Interventions took place at the outpatient surgical clinic at Rhode Island Hospital, a tertiary-care center. A cohort of 12 plastic surgery residents ranging from postgraduate year 2 through postgraduate year 6 participated in the interventional sequence. A total of 1285 patient encounters in the preintervention group were compared with 1170 encounters in the postintervention group. Using evaluation and management codes (E&M) as a measure of documentation and coding, we demonstrated a significant and durable increase in billing with supporting clinical documentation after the intervention. For established patient visits, the monthly average E&M code level increased from 2.14 to 3.05 (p < 0.01); for new patients the monthly average E&M level increased from 2.61 to 3.19 (p < 0.01). This study describes a series of educational and workflow interventions, which improved resident coding and billing of outpatient clinic encounters. Using externally audited coding data, we demonstrate significantly increased rates of higher complexity E&M coding in a stable patient population based on improved documentation and billing awareness by the residents. Copyright © 2017 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The ophthalmologist's office: planning and practice. Getting paid and completing insurance forms.

PubMed

Byron, H M

1975-01-01

This chapter describes a systematic approach to the art of collection for services rendered, based primarily on a pay-as-you-go philosophy. A system of internal office-controlled billing, timed so that the statements reach the patients on the last day of the billing month instead of the first day of the following month, unequivocally works more smoothly in the author's office than external computerized billing did. Suggestions to effect and maintain a collection ratio of at least 95 percent have been enumerated. The use of a new statement-and-insurance form facilitates billing, keeping ahead of insurance applications for patients, and advising the front office of other internal tasks to be performed. Finally, the importance of the general ledger, under the supervision of the ophthalmologist's accountant and in conjunction with a control procedure (employing the daily master appointment page attached to the ophthalmologist's personal worksheet) is stressed, in order to safeguard the physician's revenue.

Managing water and riparian habitats on the Bill Williams River with scientific benefit for other desert river systems

USGS Publications Warehouse

John Hickey,; Woodrow Fields,; Andrew Hautzinger,; Steven Sesnie,; Shafroth, Patrick B.; Dick Gilbert,

2016-01-01

This report details modeling to: 1) codify flow-ecology relationships for riparian species of the Bill Williams River as operational guidance for water managers, 2) test the guidance under different climate scenarios, and 3) revise the operational guidance as needed to address the effects of climate change. Model applications detailed herein include the River Analysis System  (HEC-RAS) and the Ecosystem Functions Model  (HEC-EFM), which was used to generate more than three million estimates of local seedling recruitment areas. Areas were aggregated and compared to determine which scenarios generated the most seedling area per unit volume of water. Scenarios that maximized seedling area were grouped into a family of curves that serve as guidance for water managers. This work has direct connections to water management decision-making and builds upon and adds to the rich history of science-based management for the Bill Williams River, Arizona, USA. 

Structural controls on ground-water conditions and estimated aquifer properties near Bill Williams Mountain, Williams, Arizona

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pierce, Herbert A.

2001-01-01

As of 1999, surface water collected and stored in reservoirs is the sole source of municipal water for the city of Williams. During 1996 and 1999, reservoirs reached historically low levels. Understanding the ground-water flow system is critical to managing the ground-water resources in this part of the Coconino Plateau. The nearly 1,000-meter-deep regional aquifer in the Redwall and Muav Limestones, however, makes studying or utilizing the resource difficult. Near-vertical faults and complex geologic structures control the ground-water flow system on the southwest side of the Kaibab Uplift near Williams, Arizona. To address the hydrogeologic complexities in the study area, a suite of techniques, which included aeromagnetic, gravity, square-array resistivity, and audiomagnetotelluric surveys, were applied as part of a regional study near Bill Williams Mountain. Existing well data and interpreted geophysical data were compiled and used to estimate depths to the water table and to prepare a potentiometric map. Geologic characteristics, such as secondary porosity, coefficient of anisotropy, and fracture-strike direction, were calculated at several sites to examine how these characteristics change with depth. The 14-kilometer-wide, seismically active northwestward-trending Cataract Creek and the northeastward-trending Mesa Butte Fault systems intersect near Bill Williams Mountain. Several north-south-trending faults may provide additional block faulting north and west of Bill Williams Mountain. Because of the extensive block faulting and regional folding, the volcanic and sedimentary rocks are tilted toward one or more of these faults. These faults provide near-vertical flow paths to the regional water table. The nearly radial fractures allow water that reaches the regional aquifer to move away from the Bill Williams Mountain area. Depth to the regional aquifer is highly variable and depends on location and local structures. On the basis of interpreted audiomagnetotelluric and square-array resistivity sounding curves and limited well data, depths to water may range from 450 to 1,300 meters.

The anatomy of the bill tip of kiwi and associated somatosensory regions of the brain: comparisons with shorebirds.

PubMed

Cunningham, Susan J; Corfield, Jeremy R; Iwaniuk, Andrew N; Castro, Isabel; Alley, Maurice R; Birkhead, Tim R; Parsons, Stuart

2013-01-01

Three families of probe-foraging birds, Scolopacidae (sandpipers and snipes), Apterygidae (kiwi), and Threskiornithidae (ibises, including spoonbills) have independently evolved long, narrow bills containing clusters of vibration-sensitive mechanoreceptors (Herbst corpuscles) within pits in the bill-tip. These 'bill-tip organs' allow birds to detect buried or submerged prey via substrate-borne vibrations and/or interstitial pressure gradients. Shorebirds, kiwi and ibises are only distantly related, with the phylogenetic divide between kiwi and the other two taxa being particularly deep. We compared the bill-tip structure and associated somatosensory regions in the brains of kiwi and shorebirds to understand the degree of convergence of these systems between the two taxa. For comparison, we also included data from other taxa including waterfowl (Anatidae) and parrots (Psittaculidae and Cacatuidae), non-apterygid ratites, and other probe-foraging and non probe-foraging birds including non-scolopacid shorebirds (Charadriidae, Haematopodidae, Recurvirostridae and Sternidae). We show that the bill-tip organ structure was broadly similar between the Apterygidae and Scolopacidae, however some inter-specific variation was found in the number, shape and orientation of sensory pits between the two groups. Kiwi, scolopacid shorebirds, waterfowl and parrots all shared hypertrophy or near-hypertrophy of the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus. Hypertrophy of the nucleus basorostralis, however, occurred only in waterfowl, kiwi, three of the scolopacid species examined and a species of oystercatcher (Charadriiformes: Haematopodidae). Hypertrophy of the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus in kiwi, Scolopacidae, and other tactile specialists appears to have co-evolved alongside bill-tip specializations, whereas hypertrophy of nucleus basorostralis may be influenced to a greater extent by other sensory inputs. We suggest that similarities between kiwi and scolopacid bill-tip organs and associated somatosensory brain regions are likely a result of similar ecological selective pressures, with inter-specific variations reflecting finer-scale niche differentiation.

A mobile trauma database with charge capture.

PubMed

Moulton, Steve; Myung, Dan; Chary, Aron; Chen, Joshua; Agarwal, Suresh; Emhoff, Tim; Burke, Peter; Hirsch, Erwin

2005-11-01

Charge capture plays an important role in every surgical practice. We have developed and merged a custom mobile database (DB) system with our trauma registry (TRACS), to better understand our billing methods, revenue generators, and areas for improved revenue capture. The mobile database runs on handheld devices using the Windows Compact Edition platform. The front end was written in C# and the back end is SQL. The mobile database operates as a thick client; it includes active and inactive patient lists, billing screens, hot pick lists, and Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code sets. Microsoft Information Internet Server provides secure data transaction services between the back ends stored on each device. Traditional, hand written billing information for three of five adult trauma surgeons was averaged over a 5-month period. Electronic billing information was then collected over a 3-month period using handheld devices and the subject software application. One surgeon used the software for all 3 months, and two surgeons used it for the latter 2 months of the electronic data collection period. This electronic billing information was combined with TRACS data to determine the clinical characteristics of the trauma patients who were and were not captured using the mobile database. Total charges increased by 135%, 148%, and 228% for each of the three trauma surgeons who used the mobile DB application. The majority of additional charges were for evaluation and management services. Patients who were captured and billed at the point of care using the mobile DB had higher Injury Severity Scores, were more likely to undergo an operative procedure, and had longer lengths of stay compared with those who were not captured. Total charges more than doubled using a mobile database to bill at the point of care. A subsequent comparison of TRACS data with billing information revealed a large amount of uncaptured patient revenue. Greater familiarity and broader use of mobile database technology holds the potential for even greater revenue capture.

DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Case Study: Greenhill Contracting, Inc., Hickory Ridge

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Greenhill Contracting built this 3,912-ft2 house in Gardiner, New York, to the high-performance criteria of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program. A highly efficient air-source heat pump heats and cools the home’s interior, while the roof-mounted photovoltaic system offsets electricity usage to cut energy bills to nearly zero. Many months the home owners see a credit on their utility bill.

Summary Impacts of Modeled Provisions of the 2003 Conference Energy Bill

EIA Publications

2004-01-01

This service report was undertaken at the February 2, 2004, request of Senator John Sununu to perform an assessment of the Conference Energy Bill of 2003. This report summarizes the CEB provisions that can be analyzed using the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) and have the potential to affect energy consumption, supply, and prices. The impacts are estimated by comparing the projections with the CEB provisions to the AEO2004 Reference Case.

19 CFR 24.3a - CBP bills; interest assessment on bills; delinquency; notice to principal and surety.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false CBP bills; interest assessment on bills... PROCEDURE § 24.3a CBP bills; interest assessment on bills; delinquency; notice to principal and surety. (a) Due date of CBP bills. CBP bills for supplemental duties, taxes and fees(increased or additional...

19 CFR 24.3a - CBP bills; interest assessment on bills; delinquency; notice to principal and surety.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 1 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false CBP bills; interest assessment on bills... PROCEDURE § 24.3a CBP bills; interest assessment on bills; delinquency; notice to principal and surety. (a) Due date of CBP bills. CBP bills for supplemental duties, taxes and fees(increased or additional...

The effects of different bill-trimming methods on the well-being of Pekin ducks.

PubMed

Gustafson, L A; Cheng, H-W; Garner, J P; Pajor, E A; Mench, J A

2007-09-01

Pekin ducks are often bill-trimmed to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism, but this practice has been criticized because of the resulting potential for acute and chronic pain. The goal of this experiment was to compare 2 different bill-trimming methods, hot blade trimming with cautery (TRIM) and cautery only (tip-searing; SEAR), on the behavior, bill morphology, and weight gain of Pekin ducks. Ducklings (n = 192, 96 per sex) were trimmed at the hatchery and assigned to 12 floor pens (3.66 x0.91 m) by treatment. Behavior was evaluated by scan sampling, and plumage condition was scored using a 0 to 3 scoring system. Thirty-six ducks were randomly euthanized at 3 and 6 wk of age, and their bills were collected for examination. Following fixation and decalcification, the bills were embedded in paraffin wax and sectioned longitudinally. Alternate sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome for the connective tissues, and with Bielschowsky's silver impregnation, Bodian's staining, and Holmes' staining for the nerve fibers. Trimmed ducks engaged in fewer bill-related behaviors and rested more than untrimmed ducks (NOTRIM) during the first 2 wk posttrim. Ducks in the SEAR and NOTRIM groups showed similar patterns of weight gain, but those in the TRIM group had a lower rate of gain than ducks in the SEAR group during the first week posttrim and had a lower rate of gain than those in the NOTRIM group for 2 wk posttrim. Feather scores of ducks in the NOTRIM group were significantly worse than those in the TRIM or SEAR group by 18 d, and scores continued to deteriorate at a greater rate than those of trimmed ducks throughout the study. Both trimming methods caused connective tissue proliferation in the bill stumps, but the TRIM method caused thicker scar tissue than the SEAR method. No neuromas were found with either trimming method, but there were more nerve fibers in bill stumps of the SEAR ducks than the TRIM ducks. These results suggest that acute pain is associated with both trimming methods, but that SEAR may be a preferable method, causing less check in weight gain and fewer bill morphological changes while still being effective in minimizing feather pecking damage.

Environmental, energy and natural resources status report for the 101st Congress. Special report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1990-11-01

Contents: environmental, energy and natural resources status report for the 101st Congress; abandoned-mine fees passed in budget bill; cleanup effort and NRC fees boosted; other measures stall; Strategic Petroleum Reserve to grow to 1 billion barrels; circle of poison provisions cut in farm bill conference; congress clears landmark oil spill liability legislation; motor fuels tax tops massive debt reduction measure; Bush plans to sign massive clean air bill; global climate change bill passes at session end; lots of conservation provisions in farm bill; tongass bill moves; loggers and owls remain stalemated; major reform bills on parks, land fund and blmmore » wither; coastal zone, great lakes, barrier bills beat deadline; modified tuna bill clears congress; Arizona, Alaska, Nevada wilderness bills approved; bills passed on asbestos, transport, waste reduction; bills passed on alternative power, low-income energy aid; numerous money bills clear Congress at the last minute; EPA-to-cabinet bill dies; DOD to fund environment research.« less

Comparison of administrative/billing data to expected protocol-mandated chemotherapy exposure in children with acute myeloid leukemia: A report from the Children's Oncology Group.

PubMed

Miller, Tamara P; Troxel, Andrea B; Li, Yimei; Huang, Yuan-Shung; Alonzo, Todd A; Gerbing, Robert B; Hall, Matt; Torp, Kari; Fisher, Brian T; Bagatell, Rochelle; Seif, Alix E; Sung, Lillian; Gamis, Alan; Rubin, David; Luger, Selina; Aplenc, Richard

2015-07-01

Recently investigators have used analysis of administrative/billing datasets to answer clinical and pharmacoepidemiology questions in pediatric oncology. However, the accuracy of pharmacy data from administrative/billing datasets have not yet been evaluated. The primary objective of this study was to determine the concordance of Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) administrative/billing chemotherapy data with Children's Oncology Group (COG) protocol-mandated chemotherapy and to assess the implications of this level of concordance for further PHIS research. Data from 384 pediatric patients (1,060 courses of chemotherapy) with acute myeloid leukemia treated on COG clinical trial AAML0531 were previously merged with PHIS data. PHIS chemotherapy administrative/billing data were reviewed for the first three courses of chemotherapy. Accuracy was assessed using three metrics: recognizability of chemotherapy pattern by course, chemotherapy administration pattern by individual medication, and concordance with the number of days of protocol-defined chemotherapy. The chemotherapy pattern was recognizable in 87.3% of courses when course-wide accuracy was assessed. Chemotherapy administration pattern varied by medication. Cytarabine had perfect concordance 70.9% of the time, daunorubicin had perfect concordance 77.4% of the time, and etoposide had perfect concordance 67.8% of the time. The accuracy of chemotherapy administrative/billing data supports the continued use of PHIS data for epidemiology studies as long as investigators perform data quality control checks and evaluate each specific medication prior to undertaking definitive analyses. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Natural language processing of clinical notes for identification of critical limb ischemia.

PubMed

Afzal, Naveed; Mallipeddi, Vishnu Priya; Sohn, Sunghwan; Liu, Hongfang; Chaudhry, Rajeev; Scott, Christopher G; Kullo, Iftikhar J; Arruda-Olson, Adelaide M

2018-03-01

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a complication of advanced peripheral artery disease (PAD) with diagnosis based on the presence of clinical signs and symptoms. However, automated identification of cases from electronic health records (EHRs) is challenging due to absence of a single definitive International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9 or ICD-10) code for CLI. In this study, we extend a previously validated natural language processing (NLP) algorithm for PAD identification to develop and validate a subphenotyping NLP algorithm (CLI-NLP) for identification of CLI cases from clinical notes. We compared performance of the CLI-NLP algorithm with CLI-related ICD-9 billing codes. The gold standard for validation was human abstraction of clinical notes from EHRs. Compared to billing codes the CLI-NLP algorithm had higher positive predictive value (PPV) (CLI-NLP 96%, billing codes 67%, p < 0.001), specificity (CLI-NLP 98%, billing codes 74%, p < 0.001) and F1-score (CLI-NLP 90%, billing codes 76%, p < 0.001). The sensitivity of these two methods was similar (CLI-NLP 84%; billing codes 88%; p < 0.12). The CLI-NLP algorithm for identification of CLI from narrative clinical notes in an EHR had excellent PPV and has potential for translation to patient care as it will enable automated identification of CLI cases for quality projects, clinical decision support tools and support a learning healthcare system. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[How can the coding quality in the DRG system be determined?].

PubMed

Kahlmeyer, A; Volkmer, B

2014-01-01

The permanent adjustments ​​since 2003 to the G-DRG system have made the system even less understandable, so that many users have the feeling of feeding data into a black box which gives them a result without them being able to actively use the system itself. While chief physicians, senior physicians, and nursing managers are responsible to management for the results of the billing, they are in most cases not involved in the steps of DRG coding and billing. From this situation, a common question arises: "How well does my department code?" This uncertainty is exploited by many commercial vendors, who offer a wide variety of approaches for DRG optimization. The goal of this work is to provide advice as to how coding quality can be determined.

State laws related to billing third parties for healthcare services at public STD clinics in the United States.

PubMed

Cramer, Ryan; Loosier, Penny S; Krasner, Andee; Kawatu, Jennifer

2018-02-07

Health departments (HDs) cite state laws as barriers to billing third parties for sexually transmitted disease (STD) services, but the association between legal/policy barriers and third party HD billing has not been examined. This study investigates the relationship between laws that may limit HDs' ability to bill, clinic perceptions of billing barriers, and billing practices. Two surveys (1) clinic managers [N=246], 2) STD program managers [N=63]) conducted via a multi-regional needs assessment of federally funded HD clinics' capacity to bill for STD services, billing/reimbursement practices, and perceived barriers were combined with an analysis of state laws regarding third party billing for STD services. Statistical analyses examined relationships between laws that may limit HDs' ability to bill, clinic perceptions, and billing practices. Clinic managers reported clinics were less likely to bill Medicaid and other third parties in jurisdictions with a state law limiting their ability to bill compared to respondents who billed neither or one payer (OR=0.31, CI=0.10,0.97) and cited practical concerns as a primary barrier to billing (OR=2.83 CI=1.50,5.37). STD program managers' reports that staff believed STD services should be free (OR=0.34, CI=0.13, 0.90) was associated with not billing (not sure versus no resistance to billing); confidentiality concerns was not a reported barrier to billing among either sample. Practical concerns and clinic staff beliefs that STD services should be free emerged as possible barriers to billing, and laws less so. Attempts to initiate HD billing for STD services may benefit from staff education as well as addressing perceived legal barriers and staff concerns.

The State of the Unit: A documentary film about the kilogram

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Amy

2012-02-01

The definition of the SI unit of mass is based on the international prototype of the kilogram, created in 1879 [1]. In the next years, metrologists will redefine the kilogram in relation to fundamental physical constants [2]. Intended for a general audience, the forthcoming documentary, The State of the Unit: The Kilogram, presents the history of the kilogram, interviews with researchers at national metrology institutes in the U.S., France, and Germany, and everyday mass measurement activities at varying scales. Excerpts of the film will be shown, and followed by a discussion with the filmmaker about the project to date. This film is supported in part by the Materials Computation Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, California, and La F'emis, Paris, France.[4pt] [1] The Kilogram and Measurements of Mass and Force, Z. J. Jabbour and S. L. Yaniv. J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. 106, 25--46 (2001).[0pt] [2] Redefining the SI Base Units, Peter Mohr. National Institute of Standards and Technology website. November 1, 2011. http://www.nist.gov/pml/newsletter/siredef.cfm. Accessed November 3, 2011.

ASK Talks with Bill Townsend

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Townsend, Bill

2005-01-01

Recently retiring from his position as Deputy Director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, Bill Townsend is now the Vice President and General Manager of Civil Space Systems of Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation. Prior to his assignment to Goddard in 1998, Mr.Townsend had served as the Deputy Associate Administrator (Programs) for the Office of Earth Science since 1993. For a 20 month period beginning June 1996, he was also the acting Associate Administrator for the Enterprise.

Are anesthesia start and end times randomly distributed? The influence of electronic records.

PubMed

Deal, Litisha G; Nyland, Michael E; Gravenstein, Nikolaus; Tighe, Patrick

2014-06-01

To perform a frequency analysis of start minute digits (SMD) and end minute digits (EMD) taken from the electronic, computer-assisted, and manual anesthesia billing-record systems. Retrospective cross-sectional review. University medical center. This cross-sectional review was conducted on billing records from a single healthcare institution over a 15-month period. A total of 30,738 cases were analyzed. For each record, the start time and end time were recorded. Distributions of SMD and EMD were tested against the null hypothesis of a frequency distribution equivalently spread between zero and nine. SMD and EMD aggregate distributions each differed from equivalency (P < 0.0001). When stratified by type of anesthetic record, no differences were found between the recorded and expected equivalent distribution patterns for electronic anesthesia records for start minute (P < 0.98) or end minute (P < 0.55). Manual and computer-assisted records maintained nonequivalent distribution patterns for SMD and EMD (P < 0.0001 for each comparison). Comparison of cumulative distributions between SMD and EMD distributions suggested a significant difference between the two patterns (P < 0.0001). An electronic anesthesia record system, with automated time capture of events verified by the user, produces a more unified distribution of billing times than do more traditional methods of entering billing times. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

31 CFR 357.22 - Transfers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... AND BILLS HELD IN LEGACY TREASURY DIRECT Legacy Treasury Direct Book-Entry Securities System (Legacy...-entry system, and TreasuryDirect ®. A security may also be transferred between accounts in Legacy... system. A transfer of a security from Legacy Treasury Direct to the commercial book-entry system is...

Living on the edge: health care expenses strain family budgets.

PubMed

Cummingham, Peter J; Miller, Carolyn; Cassil, Alwyn

2008-12-01

Affordability of medical care is a central focus of health care reform efforts. As health care costs continue to increase and the economy declines sharply, there is very little cushion in family budgets for health care costs, even for families with insurance coverage. Financial pressures on families from medical bills increase sharply when out-of-pocket spending for health care services exceeds 2.5 percent of family income, according to a new national study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). Low-income families and people in poor health experience financial pressures at even lower levels of spending, largely because they have already accumulated large medical debts they are unable to pay off. Many Californians also incur substantial burdens from health care expenses, although the rate of medical bill problems is somewhat lower in California compared with the overall United States. Extended interviews with a select number of families facing problems with medical bills provide additional detail on how families are forced to make difficult trade-offs with other family necessities, put off paying other bills, cut down on other expenses and delay getting needed medical care

Maritime Education and Training. Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Merchant Marine of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. House of Representatives. Ninety-Fourth Congress, First Session.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC. House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.

The hearings focus on H.R. 1626 and H.R. 9864 (bills to increase the subsistence payments to students at State maritime academies) and H.R. 10413 and H.R. 10500 (bills to amend the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 and the Maritime Academy Act of 1958 to provide for an integrated system of education and training of officers for the U.S. Merchant Marine…

Next Generation Data Collection System for Mobile Detection and Discrimination of Unexploded Ordnance

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-09-10

parametric form in which the i−th principal polarization is given by Li(t) = kit −βie− t γi ( Pasion and Oldenburg, 2001). The model parameters m contain the lo...66 September 2008 6 REFERENCES Billings, S. D., Pasion , L. R., Beran, L., Oldenburg, D., Sinex, D., Song, L., Lhomme, N., 2007, ESTCP MM-0504...Office. Billings, S. D., Pasion , L. R., Beran, L., Oldenburg, D., Sinex, D., Song, L., Lhomme, N., 2008, ESTCP MM-0504, Practical Discrimination

A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to designate the Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Birthplace and Childhood Home in Cresco, Iowa, as a National Historic Site and as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA

2009-07-29

Senate - 03/17/2010 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 111-476. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Searching for approval. Tax-exempt hospitals, systems may find some relief through FHLB letters of credit in last week's housing aid bill.

PubMed

Evans, Melanie

2008-08-04

The bill to aid homeowners that Congress passed last week also offered a gift for tax-exempt healthcare borrowers. The law allows the Federal Home Loan Banks to back tax-exempt bonds with letters of credit, thus letting borrowers benefit from those banks' credit strength. But don't expect the floodgates to open. "Banks are preserving their capital for less risky endeavors," says Kelly Arduino, left, of Wipfli.

31 CFR 206.3 - Billing policy and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

..., DISBURSEMENTS, AND OPERATION OF THE CASH MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS FUND § 206.3 Billing policy and procedures. The billing process is considered an integral part of an effective cash management collection program. In those situations where bills are required and the failure to bill would affect the cash flow, bills will...

31 CFR 206.3 - Billing policy and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., DISBURSEMENTS, AND OPERATION OF THE CASH MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS FUND § 206.3 Billing policy and procedures. The billing process is considered an integral part of an effective cash management collection program. In those situations where bills are required and the failure to bill would affect the cash flow, bills will...

31 CFR 206.3 - Billing policy and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

..., DISBURSEMENTS, AND OPERATION OF THE CASH MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS FUND § 206.3 Billing policy and procedures. The billing process is considered an integral part of an effective cash management collection program. In those situations where bills are required and the failure to bill would affect the cash flow, bills will...

31 CFR 206.3 - Billing policy and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

..., DISBURSEMENTS, AND OPERATION OF THE CASH MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS FUND § 206.3 Billing policy and procedures. The billing process is considered an integral part of an effective cash management collection program. In those situations where bills are required and the failure to bill would affect the cash flow, bills will...

Billing third party payers for pharmaceutical care services.

PubMed

Poirier, S; Buffington, D E; Memoli, G A

1999-01-01

To describe the steps pharmacists must complete when seeking compensation from third party payers for pharmaceutical care services. Government publications; professional publications, including manuals and newsletters; authors' personal experience. Pharmacists in increasing numbers are meeting with success in getting reimbursed by third party payers for patient care activities. However, many pharmacists remain reluctant to seek compensation because they do not understand the steps involved. Preparatory steps include obtaining a provider/supplier number, procuring appropriate claim forms, developing data collection and documentation systems, establishing professional fees, creating a marketing plan, and developing an accounting system. To bill for specific patient care services, pharmacists need to collect the patient's insurance information, obtain a statement of medical necessity from the patient's physician, complete the appropriate claim form accurately, and submit the claim with supporting documentation to the insurer. Although many claims from pharmacists are rejected initially, pharmacists who work with third party payers to understand the reasons for denial of payment often receive compensation when claims are resubmitted. Pharmacists who follow these guidelines for billing third party payers for pharmaceutical care services should notice an increase in the number of paid claims.

47 CFR 64.2401 - Truth-in-Billing Requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

..., charges on the bill. Common carriers must prominently display on each bill a toll-free number or numbers by which subscribers may inquire or dispute any charges on the bill. A carrier may list a toll-free... her telephone bill, but instead accesses that bill only by e-mail or internet, the carrier may comply...

47 CFR 64.2401 - Truth-in-Billing Requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

..., charges on the bill. Common carriers must prominently display on each bill a toll-free number or numbers by which subscribers may inquire or dispute any charges on the bill. A carrier may list a toll-free... her telephone bill, but instead accesses that bill only by e-mail or internet, the carrier may comply...

Effects of implementing electronic medical records on primary care billings and payments: a before-after study.

PubMed

Jaakkimainen, R Liisa; Shultz, Susan E; Tu, Karen

2013-09-01

Several barriers to the adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs) by family physicians have been discussed, including the costs of implementation, impact on work flow and loss of productivity. We examined billings and payments received before and after implementation of EMRs among primary care physicians in the province of Ontario. We also examined billings and payments before and after switching from a fee-for-service to a capitation payment model, because EMR implementation coincided with primary care reform in the province. We used information from the Electronic Medical Record Administrative Data Linked Database (EMRALD) to conduct a retrospective before-after study. The EMRALD database includes EMR data extracted from 183 community-based family physicians in Ontario. We included EMRALD physicians who were eligible to bill the Ontario Health Insurance Plan at least 18 months before and after the date they started using EMRs and had completed a full 18-month period before Mar. 31, 2011, when the study stopped. The main outcome measures were physicians' monthly billings and payments for office visits and total annual payments received from all government sources. Two index dates were examined: the date physicians started using EMRs and were in a stable payment model (n = 64) and the date physicians switched from a fee-for-service to a capitation payment model (n = 42). Monthly billings and payments for office visits did not decrease after the implementation of EMRs. The overall weighted mean annual payment from all government sources increased by 27.7% after the start of EMRs among EMRALD physicians; an increase was also observed among all other primary care physicians in Ontario, but it was not as great (14.4%). There was a decline in monthly billings and payments for office visits after physicians changed payment models, but an increase in their overall annual government payments. Implementation of EMRs by primary care physicians did not result in decreased billings or government payments for office visits. Further economic analyses are needed to measure the effects of EMR implementation on productivity and the costs of implementing an EMR system, including the costs of nonclinical work by physicians and their staff.

The investigation of Ag/ZnO interface system by first principle: The structural, electronic and optical properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheng, Hai-Xia; Wang, Xiao-Xu; Beijing Computing Center, Beijing 100094

Ag/ZnO interfaces have been investigated for both of Zn-termination and O-termination by the first principle based on density functional theory. Our calculations demonstrate that the Ag atoms go inward from the Ag/ZnO interface, and the Zn and O atoms are all move outward bulk in the Zn-termination interface, and the changes are just opposite for O-termination. These behaviors are in agreement with the other studies in literatures. Furthermore, an expansion situation is observed in the first two Zn-O bilayer and first three Ag monolayers for both of Zn-termination and O-termination interfaces by comparing with the pure ZnO(0001) and Ag(111) surfaces.more » Moreover, the valence-band both of O-2p and Zn-3d states of Ag/ZnO interface gradual close to Femi level as the Zn, O atoms locate at the deeper layer for Zn-termination, but it is the other way round for O-termination. Calculated absorption spectrum indicates that the absorption intensity of Zn-termination interface is stronger than that of O-termination in the lower energy range (visible light region). These properties of ZnO surfaces are also evaluated for comparison with interfaces. - Graphical abstract: The structures of Ag/ZnO interface: Zn-termination (left) and O-termination (right). In this Ag/ZnO interface system, the ZnO (0001) surface is rotated 30°(R30), and Ag (111) surface is built (2×2) supercell, then a (2×√3) R30 Ag/ZnO interface is constructed using the supercell method (i.e. periodically repeated slabs). The lattice mismatch of (2×√3) R30 Ag/ZnO (2.6% mismatch) is smaller than that of (1×1) Ag/ZnO (11% mismatch).« less

47 CFR 64.2401 - Truth-in-Billing Requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

.... Common carriers must prominently display on each bill a toll-free number or numbers by which subscribers may inquire or dispute any charges on the bill. A carrier may list a toll-free number for a billing... telephone bill, but instead accesses that bill only by e-mail or internet, the carrier may comply with this...

Interspecific differences in the antioxidant capacity of two Laridae species exposed to metals.

PubMed

Espín, Silvia; Martínez-López, Emma; Jiménez, Pedro; María-Mojica, Pedro; García-Fernández, Antonio J

2016-05-01

The main aim of the present study was to assess the concentration of metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Cu and Zn) in blood, and elucidate their potential effects on oxidative stress biomarkers in red blood cells of Audouin's gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii) and Slender-billed gull (Chroicocephalus genei) chicks in Southeastern Spain. For this purpose, total glutathione (GSH) content, antioxidant enzymes activities (glutathione peroxidase, GPx; superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT and glutathione-S-transferase, GST), and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) were analyzed. In general, metal exposure in both species can be considered low, except for Hg in Audouin's gull. Our findings show higher antioxidant levels in Audouin's gull than in Slender-billed gull; probably due to a combination of different basal antioxidant capacity between species, and to an up-regulation of the antioxidant system in Audouin's gull as a response to the higher Hg, Cu and Zn concentrations. This could reduce the production of TBARS keeping them at lower levels than those found in Slender-billed gull. In spite of this, the significantly higher Hg levels found in Audouin's gull (13.6µg/dl wet weight) in comparison to Slender-billed gull (2.7µg/dl), likely related to their different diet and the former consuming discarded fish, were able to produce lipid peroxidation in this species. The positive effect of Hg on SOD activity in Slender-billed gull, and of Pb on GSH levels in Audouin's gull, could reflect the necessity of the organism to upregulate these antioxidants to balance the increased oxidative stress caused by metals. The degree of metal exposure seems to be essential in the response of the antioxidant system, which may suffer up or down-regulations depending on metal concentrations. This study supports the interactive effects of metals on oxidative stress biomarkers, the complexity of the antioxidant system and the close cooperation between antioxidants, which requires the study of several metals and biomarkers to evaluate oxidative stress and damage in wild birds. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Health Care Costs for Adults With Congenital Heart Disease in the United States 2002 to 2012.

PubMed

Briston, David A; Bradley, Elisa A; Sabanayagam, Aarthi; Zaidi, Ali N

2016-08-15

More adults than children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are alive today. Few studies have evaluated adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) health care utilization in the United States. Data from the National Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2012, using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes for moderate and complex CHD were analyzed. Hospital discharges, total billed and reimbursed amounts, length of stay, and gender/age disparities were evaluated. There was an increase in CHD discharges (moderate CHD: 4,742 vs 6,545; severe CHD: 807 vs 1,115) and total billed and reimbursed dollar amounts across all CHD (billed: $2.7 vs $7.0 billion, 155% increase; reimbursed: $1.3 vs $2.3 billion, 99% increase) and in the ACHD subgroup (billed: $543 million vs $1.5 billion, 178% increase; reimbursed: $221 vs $433 million, 95% increase). Women comprised more discharges in 2002 but not in 2012 (men:women, 2002: 6,503 vs 7,805; 2012: 7,715 vs 7,200, p = 0.39). Gender-based billed amounts followed similar trends (2002: $263 vs $280 million; 2012: $845 vs $662 million, p = 0.006) as did reimbursements (2002: $108 vs $114 million; 2012: $243 vs $190 million, p = 0.008). All age subgroups demonstrated increased health care expenditures, including the >44 versus 18- to 44-year-old age subgroup (billed: $618 vs $347 million, p <0.001; reimbursed: $136 vs $75 million, p <0.001). Our results reveal increased ACHD billed and reimbursed amounts and hospital discharges with a shift in gender-based ACHD hospitalizations: men now account for more hospitalizations in the United States. In conclusion, increased health care expenditure in older patients with ACHD is likely to increase further as health care system use and costs continue to grow. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hydronic Heating Retrofits for Low-Rise Multifamily Buildings: Boiler Control Replacement and Monitoring

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dentz, J.; Henderson, H.; Varshney, K.

2014-09-01

The ARIES Collaborative, a U.S. Department of Energy Building America research team, partnered with NeighborWorks America affiliate Homeowners' Rehab Inc. (HRI) of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to study improvements to the central hydronic heating system in one of the nonprofit's housing developments. The heating controls in the three-building, 42-unit Columbia Cambridge Alliance for Spanish Tenants housing development were upgraded. Fuel use in the development was excessive compared to similar properties. A poorly insulated thermal envelope contributed to high energy bills, but adding wall insulation was not cost-effective or practical. The more cost-effective option was improving heating system efficiency. Efficient operation of themore » heating system faced several obstacles, including inflexible boiler controls and failed thermostatic radiator valves. Boiler controls were replaced with systems that offer temperature setbacks and one that controls heat based on apartment temperature in addition to outdoor temperature. Utility bill analysis shows that post-retrofit weather-normalized heating energy use was reduced by 10%-31% (average of 19%). Indoor temperature cutoff reduced boiler runtime (and therefore heating fuel consumption) by 28% in the one building in which it was implemented. Nearly all savings were obtained during night which had a lower indoor temperature cut off (68 degrees F) than day (73 degrees F). This implies that the outdoor reset curve was appropriately adjusted for this building for daytime operation. Nighttime setback of heating system supply water temperature had no discernable impact on boiler runtime or gas bills.« less

Smart Anesthesia Manager™ (SAM)--a real-time decision support system for anesthesia care during surgery.

PubMed

Nair, Bala G; Newman, Shu-Fang; Peterson, Gene N; Schwid, Howard A

2013-01-01

Anesthesia information management systems (AIMS) are being increasingly used in the operating room to document anesthesia care. We developed a system, Smart Anesthesia Manager™ (SAM) that works in conjunction with an AIMS to provide clinical and billing decision support. SAM interrogates AIMS database in near real time, detects issues related to clinical care, billing and compliance, and material waste. Issues and the steps for their resolution are brought to the attention of the anesthesia provider in real time through "pop-up" messages overlaid on top of AIMS screens or text pages. SAM improved compliance to antibiotic initial dose and redose to 99.3 ± 0.7% and 83.9 ± 3.4% from 88.5 ± 1.4% and 62.5 ± 1.6%, respectively. Beta-blocker protocol compliance increased to 94.6 ± 3.5% from 60.5 ± 8.6%. Inadvertent gaps (>15 min) in blood pressure monitoring were reduced to 34 ± 30 min/1000 cases from 192 ± 58 min/1000 cases. Additional billing charge capture of invasive lines procedures worth $144,732 per year and 1,200 compliant records were achieved with SAM. SAM was also able to reduce wastage of inhalation anesthetic agents worth $120,168 per year.

Argumentation and indigenous knowledge: socio-historical influences in contextualizing an argumentation model in South African schools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallard Martínez, Alejandro J.

2011-09-01

This forum considers argumentation as a means of science teaching in South African schools, through the integration of indigenous knowledge (IK). It addresses issues raised in Mariana G. Hewson and Meshach B. Ogunniyi's paper entitled: Argumentation-teaching as a method to introduce indigenous knowledge into science classrooms: opportunities and challenges. As well as Peter Easton's: Hawks and baby chickens: cultivating the sources of indigenous science education; and, Femi S. Otulaja, Ann Cameron and Audrey Msimanga's: Rethinking argumentation-teaching strategies and indigenous knowledge in South African science classrooms. The first topic addressed is that implementation of argumentation in the science classroom becomes a complex endeavor when the tensions between students' IK, the educational infrastructure (allowance for teacher professional development, etc.) and local belief systems are made explicit. Secondly, western styles of debate become mitigating factors because they do not always adequately translate to South African culture. For example, in many instances it is more culturally acceptable in South Africa to build consensus than to be confrontational. Thirdly, the tension between what is "authentic science" and what is not becomes an influencing factor when a tension is created between IK and western science. Finally, I argue that the thrust of argumentation is to set students up as "scientist-students" who will be considered through a deficit model by judging their habitus and cultural capital. Explicitly, a "scientist-student" is a student who has "learned," modeled and thoroughly assimilated the habits of western scientists, evidently—and who will be judged by and held accountable for their demonstration of explicit related behaviors in the science classroom. I propose that science teaching, to include argumentation, should consist of "listening carefully" (radical listening) to students and valuing their language, culture, and learning as a model for "science for all".

75 FR 78707 - Medicare Program; First Semi-Annual Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-16

... hospital payment systems; hospital medical care delivery systems; provider billing and accounting systems; APC groups; Current Procedural Terminology codes; Health Care Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes; the use of, and payment for, drugs, medical devices, and other services in the outpatient setting...

Developing a performance measurement approach to benefit/cost freight project prioritization.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-10-01

Future reauthorizations of the federal transportation bill will require a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of the freight benefits : of proposed freight system projects. To prioritize public investments in freight systems and to insure conside...

Bus Fare Collection System Assessment

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1986-01-01

An assessment was conducted to examine the impact that rising fare levels are having on bus transit fare collection systems. Problems have been reported with regard to the handling of dollar bills and lost revenue. This report addresses these problem...

Centralized Accounting and Electronic Filing Provides Efficient Receivables Collection.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

School Business Affairs, 1983

1983-01-01

An electronic filing system makes financial control manageable at Bowling Green State University, Ohio. The system enables quick access to computer-stored consolidated account data and microfilm images of charges, statements, and other billing documents. (MLF)

An Integrated Cardiology Patient Management System

PubMed Central

Kiely, F. Michael

1988-01-01

An integrated clinical database has been developed for all diagnostic cardiac services at Vancouver General Hospital. The system is installed on a Data General MV/10000 computer and utilizes the Flagship Application Generator from EPIC Systems Corp. Clinical information, as well as demographic and administrative data, is collected. The system features a custom menu for each user, whose selections provide direct access to the desired functional modules. The intention is to collect data from all the diagnostic areas of the Division of Cardiology, viz., Cardiac Ultrasound, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Pacemaker Clinic and Electrocardiology (including 24 hour ambulatory EKGs and exercise testing). Automated links to the hospital's Admitting/Discharge/Transfer and Billing/Accounts Receivable systems have been implemented over the hospital's local area network. The system is used to produce routine reports of test results, patient billings, and departmental workload statistics. Inquiry functions permit the rapid location of patient records and produce an integrated profile of cardiology activity. In addition, selective searches of the data are available for research and/or other purposes.

76 FR 65196 - Privacy Act of 1974; Report of a New Routine Use for Selected CMS System of Records

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-20

... Medicare beneficiaries. This system utilizes data extraction tools to support accessing data by chronic... system is to collect and maintain billing and utilization data on Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in... Medicare program. 2. ``Medicare Drug Data Processing System (DDPS),'' System No. 09- 70-0553, last...

12 CFR 535.5 - State exemptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... an individual, corporation, or other business organization. § 535.12 Unfair credit contract... account based on balances for days in billing cycles that precede the most recent billing cycle as a...) Limitations for first billing cycle and subsequent billing cycles—(1) First billing cycle. During the first...

The formation method of the feature space for the identification of fatigued bills

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Dongshik; Oshiro, Ayumu; Ozawa, Kenji; Mitsui, Ikugo

2014-10-01

Fatigued bills make a trouble such as the paper jam in a bill handling machine. In the discrimination of fatigued bills using an acoustic signal, the variation of an observed bill sound is considered to be one of causes in misclassification. Therefore a technique has demanded in order to make the classification of fatigued bills more efficient. In this paper, we proposed the algorithm that extracted feature quantity of bill sound from acoustic signal using the frequency difference, and carried out discrimination experiment of fatigued bill money by Support Vector Machine(SVM). The feature quantity of frequency difference can represent the frequency components of an acoustic signal is varied by the fatigued degree of bill money. The generalization performance of SVM does not depend on the size of dimensions of the feature space, even in a high dimensional feature space such as bill-acoustic signals. Furthermore, SVM can induce an optimal classifier which considers the combination of features by the virtue of polynomial kernel functions.

46 CFR 67.527 - Application for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of a bill of sale.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... instruments in the nature of a bill of sale. 67.527 Section 67.527 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF....527 Application for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of a bill of sale. An application fee is charged for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of...

46 CFR 67.527 - Application for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of a bill of sale.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... instruments in the nature of a bill of sale. 67.527 Section 67.527 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF....527 Application for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of a bill of sale. An application fee is charged for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of...

46 CFR 67.527 - Application for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of a bill of sale.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... instruments in the nature of a bill of sale. 67.527 Section 67.527 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF....527 Application for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of a bill of sale. An application fee is charged for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of...

46 CFR 67.527 - Application for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of a bill of sale.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... instruments in the nature of a bill of sale. 67.527 Section 67.527 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF....527 Application for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of a bill of sale. An application fee is charged for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of...

46 CFR 67.527 - Application for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of a bill of sale.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... instruments in the nature of a bill of sale. 67.527 Section 67.527 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF....527 Application for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of a bill of sale. An application fee is charged for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of...

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 658) to amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2011 through 2014, to streamline programs, create efficiencies, reduce waste, and improve aviation safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for the national aviation system, and for other purposes.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-8

2011-03-30

House - 03/31/2011 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 249 - 171 (Roll no. 205). (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in HouseHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Doris, Elizabeth; Stout, Sherry; Peterson, Kimberly

This technical report discusses the effectiveness of the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited Net-Billing Pilot Program. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) collected and analyzed data from a wide range of stakeholders, conducted in-country research, and compared program elements to common interconnection practices to form programmatic recommendations for the Jamaica context. NREL finds that the net-billing pilot program has successfully contributed to the support of the emerging solar market in Jamaica with the interconnection of 80 systems under the program for a total of 1.38 megawatts (MW) at the time of original analysis.

Bill spurs efforts to improve forecasting of inland flooding from tropical storms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

Newly-enacted U.S. legislation to reduce the threat of inland flooding from tropical storms could provide a "laser beam" focus to dealing with this natural hazard, according to Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-N.C.), the chief sponsor of the bill.The Tropical Cyclone Inland Forecasting Improvement and Warning System Development Act, (PL. 107-253), signed into law on 29 October, authorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's U.S. Weather Research Program (USWRP) to improve the capability to accurately forecast inland flooding from tropical storms through research and modeling.

Designing Rules for Accounting Transaction Identification based on Indonesian NLP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iswandi, I.; Suwardi, I. S.; Maulidevi, N. U.

2017-03-01

Recording accounting transactions carried out by the evidence of the transactions. It can be invoices, receipts, letters of intent, electricity bill, telephone bill, etc. In this paper, we proposed design of rules to identify the entities located on the sales invoice. There are some entities identified in a sales invoice, namely : invoice date, company name, invoice number, product id, product name, quantity and total price. Identification this entities using named entity recognition method. The entities generated from the rules used as a basis for automation process of data input into the accounting system.

Monitoring trends in waiting periods in Canada for elective surgery: validation of a method using administrative data.

PubMed

Shortt, Samuel E D; Shaw, Ralph A; Elliott, David; Mackillop, William J

2004-06-01

Provincial governments require timely, economical methods to monitor surgical waiting periods. Although use of prospective procedure-specific registers would be the ideal method, a less elaborate system has been proposed that is based on physician billing data. This study assessed the validity of using the date of the last service billed prior to surgery as a proxy for the beginning of the post-referral, pre-surgical waiting period. We examined charts for 31,824 elective surgical encounters between 1992 and 1996 at an Ontario teaching hospital. The date of the last service before surgery (the last billing date) was compared with the date of the consultant's letter indicating a decision to book surgery (i.e., to begin waiting). Several surgical specialties (but excluding cardiac, orthopedic and gynecologic) had a close correlation between the dates of the last pre-surgery visit and those of the actual decision to place the patient on the waiting list. Similar results were found for 12 of 15 individually studied procedures, including some orthopedic and gynecological procedures. Used judiciously, billing data is a timely, inexpensive and generally accurate method by which provincial governments could monitor trends in waiting times for appropriately selected surgical procedures.

Capturing reimbursement for advanced practice nurse services in acute and critical care: legal and business considerations.

PubMed

Buppert, Carolyn

2005-01-01

Advanced practice nurses (APNs) have been affected positively and negatively by recent changes in the way hospitals are financed. Among these changes are the shift from cost-based reimbursement to a prospective payment system and increased opportunities for billing APN services under the physician payment system. Positive effects include the need for hospitals to decrease the length of stay of hospitalized patients, leading to jobs for APNs who make the hospital course and discharge more efficient. Negative effects include budget shortfalls that lead to layoffs. This article explains the current financial landscape, including phenomena that are impeding the billing of APN services, and recommends adjustments so that the APN role will be on firm financial footing.

Changing physician incentives for cancer care to reward better patient outcomes instead of use of more costly drugs.

PubMed

Newcomer, Lee N

2012-04-01

More-sophisticated chemotherapy regimens have improved the outlook for cancer patients since the 1970s, but the payment system for cancer chemotherapy has not changed during that time span. The "buy and bill" approach for reimbursement provides incentives for medical oncologists to use expensive medications when less costly alternatives that deliver similar results are available. Furthermore, the system does nothing to assess how much value society derives from high-price drugs. This paper reviews the historical context of "buy and bill" reimbursement and considers the use of clinical pathways and bundled payments, two alternative strategies that are being tried to reward physicians for improving outcomes and reducing the total cost of cancer care.

Determination of VA health care costs.

PubMed

Barnett, Paul G

2003-09-01

In the absence of billing data, alternative methods are used to estimate the cost of hospital stays, outpatient visits, and treatment innovations in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The choice of method represents a trade-off between accuracy and research cost. The direct measurement method gathers information on staff activities, supplies, equipment, space, and workload. Since it is expensive, direct measurement should be reserved for finding short-run costs, evaluating provider efficiency, or determining the cost of treatments that are innovative or unique to VA. The pseudo-bill method combines utilization data with a non-VA reimbursement schedule. The cost regression method estimates the cost of VA hospital stays by applying the relationship between cost and characteristics of non-VA hospitalizations. The Health Economics Resource Center uses pseudo-bill and cost regression methods to create an encounter-level database of VA costs. Researchers are also beginning to use the VA activity-based cost allocation system.

75 FR 51465 - Medicare Program; Announcement of Five New Members to the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-20

... Panel. This expertise encompasses hospital payment systems; hospital medical-care delivery systems; provider billing systems; APC groups, Current Procedural Terminology codes, and alpha-numeric Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes; and the use of, and payment for, drugs and medical devices in the...

Bill Livingood | NREL

Science.gov Websites

Bill Livingood Photo of Bill Livingood Bill Livingood Group Manager, Commercial Buildings manager of the commercial buildings research team, he oversees the development of next generation

Minnesota Department of Human Services audit of medication therapy management programs.

PubMed

Smith, Stephanie; Cell, Penny; Anderson, Lowell; Larson, Tom

2013-01-01

To inform medication therapy management (MTM) providers of findings of the Minnesota Department of Human Services review of claims submitted to Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) for patients receiving MTM services and to discuss the impact of the audit on widespread MTM services and future audits. A retrospective review was completed on MTM claims submitted to MHCP from 2008 to 2010. The auditor verified that the Current Procedural Terminology codes billed matched the actual number of medications, conditions, and drug therapy problems assessed during an encounter. 190 claims were reviewed for 57 distinct pharmacies that billed for MTM services from 2008 to 2010, representing 4.5% of all claims submitted. The auditor reported that generally, the documentation within the electronic medical record had the least "up-coding" of all documentation systems. A total of 18 claims were coded at a higher level than appropriate, but only 10 notices were sent out to recover money because the others did not meet the minimum $50 threshold. The auditor expressed concerns that a number of claims billed at the highest complexity level were only 15 minutes long. Providers will need to be cautious of the conditions that they bill as complex and of how they define drug therapy problems. Everything for which is being billed must be clearly assessed or rationalized in the documentation note. The auditor expressed that overall, documentation was well done; however, many MTM providers are now asking how to internally prepare for future audits.

31 CFR 357.14 - What authority does a Federal Reserve Bank have?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...-ENTRY TREASURY BONDS, NOTES AND BILLS HELD IN LEGACY TREASURY DIRECT Treasury/Reserve Automated Debt Entry System (TRADES) § 357.14 What authority does a Federal Reserve Bank have? (a) Each Federal Reserve... system under this part. ...

A Coordinated Business System.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Emmett, Marion B.

1980-01-01

Describes a student publications department business system in which students take responsibility for selling advertisements for the newspaper and yearbook, make sure that layouts are satisfactory to customers, keep all records of accounting and billing procedures, and maintain budget supervision of student publications activities. (TJ)

75 FR 52527 - New York Independent System Operator, Inc. Notice of Filings

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-26

... Compliance Filing, New York Independent System Operator, Inc., 132 FERC 61,031 (July 15, 2010). Any person.... Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2010-21167 Filed 8-25-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P ...

Anesthesia Recordkeeping: Accuracy of Recall with Computerized and Manual Entry Recordkeeping

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davis, Thomas Corey

2011-01-01

Introduction: Anesthesia information management systems are rapidly gaining widespread acceptance. Aggressively promoted as an improvement to manual-entry recordkeeping systems in the areas of accuracy, quality improvement, billing and vigilance, these systems record all patient vital signs and parameters, providing a legible hard copy and…

75 FR 38533 - Medicare Program; Second Semi-Annual Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-02

... participate fully in the Panel's work. Such expertise encompasses hospital payment systems; hospital medical care delivery systems; provider billing systems; APC groups; Current Procedural Terminology codes; and..., medical devices, and other services in the outpatient setting, as well as other forms of relevant...

12 CFR 226.13 - Billing error resolution. 27

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... statement of a computational or similar error of an accounting nature that is made by the creditor. (6) A... least 20 days before the end of the billing cycle for which the statement was required. (b) Billing... applicable, within 2 complete billing cycles (but in no event later than 90 days) after receiving a billing...

What Every Student Should Know about the Bill of Rights.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Petracca, Mark P.

1990-01-01

Traces the history of the Bill of Rights. Delineates the early arguments proposed for and against the Bill of Rights. Discusses the recent Ronald Reagan-Edwin Meese attack on the applicability of the Bill of Rights. Identifies seven items that every student should know about the Bill of Rights. (RW)

49 CFR 360.3 - Filing fees.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... month and a billing cycle. The billing date is the date that the bill is prepared and printed. The.... A bill for each account which has activity or an unpaid balance during the billing cycle will be...) The court in which the bankruptcy petition was filed; (C) The type of bankruptcy proceeding; (D) The...

12 CFR 810.1 - Description of Federal Financing Bank bills.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 6 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Description of Federal Financing Bank bills. 810.1 Section 810.1 Banks and Banking FEDERAL FINANCING BANK FEDERAL FINANCING BANK BILLS § 810.1 Description of Federal Financing Bank bills. (a) General. Federal Financing Bank bills are bearer obligations...

Technology Solutions Case Study: Boiler Control Replacement for Hydronically Heated Multifamily Buildings, Cambridge, Massachusetts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2014-11-01

The ARIES Collaborative, a U.S. Department of Energy Building America research team, partnered with NeighborWorks America affiliate Homeowners' Rehab Inc. (HRI) of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to study improvements to the central hydronic heating system in one of the nonprofit's housing developments. The heating controls in the three-building, 42-unit Columbia Cambridge Alliance for Spanish Tenants housing development were upgraded. Fuel use in the development was excessive compared to similar properties. A poorly insulated thermal envelope contributed to high energy bills, but adding wall insulation was not cost-effective or practical. The more cost-effective option was improving heating system efficiency, which faced several obstacles,more » including inflexible boiler controls and failed thermostatic radiator valves. Boiler controls were replaced with systems that offer temperature setbacks and one that controls heat based on apartment temperature in addition to outdoor temperature. Utility bill analysis shows that post-retrofit weather-normalized heating energy use was reduced by 10%-31% (average of 19%). Indoor temperature cutoff reduced boiler runtime (and therefore heating fuel consumption) by 28% in the one building in which it was implemented. Nearly all savings were obtained during night which had a lower indoor temperature cut off (68°F) than day (73° F). This implies that the outdoor reset curve was appropriately adjusted for this building for daytime operation. Nighttime setback of heating system supply water temperature had no discernable impact on boiler runtime or gas bills.« less

Fatigue Level Estimation of Bill Based on Acoustic Signal Feature by Supervised SOM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teranishi, Masaru; Omatu, Sigeru; Kosaka, Toshihisa

Fatigued bills have harmful influence on daily operation of Automated Teller Machine(ATM). To make the fatigued bills classification more efficient, development of an automatic fatigued bill classification method is desired. We propose a new method to estimate bending rigidity of bill from acoustic signal feature of banking machines. The estimated bending rigidities are used as continuous fatigue level for classification of fatigued bill. By using the supervised Self-Organizing Map(supervised SOM), we estimate the bending rigidity from only the acoustic energy pattern effectively. The experimental result with real bill samples shows the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Effects of implementing electronic medical records on primary care billings and payments: a before–after study

PubMed Central

Shultz, Susan E.; Tu, Karen

2013-01-01

Background Several barriers to the adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs) by family physicians have been discussed, including the costs of implementation, impact on work flow and loss of productivity. We examined billings and payments received before and after implementation of EMRs among primary care physicians in the province of Ontario. We also examined billings and payments before and after switching from a fee-for-service to a capitation payment model, because EMR implementation coincided with primary care reform in the province. Methods We used information from the Electronic Medical Record Administrative Data Linked Database (EMRALD) to conduct a retrospective before–after study. The EMRALD database includes EMR data extracted from 183 community-based family physicians in Ontario. We included EMRALD physicians who were eligible to bill the Ontario Health Insurance Plan at least 18 months before and after the date they started using EMRs and had completed a full 18-month period before Mar. 31, 2011, when the study stopped. The main outcome measures were physicians’ monthly billings and payments for office visits and total annual payments received from all government sources. Two index dates were examined: the date physicians started using EMRs and were in a stable payment model (n = 64) and the date physicians switched from a fee-for-service to a capitation payment model (n = 42). Results Monthly billings and payments for office visits did not decrease after the implementation of EMRs. The overall weighted mean annual payment from all government sources increased by 27.7% after the start of EMRs among EMRALD physicians; an increase was also observed among all other primary care physicians in Ontario, but it was not as great (14.4%). There was a decline in monthly billings and payments for office visits after physicians changed payment models, but an increase in their overall annual government payments. Interpretation Implementation of EMRs by primary care physicians did not result in decreased billings or government payments for office visits. Further economic analyses are needed to measure the effects of EMR implementation on productivity and the costs of implementing an EMR system, including the costs of nonclinical work by physicians and their staff. PMID:25077111

What Drives Bird Vision? Bill Control and Predator Detection Overshadow Flight.

PubMed

Martin, Graham R

2017-01-01

Although flight is regarded as a key behavior of birds this review argues that the perceptual demands for its control are met within constraints set by the perceptual demands of two other key tasks: the control of bill (or feet) position, and the detection of food items/predators. Control of bill position, or of the feet when used in foraging, and timing of their arrival at a target, are based upon information derived from the optic flow-field in the binocular region that encompasses the bill. Flow-fields use information extracted from close to the bird using vision of relatively low spatial resolution. The detection of food items and predators is based upon information detected at a greater distance and depends upon regions in the retina with relatively high spatial resolution. The tasks of detecting predators and of placing the bill (or feet) accurately, make contradictory demands upon vision and these have resulted in trade-offs in the form of visual fields and in the topography of retinal regions in which spatial resolution is enhanced, indicated by foveas, areas, and high ganglion cell densities. The informational function of binocular vision in birds does not lie in binocularity per se (i.e., two eyes receiving slightly different information simultaneously about the same objects) but in the contralateral projection of the visual field of each eye. This ensures that each eye receives information from a symmetrically expanding optic flow-field centered close to the direction of the bill, and from this the crucial information of direction of travel and time-to-contact can be extracted, almost instantaneously. Interspecific comparisons of visual fields between closely related species have shown that small differences in foraging techniques can give rise to different perceptual challenges and these have resulted in differences in visual fields even within the same genus. This suggests that vision is subject to continuing and relatively rapid natural selection based upon individual differences in the structure of the optical system, retinal topography, and eye position in the skull. From a sensory ecology perspective a bird is best characterized as "a bill guided by an eye" and that control of flight is achieved within constraints on visual capacity dictated primarily by the demands of foraging and bill control.

What Drives Bird Vision? Bill Control and Predator Detection Overshadow Flight

PubMed Central

Martin, Graham R.

2017-01-01

Although flight is regarded as a key behavior of birds this review argues that the perceptual demands for its control are met within constraints set by the perceptual demands of two other key tasks: the control of bill (or feet) position, and the detection of food items/predators. Control of bill position, or of the feet when used in foraging, and timing of their arrival at a target, are based upon information derived from the optic flow-field in the binocular region that encompasses the bill. Flow-fields use information extracted from close to the bird using vision of relatively low spatial resolution. The detection of food items and predators is based upon information detected at a greater distance and depends upon regions in the retina with relatively high spatial resolution. The tasks of detecting predators and of placing the bill (or feet) accurately, make contradictory demands upon vision and these have resulted in trade-offs in the form of visual fields and in the topography of retinal regions in which spatial resolution is enhanced, indicated by foveas, areas, and high ganglion cell densities. The informational function of binocular vision in birds does not lie in binocularity per se (i.e., two eyes receiving slightly different information simultaneously about the same objects) but in the contralateral projection of the visual field of each eye. This ensures that each eye receives information from a symmetrically expanding optic flow-field centered close to the direction of the bill, and from this the crucial information of direction of travel and time-to-contact can be extracted, almost instantaneously. Interspecific comparisons of visual fields between closely related species have shown that small differences in foraging techniques can give rise to different perceptual challenges and these have resulted in differences in visual fields even within the same genus. This suggests that vision is subject to continuing and relatively rapid natural selection based upon individual differences in the structure of the optical system, retinal topography, and eye position in the skull. From a sensory ecology perspective a bird is best characterized as “a bill guided by an eye” and that control of flight is achieved within constraints on visual capacity dictated primarily by the demands of foraging and bill control. PMID:29163020

Building America Case Study: Boiler Control Replacement for Hydronically Heated Multifamily Buildings, Cambridge, Massachusetts (Fact Sheet)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

2014-11-01

The ARIES Collaborative, a U.S. Department of Energy Building America research team, partnered with NeighborWorks America affiliate Homeowners' Rehab Inc. (HRI) of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to study improvements to the central hydronic heating system in one of the nonprofit's housing developments. The heating controls in the three-building, 42-unit Columbia Cambridge Alliance for Spanish Tenants housing development were upgraded. Fuel use in the development was excessive compared to similar properties. A poorly insulated thermal envelope contributed to high energy bills, but adding wall insulation was not cost-effective or practical. The more cost-effective option was improving heating system efficiency. Efficient operation of themore » heating system faced several obstacles, including inflexible boiler controls and failed thermostatic radiator valves. Boiler controls were replaced with systems that offer temperature setbacks and one that controls heat based on apartment temperature in addition to outdoor temperature. Utility bill analysis shows that post-retrofit weather-normalized heating energy use was reduced by 10%-31% (average of 19%). Indoor temperature cutoff reduced boiler runtime (and therefore heating fuel consumption) by 28% in the one building in which it was implemented. Nearly all savings were obtained during night which had a lower indoor temperature cut off (68 degrees F) than day (73 degrees F). This implies that the outdoor reset curve was appropriately adjusted for this building for daytime operation. Nighttime setback of heating system supply water temperature had no discernable impact on boiler runtime or gas bills.« less

16 CFR 308.7 - Billing and collection for pay-per-call services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... purchase. (vi) A computation error or similar error of an accounting nature on a billing statement of a... before the end of the billing cycle for which the statement was required. (viii) A reflection on a... billing cycles of the billing entity (in no event later than ninety (90) days) after receiving the notice...

19 CFR 24.3a - CBP bills; interest assessment; delinquency; notice to principal and surety.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false CBP bills; interest assessment; delinquency....3a CBP bills; interest assessment; delinquency; notice to principal and surety. Link to an amendment published at 77 FR 17332, Mar. 26, 2012. (a) Due date of CBP bills. CBP bills for supplemental duties, taxes...

Physician Practice Audit Targets Now Become Hospital and Health System Compliance Risks.

PubMed

Hirsch, Ronald L

2015-01-01

In 2013, 22% of the federal budget was spent on Medicare and Medicaid. The Medicare Trust Fund is forecast to be depleted in 2030. More than 12% of Medicare fee-for-service payments in 2014 were made in error. These factors have led Congress to apply more pressure to reduce improper payments. Although hospitals were the initial targets because of their higher reimbursement, recent efforts have shifted to physician billing. Hospitals and health systems continue to acquire physician practices, making them liable for the billing activities of physicians. And for physicians who remain independent, the cost and effort required to respond to audits and denials can be financially devastating, further demonstrating the importance of prevention. This article addresses some of the common audit targets and mistakes made by physicians and provides strategies for physician practices and health systems to respond to and, ultimately, avoid these denials.

76 FR 16788 - Medicare Program; Solicitation of Two Nominations to the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-25

... September 30, 2011.) E. L. Hambrick, M.D., J.D., Chair, a CMS Medical Officer Ruth L. Bush, M.D., M.P.H... disability; medical or technical specialty; and type of hospital, hospital health system, or other Medicare... encompasses hospital payment systems; hospital medical care delivery systems; provider billing systems; APC...

Heat Loss May Explain Bill Size Differences between Birds Occupying Different Habitats

PubMed Central

Greenberg, Russell; Cadena, Viviana; Danner, Raymond M.; Tattersall, Glenn

2012-01-01

Background Research on variation in bill morphology has focused on the role of diet. Bills have other functions, however, including a role in heat and water balance. The role of the bill in heat loss may be particularly important in birds where water is limiting. Song sparrows localized in coastal dunes and salt marsh edge (Melospiza melodia atlantica) are similar in size to, but have bills with a 17% greater surface area than, those that live in mesic habitats (M. m. melodia), a pattern shared with other coastal sparrows. We tested the hypotheses that sparrows can use their bills to dissipate “dry” heat, and that heat loss from the bill is higher in M. m. atlantica than M. m. melodia, which would indicate a role of heat loss and water conservation in selection for bill size. Methodology/Principal Findings Bill, tarsus, and body surface temperatures were measured using thermal imaging of sparrows exposed to temperatures from 15–37°C and combined with surface area and physical modeling to estimate the contribution of each body part to total heat loss. Song sparrow bills averaged 5–10°C hotter than ambient. The bill of M. m atlantica dissipated up to 33% more heat and 38% greater proportion of total heat than that of M. m. melodia. This could potentially reduce water loss requirements by approximately 7.7%. Conclusions/Significance This >30% higher heat loss in the bill of M. m. atlantica is independent of evaporative water loss and thus could play an important role in the water balance of sparrows occupying the hot and exposed dune/salt marsh environments during the summer. Heat loss capacity and water conservation could play an important role in the selection for bill size differences between bird populations and should be considered along with trophic adaptations when studying variation in bill size. PMID:22848413

Report of the Jacksonville, Florida, Electric Authority on typical residential electric bills for August in 60 areas of the United States. [60 areas in U. S

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1976-08-01

The report of the Jacksonville, Florida, Electric Authority on typical residential electric bills for August 1976 in 60 areas of the U. S. is presented. The report includes both publicly and privately owned systems. The calculation includes Alabama Power Company's monthly energy adjustment factor. Data are included from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Delaware, Massachusetts, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, Illinois, Georgia, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Texas, Ohio, West Virgina, Missouri, North Carolina, Mississippi, Maine, Alabama, and Tennessee. (MCW)

PHOTO DATE: 08-10-15.LOCATION: Bldg. 30 - FCR-1 (30M/231).SUBJECT: Expedition 44, Kjell Lindgren.Kimiya Yui AND SCOTT KELLY TASTING SPACE LETTUCE EXPERIMENT.PHOTOGRAPHER: BILL STAFFORD

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-08-10

JSC2015E076004 (08/10/2015) --- Flight controllers in the International Space Station Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center monitor systems aboard the orbiting laboratory during a number of dynamic events for Expedition 44. Screens in the front of the room show the camera views from two spacewalking Russian cosmonauts while NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren is seen harvesting lettuce from the Veggie experiment that would become the first food grown in space to be eaten. NASA Photographer Bill Stafford.

The Management of NASA Employee Health Problem; Status 1971

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arnoldi, L. B.

1971-01-01

A system for assessing employee health problems is introduced. The automated billing system is based on an input format including cost of medical services by user and measures in dollars, that portion of resources spent on preventive techniques versus therapeutic techniques. The system is capable of printing long term medical histories of any employee.

75 FR 1625 - Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Amended or Altered System; Medical, Health and Billing Records System

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-12

...., desktop, laptop, handheld or other computer types) containing protected personal identifiers or PHI is... as the National Indian Women's Resource Center, to conduct analytical and evaluation studies. 8... SYSTEM: STORAGE: File folders, ledgers, card files, microfiche, microfilm, computer tapes, disk packs...

31 CFR 357.0 - Book-entry systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Book-entry systems. 357.0 Section 357..., DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY BUREAU OF THE PUBLIC DEBT REGULATIONS GOVERNING BOOK-ENTRY TREASURY BONDS, NOTES AND BILLS HELD IN LEGACY TREASURY DIRECT General Information § 357.0 Book-entry systems. (a) Treasury...

76 FR 37121 - Medicare Program; Second Semi-Annual Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-24

... participate fully in the Panel's work. The expertise encompasses hospital payment systems; hospital medical care delivery systems; provider billing systems; APC groups; Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes... payment for, drugs, medical devices, and other services in the outpatient setting, as well as other forms...

75 FR 78246 - Medicare Program; Re-Chartering of the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-15

... Administrator among the fields of hospital payment systems; hospital medical care delivery systems; provider billing and accounting systems; APC groups; Current Procedural Terminology codes; HCPCS codes; the use of, and payment for, drugs, medical devices, and other services in the outpatient setting; and other forms...

Federal Probation System Reform Act

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Rep. Maffei, Daniel B. [D-NY-24

2013-12-05

House - 01/27/2014 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Monitoring trends in waiting periods in Canada for elective surgery: validation of a method using administrative data

PubMed Central

Shortt, Samuel E.D.; Shaw, Ralph A.; Elliott, David; Mackillop, William J.

2004-01-01

Background Provincial governments require timely, economical methods to monitor surgical waiting periods. Although use of prospective procedure-specific registers would be the ideal method, a less elaborate system has been proposed that is based on physician billing data. This study assessed the validity of using the date of the last service billed prior to surgery as a proxy for the beginning of the post-referral, pre-surgical waiting period. Method We examined charts for 31 824 elective surgical encounters between 1992 and 1996 at an Ontario teaching hospital. The date of the last service before surgery (the last billing date) was compared with the date of the consultant's letter indicating a decision to book surgery (i.e., to begin waiting). Results Several surgical specialties (but excluding cardiac, orthopedic and gynecologic) had a close correlation between the dates of the last pre-surgery visit and those of the actual decision to place the patient on the waiting list. Similar results were found for 12 of 15 individually studied procedures, including some orthopedic and gynecological procedures. Conclusion Used judiciously, billing data is a timely, inexpensive and generally accurate method by which provincial governments could monitor trends in waiting times for appropriately selected surgical procedures. PMID:15264378

Bills to Increase Employment Opportunities through the Youth Conservation Corps and Other Means, 95th Congress, 1st Session.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC.

This packet contains nine Senate bills and eight House bills from the 95th Congress, 1st session, all dealing with various means of increasing employment opportunities. Most of the bills deal with the creation of new jobs or with programs for job training, counseling, or placement. Seven of the bills constitute amendments to the Youth Conservation…

A Survey of Texas HIV, Sexually Transmitted Disease, Tuberculosis, and Viral Hepatitis Providers’ Billing and Reimbursement Capabilities

PubMed Central

Atwood, Robin; Greenberg, Jennifer B.; Ray, Tara; Harris, Karol Kaye

2015-01-01

The Affordable Care Act presents financial challenges and opportunities for publicly funded service providers. We assessed billing practices and anticipated barriers to third-party billing among organizations in Texas that provide publicly funded HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis services. One third to one half of the organizations did not bill for medical services. The most common barrier to third-party billing was lack of staff knowledge about billing and coding. Future research must evaluate options for organizations and communities to maintain access to infectious disease services for vulnerable populations. PMID:26447911

Impact of tobacco industry and other corporations in the defeat of the 1994 Clinton health care plan.

PubMed

Givel, Michael

2017-06-21

The primary reason cited by many scholars for the defeat of the Clinton Administration's 1994 health care reform bill has long been identified as Health Insurance Association of America and National Federation of Independent Businesses opposition to the bill. Given this predominant consensus combined with sizeable proposed funding for the bill by a large tobacco product tax, this manuscript examined what the tobacco industry's role was in whole or part in defeating the Clinton health care bill. This research occurred through crosschecking internal tobacco industry documents and Clinton White House documents. Prior to the passage of the bill, the tobacco industry accepted a compromise of 45 cents per pack increase phased in over five years. Due to this compromise, the industry or third party allies had no role in the ultimate defeat in the bill. The primary reason for the bill's ultimate defeat was general business (but not tobacco industry and third party ally) opposition, the bill running out of time, and conflicting bills. Secondary reasons for the bill's defeat included issues with: employer mandates, high taxes on insurance plans, impacts on medical research and education, Congressional attention to other issues, election year politics, and possible future excise tax possibilities.

The Impact of Rate Design and Net Metering on the Bill Savings from Distributed PV for Residential Customers in California

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Darghouth, Naim; Barbose, Galen; Wiser, Ryan

2010-03-30

Net metering has become a widespread policy in the U.S. for supporting distributed photovoltaics (PV) adoption. Though specific design details vary, net metering allows customers with PV to reduce their electric bills by offsetting their consumption with PV generation, independent of the timing of the generation relative to consumption - in effect, compensating the PV generation at retail electricity rates (Rose et al. 2009). While net metering has played an important role in jump-starting the residential PV market in the U.S., challenges to net metering policies have emerged in a number of states and contexts, and alternative compensation methods aremore » under consideration. Moreover, one inherent feature of net metering is that the value of the utility bill savings it provides to customers with PV depends heavily on the structure of the underlying retail electricity rate, as well as on the characteristics of the customer and PV system. Consequently, the value of net metering - and the impact of moving to alternative compensation mechanisms - can vary substantially from one customer to the next. For these reasons, it is important for policymakers and others that seek to support the development of distributed PV to understand both how the bill savings varies under net metering, and how the bill savings under net metering compares to other possible compensation mechanisms. To advance this understanding, we analyze the bill savings from PV for residential customers of California's two largest electric utilities, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE). The analysis is based on hourly load data from a sample of 215 residential customers located in the service territories of the two utilities, matched with simulated hourly PV production for the same time period based on data from the nearest of 73 weather stations in the state.« less

Directed educational training improves coding and billing skills for residents.

PubMed

Benke, James R; Lin, Sandra Y; Ishman, Stacey L

2013-03-01

To determine if coding and billing acumen improves after a single directed educational training session. Case-control series. Fourteen otolaryngology practitioners including trainees each completed two clinical scenarios before and after a directed educational session covering basic skills and common mistakes in otolaryngology billing and coding. Ten practitioners had never coded before; while, four regularly billed and coded in a clinical setting. Individuals with no previous billing experience had a mean score of 54% (median 55%) before the educational session which was significantly lower than that of the experienced billers who averaged 82% (median 83%, p=0.002). After the educational billing and coding session, the inexperienced billers mean score improved to 62% (median, 67%) which was still statistically lower than that of the experienced billers who averaged 76% (median 75%, p=0.039). The inexperienced billers demonstrated a significant improvement in their total score after the intervention (P=0.019); however, the change observed in experienced billers before and after the educational intervention was not significant (P=0.469). Billing and coding skill was improved after a single directed education session. Residents, who are not responsible for regular billing and coding, were found to have the greatest improvement in skill. However, providers who regularly bill and code had no significant improvement after this session. These data suggest that a single 90min billing and coding education session is effective in preparing those with limited experience to competently bill and code. Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

41 CFR Appendix D to Chapter 301 - Glossary of Acronyms

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Regulation FTS: Federal Telecommunications System GAO: General Accounting Office GBL: Government Bill of... Ethics OMB: Office of Management and Budget PBP&E: Professional Books, Papers, and Equipment PCS...

National Park System Donor Acknowledgment Act

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK

2014-09-18

Senate - 12/10/2014 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 641. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Metropolitan Medical Response System Act of 2010

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA-7

2010-02-03

House - 02/24/2010 Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

41 CFR 302-7.109 - Are receipts required?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... required? Yes, under the commuted rate system, a receipted copy of the warehouse or other bill for storage...? 302-7.109 Section 302-7.109 Public Contracts and Property Management Federal Travel Regulation System RELOCATION ALLOWANCES TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE OF PROPERTY 7-TRANSPORTATION AND TEMPORARY STORAGE OF...

12 CFR 208.61 - Bank security procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... becoming a member of the Federal Reserve System, a member bank's board of directors shall designate a... bills, or chemical and electronic devices; and retaining a record of any robbery, burglary, or larceny...; (iv) An alarm system or other appropriate device for promptly notifying the nearest responsible law...

12 CFR 208.61 - Bank security procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... becoming a member of the Federal Reserve System, a member bank's board of directors shall designate a... bills, or chemical and electronic devices; and retaining a record of any robbery, burglary, or larceny...; (iv) An alarm system or other appropriate device for promptly notifying the nearest responsible law...

12 CFR 208.61 - Bank security procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... becoming a member of the Federal Reserve System, a member bank's board of directors shall designate a... bills, or chemical and electronic devices; and retaining a record of any robbery, burglary, or larceny...; (iv) An alarm system or other appropriate device for promptly notifying the nearest responsible law...

Technology evaluation for implementation of VMT based revenue collection systems : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-11-01

The Road User Fee Task Force (RUFTF) was created as part of House Bill 3946 with the purpose of developing a new revenue collection system design for Oregons roads and highways. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is required by House B...

Postsecondary Education Reform in Kentucky. Issue Brief.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rabuzzi, Daniel A.; Carson, Ron

As governors and states seek to improve the responsiveness of postsecondary education, Kentucky's experience provides a powerful example of a systemic reform strategy. In 1997, Kentucky's governor proposed, and the General Assembly approved, the Postsecondary Education Improvement Act (House Bill 1), which reshaped the state system of public…

Seasonal dimorphism in the horny bills of sparrows

EPA Science Inventory

Bill shape and size are often viewed as species-specific adaptations for feeding, but they sometimes vary between sexes, suggesting that sexual selection or inter-sexual competition may also be important. Hypotheses to explain sexual bill size dimorphism in birds avian bill size...

Counseling about firearms: proposed legislation is a threat to physicians and their patients.

PubMed

Vernick, Jon S; Teret, Stephen P; Smith, Gary A; Webster, Daniel W

2006-11-01

In early 2006, 2 separate but virtually identical bills were introduced in the Virginia and West Virginia legislatures that would have profoundly affected the relationship between a physician and his or her patients. Each bill would have prohibited a physician from asking a patient if he or she owned firearms for the purpose of counseling that patient about ways to reduce risks associated with firearms. Penalties for violation of the bills included revocation of a physician's license to practice. The Virginia bill was initially approved by its state House of Delegates by a vote of 88 to 11. It was ultimately defeated in a Virginia Senate committee. The West Virginia bill did not receive a vote during the 2006 legislative session. Although neither bill became law this year, this type of bill is likely to reappear in future legislative sessions. The Virginia and West Virginia bills were contrary to the best-practices recommendations of medical societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics. Anticipatory guidance regarding firearms can indeed reduce risks to patients. Yet, the bills would have preferred the judgment of legislators over physicians regarding this aspect of the practice of medicine. In addition, the 2 bills raise legal issues regarding both medical malpractice and the First Amendment protection of the freedom of speech. The Virginia and West Virginia bills would have treated risks associated with firearms differently from other hazards and interfered with a physician's ability to protect his or her patients. The Virginia bill was defeated, in part, through the efforts of physicians to educate legislators. However, physicians must remain prepared to respond to similar state legislative initiatives in the future.

Measuring public understanding on Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) electricity bills using ordered probit model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zainudin, WNRA; Ramli, NA

2017-09-01

In 2016, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) had introduced an upgrade in its Billing and Customer Relationship Management (BCRM) as part of its long-term initiative to provide its customers with greater access to billing information. This includes information on real and suggested power consumption by the customers and further details in their billing charges. This information is useful to help TNB customers to gain better understanding on their electricity usage patterns and items involved in their billing charges. Up to date, there are not many studies done to measure public understanding on current electricity bills and whether this understanding could contribute towards positive impacts. The purpose of this paper is to measure public understanding on current TNB electricity bills and whether their satisfaction towards energy-related services, electricity utility services, and their awareness on the amount of electricity consumed by various appliances and equipment in their home could improve this understanding on the electricity bills. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are used to achieve these objectives. A total of 160 respondents from local universities in Malaysia participated in a survey used to collect relevant information. Using Ordered Probit model, this paper finds respondents that are highly satisfied with the electricity utility services tend to understand their electricity bills better. The electric utility services include management of electricity bills and the information obtained from utility or non-utility supplier to help consumers manage their energy usage or bills. Based on the results, this paper concludes that the probability to understand the components in the monthly electricity bill increases as respondents are more satisfied with their electric utility services and are more capable to value the energy-related services.

STS-41 Voice Command System Flight Experiment Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salazar, George A.

1981-01-01

This report presents the results of the Voice Command System (VCS) flight experiment on the five-day STS-41 mission. Two mission specialists,Bill Shepherd and Bruce Melnick, used the speaker-dependent system to evaluate the operational effectiveness of using voice to control a spacecraft system. In addition, data was gathered to analyze the effects of microgravity on speech recognition performance.

Can use of an administrative database improve accuracy of hospital-reported readmission rates?

PubMed

Edgerton, James R; Herbert, Morley A; Hamman, Baron L; Ring, W Steves

2018-05-01

Readmission rates after cardiac surgery are being used as a quality indicator; they are also being collected by Medicare and are tied to reimbursement. Accurate knowledge of readmission rates may be difficult to achieve because patients may be readmitted to different hospitals. In our area, 81 hospitals share administrative claims data; 28 of these hospitals (from 5 different hospital systems) do cardiac surgery and share Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) clinical data. We used these 2 sources to compare the readmissions data for accuracy. A total of 45,539 STS records from January 2008 to December 2016 were matched with the hospital billing data records. Using the index visit as the start date, the billing records were queried for any subsequent in-patient visits for that patient. The billing records included date of readmission and hospital of readmission data and were compared with the data captured in the STS record. We found 1153 (2.5%) patients who had STS records that were marked "No" or "missing," but there were billing records that showed a readmission. The reported STS readmission rate of 4796 (10.5%) underreported the readmission rate by 2.5 actual percentage points. The true rate should have been 13.0%. Actual readmission rate was 23.8% higher than reported by the clinical database. Approximately 36% of readmissions were to a hospital that was a part of a different hospital system. It is important to know accurate readmission rates for quality improvement processes and institutional financial planning. Matching patient records to an administrative database showed that the clinical database may fail to capture many readmissions. Combining data with an administrative database can enhance accuracy of reporting. Copyright © 2017 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Use of administrative and electronic health record data for development of automated algorithms for childhood diabetes case ascertainment and type classification: the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study

PubMed Central

Zhong, Victor W.; Pfaff, Emily R.; Beavers, Daniel P.; Thomas, Joan; Jaacks, Lindsay M.; Bowlby, Deborah A.; Carey, Timothy S.; Lawrence, Jean M.; Dabelea, Dana; Hamman, Richard F.; Pihoker, Catherine; Saydah, Sharon H.; Mayer-Davis, Elizabeth J.

2014-01-01

Background The performance of automated algorithms for childhood diabetes case ascertainment and type classification may differ by demographic characteristics. Objective This study evaluated the potential of administrative and electronic health record (EHR) data from a large academic care delivery system to conduct diabetes case ascertainment in youth according to type, age and race/ethnicity. Subjects 57,767 children aged <20 years as of December 31, 2011 seen at University of North Carolina Health Care System in 2011 were included. Methods Using an initial algorithm including billing data, patient problem lists, laboratory test results and diabetes related medications between July 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011, presumptive cases were identified and validated by chart review. More refined algorithms were evaluated by type (type 1 versus type 2), age (<10 versus ≥10 years) and race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic white versus “other”). Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value were calculated and compared. Results The best algorithm for ascertainment of diabetes cases overall was billing data. The best type 1 algorithm was the ratio of the number of type 1 billing codes to the sum of type 1 and type 2 billing codes ≥0.5. A useful algorithm to ascertain type 2 youth with “other” race/ethnicity was identified. Considerable age and racial/ethnic differences were present in type-non-specific and type 2 algorithms. Conclusions Administrative and EHR data may be used to identify cases of childhood diabetes (any type), and to identify type 1 cases. The performance of type 2 case ascertainment algorithms differed substantially by race/ethnicity. PMID:24913103

Principles of Automation for Patient Safety in Intensive Care: Learning From Aviation.

PubMed

Dominiczak, Jason; Khansa, Lara

2018-06-01

The transition away from written documentation and analog methods has opened up the possibility of leveraging data science and analytic techniques to improve health care. In the implementation of data science techniques and methodologies, high-acuity patients in the ICU can particularly benefit. The Principles of Automation for Patient Safety in Intensive Care (PASPIC) framework draws on Billings's principles of human-centered aviation (HCA) automation and helps in identifying the advantages, pitfalls, and unintended consequences of automation in health care. Billings's HCA principles are based on the premise that human operators must remain "in command," so that they are continuously informed and actively involved in all aspects of system operations. In addition, automated systems need to be predictable, simple to train, to learn, and to operate, and must be able to monitor the human operators, and every intelligent system element must know the intent of other intelligent system elements. In applying Billings's HCA principles to the ICU setting, PAPSIC has three key characteristics: (1) integration and better interoperability, (2) multidimensional analysis, and (3) enhanced situation awareness. PAPSIC suggests that health care professionals reduce overreliance on automation and implement "cooperative automation" and that vendors reduce mode errors and embrace interoperability. Much can be learned from the aviation industry in automating the ICU. Because it combines "smart" technology with the necessary controls to withstand unintended consequences, PAPSIC could help ensure more informed decision making in the ICU and better patient care. Copyright © 2018 The Joint Commission. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bill size variation in northern cardinals associated with anthropogenic drivers across North America.

PubMed

Miller, Colleen R; Latimer, Christopher E; Zuckerberg, Benjamin

2018-05-01

Allen's rule predicts that homeotherms inhabiting cooler climates will have smaller appendages, while those inhabiting warmer climates will have larger appendages relative to body size. Birds' bills tend to be larger at lower latitudes, but few studies have tested whether modern climate change and urbanization affect bill size. Our study explored whether bill size in a wide-ranging bird would be larger in warmer, drier regions and increase with rising temperatures. Furthermore, we predicted that bill size would be larger in densely populated areas, due to urban heat island effects and the higher concentration of supplementary foods. Using measurements from 605 museum specimens, we explored the effects of climate and housing density on northern cardinal bill size over an 85-year period across the Linnaean subspecies' range. We quantified the geographic relationships between bill surface area, housing density, and minimum temperature using linear mixed effect models and geographically weighted regression. We then tested whether bill surface area changed due to housing density and temperature in three subregions (Chicago, IL., Washington, D.C., and Ithaca, NY). Across North America, cardinals occupying drier regions had larger bills, a pattern strongest in males. This relationship was mediated by temperature such that birds in warm, dry areas had larger bills than those in cool, dry areas. Over time, female cardinals' bill size increased with warming temperatures in Washington, D.C., and Ithaca. Bill size was smaller in developed areas of Chicago, but larger in Washington, D.C., while there was no pattern in Ithaca, NY. We found that climate and urbanization were strongly associated with bill size for a wide-ranging bird. These biogeographic relationships were characterized by sex-specific differences, varying relationships with housing density, and geographic variability. It is likely that anthropogenic pressures will continue to influence species, potentially promoting microevolutionary changes over space and time.

Supporting State Systems of Early Learning Act

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4

2011-11-02

House - 11/18/2011 Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

National Disaster Medical System Act

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY

2011-11-07

Senate - 11/07/2011 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Metropolitan Medical Response System Program Act of 2009

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-9

2010-01-21

House - 01/28/2010 Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

46 CFR 403.400 - Uniform pilot's source form.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... ACCOUNTING SYSTEM Source Forms § 403.400 Uniform pilot's source form. (a) Each Association shall record... billing office for accounting record; (4) Third copy to pilot's own Association for pilot's personal...

In defiance of the evidence: conservatives threaten to "reform" away England's National Health Service.

PubMed

Lister, John

2012-01-01

David Cameron's Conservative-led coalition government is pressing ahead with a highly controversial bill to "reform" the National Health Service (NHS), abolishing existing management structures, opening up provider services to private competition from "any qualified provider", and establishing a competitive market system in place of planning. The proposals fragment the structures and run counter to the founding principles of the NHS, which in 1948 transcended the limitations of markets, delivering health care on the basis of maximum risk sharing and universal access to services, free at the point of use. Evidence shows markets are a costly and inadequate mechanism to deliver universal and comprehensive health care, and private providers will only bid for services where profits are guaranteed. Opposition to the proposals is strong among health professionals and informed opinion, and the bill has divided the coalition parties--but time is running out for those who reject the bill to mount a sustained and concerted resistance.

Professional misconduct: the case of the Medical Board of Australia v Tausif (occupational discipline).

PubMed

Colton, Caroline

2015-03-01

In 2014, the Australian Capital Territory Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal (ACAT) made a finding of professional misconduct against a Canberra general practitioner working in two bulk-billing medical practices established by a corporate medical practice service company, Primary Health Care Limited (Medical Board of Australia v Tausif (Occupational Discipline) [2015] ACAT 4). This column analyses that case, particularly in relation to the ACAT finding that the practitioner's professional misconduct was substantially contributed to by an unsafe system of care, specifically, the failure of Primary Health Care to provide supervision and mentoring for clinicians working at its medical centres. The case highlights the professional pressures carried by general practitioners who practise medicine within the framework of corporate bulk-billing business models. The column also examines the related issue of general practitioner co-payments in Australia and their impact on business models built around doctors purportedly characterised as independent contractors, bulk-billing large numbers of patients each day for short consultations.

Identification of Program Signatures from Cloud Computing System Telemetry Data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nichols, Nicole M.; Greaves, Mark T.; Smith, William P.

Malicious cloud computing activity can take many forms, including running unauthorized programs in a virtual environment. Detection of these malicious activities while preserving the privacy of the user is an important research challenge. Prior work has shown the potential viability of using cloud service billing metrics as a mechanism for proxy identification of malicious programs. Previously this novel detection method has been evaluated in a synthetic and isolated computational environment. In this paper we demonstrate the ability of billing metrics to identify programs, in an active cloud computing environment, including multiple virtual machines running on the same hypervisor. The openmore » source cloud computing platform OpenStack, is used for private cloud management at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. OpenStack provides a billing tool (Ceilometer) to collect system telemetry measurements. We identify four different programs running on four virtual machines under the same cloud user account. Programs were identified with up to 95% accuracy. This accuracy is dependent on the distinctiveness of telemetry measurements for the specific programs we tested. Future work will examine the scalability of this approach for a larger selection of programs to better understand the uniqueness needed to identify a program. Additionally, future work should address the separation of signatures when multiple programs are running on the same virtual machine.« less

New workers' compensation legislation: expected pharmaceutical cost savings.

PubMed

Wilson, Leslie; Gitlin, Matthew

2005-10-01

California Workers' Compensation (WC) system costs are under review. With recently approved California State Assembly Bill (AB) 749 and Senate Bill (SB) 228, an assessment of proposed pharmaceutical cost savings is needed. A large workers' compensation database provided by the California Workers' Compensation Institute (CWCI) and Medi-Cal pharmacy costs obtained from the State Drug Utilization Project are utilized to compare frequency, costs and savings to Workers' Compensation in 2002 with the new pharmacy legislation. Compared to the former California Workers' Compensation fee schedule, the newly implemented 100% Medi-Cal fee schedule will result in savings of 29.5% with a potential total pharmacy cost savings of $125 million. Further statistical analysis demonstrated that a large variability in savings across drugs could not be controlled with this drug pricing system. Despite the large savings in pharmaceuticals, inconsistencies between the two pharmaceutical payment systems could lead to negative incentives and uncertainty for long-term savings. Proposed alternative pricing systems could be considered. However, pain management implemented along with other cost containment strategies could more effectively reduce overall drug spending in the workers' compensation system.

Mapping "Trauma-Informed" Legislative Proposals in U.S. Congress.

PubMed

Purtle, Jonathan; Lewis, Michael

2017-11-01

Despite calls for translation of trauma-informed practice into public policy, no empirical research has investigated how the construct has been integrated into policy proposals. This policy mapping study identified and analyzed every bill introduced in US Congress that mentioned "trauma-informed" between 1973 and 2015. Forty-nine bills and 71 bill sections mentioned the construct. The number of trauma-informed bills introduced annually increased dramatically, from 0 in 2010 to 28 in 2015. Trauma-informed bill sections targeted a range of sectors, but disproportionally focused on youth (73.2%). Only three bills defined "trauma-informed." Implications within the context of a changing political environment are discussed.

School Finance Policy Issues in Texas.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sparkman, William E.; Carpenter, Clint

Just 1 day before a court-imposed deadline of June 1, 1993, Texas Governor Ann Richards signed into law Senate Bill 7 (S.B. 7), the newest version of the Texas school finance system. This paper describes the state's new school finance system with regard to the following: (1) its constitutionality; (2) the provision of a system that equalizes…

Unmanned Aircraft House Hearing

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-02-15

Dr. Edgar Waggoner, Director, Integrated Systems research Program Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), takes notes during a House Subcommittee on Oversight hearing titled "Operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System: Assessing Research and Development Efforts to Ensure Safety" on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

78 FR 60182 - Prevailing Rate Systems; Definition of Broward County, Florida, to a Nonappropriated Fund Federal...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-01

... OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 5 CFR Part 532 RIN 3206-AM83 Prevailing Rate Systems; Definition of..., nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area. This change is necessary because there are three... Beach * * * * * [FR Doc. 2013-23867 Filed 9-30-13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6325-39-P ...

42 CFR 408.90 - Termination of group billing arrangement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Termination of group billing arrangement. 408.90... SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Direct Remittance: Group Payment § 408.90 Termination of group billing arrangement. (a) A group billing arrangement may be terminated...

42 CFR 408.90 - Termination of group billing arrangement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Termination of group billing arrangement. 408.90... SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Direct Remittance: Group Payment § 408.90 Termination of group billing arrangement. (a) A group billing arrangement may be terminated...

42 CFR 408.90 - Termination of group billing arrangement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Termination of group billing arrangement. 408.90... SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Direct Remittance: Group Payment § 408.90 Termination of group billing arrangement. (a) A group billing arrangement may be terminated...

Report: EPA Should Bill Superfund Oversight Costs More Timely

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Report #11-P-0697, September 22, 2011. Based on our audit of oversight billings for nine sites in Regions 1, 5, and 9, we found that Region 5 did not timely bill or did not bill approximately $8.6 million in oversight costs for two sites.

Balance billing under Medicare: protecting beneficiaries and preserving physician participation.

PubMed

Colby, D C; Rice, T; Bernstein, J; Nelson, L

1995-01-01

Medicare's experience with balance billing provides valuable lessons for policy making for national or state health care reform. Medicare developed several policies to encourage physicians to become participating providers who accept Medicare-allowed charges as payment in full. Only nonparticipating physicians are permitted to bill for additional amounts beyond that paid by Medicare, and there are limits on the amount of balance billing per claim. As shown by the analysis of claims presented in this article, Medicare has successfully provided financial protection to beneficiaries. In 1986, more than 60 percent of expenditures for physician services were on assigned claims for which there could be no balance billing; by 1990, 80 percent of expenditures were on assigned claims. Balance billing decreased by about 30 percent during the same period. Although these policies have been successful in reducing total expenditures for balance billing, they may not provide financial protection to the most economically vulnerable beneficiaries. Using survey and claims data, we found that the poor have lower balance billing expenditures for services provided by primary care physicians, but that there is no relationship between poverty status and balance billing expenditures for services of nonprimary care physicians. In addition, most low-income beneficiaries are liable for balance bills. Under health care reform, adoption of Medicare's incentive-based approach with mandatory assignment for the poor would allow for some choice based on price and would provide financial protection for all consumers.

The evolution of the avian bill as a thermoregulatory organ.

PubMed

Tattersall, Glenn J; Arnaout, Bassel; Symonds, Matthew R E

2017-08-01

The avian bill is a textbook example of how evolution shapes morphology in response to changing environments. Bills of seed-specialist finches in particular have been the focus of intense study demonstrating how climatic fluctuations acting on food availability drive bill size and shape. The avian bill also plays an important but under-appreciated role in body temperature regulation, and therefore in energetics. Birds are endothermic and rely on numerous mechanisms for balancing internal heat production with biophysical constraints of the environment. The bill is highly vascularised and heat exchange with the environment can vary substantially, ranging from around 2% to as high as 400% of basal heat production in certain species. This heat exchange may impact how birds respond to heat stress, substitute for evaporative water loss at elevated temperatures or environments of altered water availability, or be an energetic liability at low environmental temperatures. As a result, in numerous taxa, there is evidence for a positive association between bill size and environmental temperatures, both within and among species. Therefore, bill size is both developmentally flexible and evolutionarily adaptive in response to temperature. Understanding the evolution of variation in bill size however, requires explanations of all potential mechanisms. The purpose of this review, therefore, is to promote a greater understanding of the role of temperature on shaping bill size over spatial gradients as well as developmental, seasonal, and evolutionary timescales. © 2016 Cambridge Philosophical Society.

Fatigue level estimation of monetary bills based on frequency band acoustic signals with feature selection by supervised SOM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teranishi, Masaru; Omatu, Sigeru; Kosaka, Toshihisa

Fatigued monetary bills adversely affect the daily operation of automated teller machines (ATMs). In order to make the classification of fatigued bills more efficient, the development of an automatic fatigued monetary bill classification method is desirable. We propose a new method by which to estimate the fatigue level of monetary bills from the feature-selected frequency band acoustic energy pattern of banking machines. By using a supervised self-organizing map (SOM), we effectively estimate the fatigue level using only the feature-selected frequency band acoustic energy pattern. Furthermore, the feature-selected frequency band acoustic energy pattern improves the estimation accuracy of the fatigue level of monetary bills by adding frequency domain information to the acoustic energy pattern. The experimental results with real monetary bill samples reveal the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Western Policy Exchanges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, 2009

2009-01-01

In December 2008, with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and in partnership with the Data Quality Campaign, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) hosted a meeting of the West's key leaders in building state-wide integrated longitudinal data systems. Such data systems are essential to developing a better…

Congress Inches Away from Metric Conversion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Russell, Cristine

1974-01-01

Reasons are discussed concerning the House of Representatives' defeat in 1974 of a bill to establish a National Metric Conversion Board which would coordinate the process of voluntary conversion to the metric system a ten-year period. A brief history of the metric system in the United States is included. (DT)

Rush Health Systems and Meridian Community College: People Serving People

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Willis, Jean H.

2007-01-01

Meridian Community College and Rush Health Systems are partners in delivering training focused on Rush's mission statement of hospital-wide commitment to "excellence in service management." Rush and MCC have delivered customized classes in the following areas: medical billing, leadership management, computer training, admissions clerk,…

Reduction of accounts receivable through total quality management.

PubMed

LaFleur, N

1994-01-01

On October 1, 1990, The Miriam Hospital in Providence, R.I., converted to a new computer system for patient accounting applications and on-line registration functions. The new system automated the hospital's patient accounting, registration, and medical records functions and interfaced registration with patient accounts for billing purposes.

42 CFR 412.432 - Method of payment under the inpatient psychiatric facility prospective payment system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS FOR... inpatient psychiatric facility receives payment under this subpart for inpatient operating cost and capital-related costs for each inpatient stay following submission of a bill. (b) Periodic interim payments (PIP...

Unmanned Aircraft House Hearing

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-02-15

Dr. Gerald Dillingham, Director, Civil Aviation Issues, Government Accounting Office (GAO), talks during a House Subcommittee on Oversight hearing titled "Operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System: Assessing Research and Development Efforts to Ensure Safety" on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Patients' success in negotiating out-of-network bills.

PubMed

Kyanko, Kelly A; Busch, Susan H

2016-10-01

Out-of-network (OON) care is one area where patients might be more likely to challenge their healthcare bills due to the high out-of-pocket costs and unexpected charges related to emergency care or hospital-affiliated providers. We aimed to determine whether, and under what circumstances, patients negotiate with either insurers or providers when services are billed OON and how often patients that do engage in negotiation are successful. Internet-based survey. We conducted a 2011 Internet survey on OON care on a nationally representative sample of privately insured adults (n = 721). We considered whether patients would be more likely to negotiate OON charges by demographic characteristics and under several scenarios: emergency visits, bills from hospital-affiliated OON providers at in-network hospitals, and balance bills. We found patients negotiated 19% of OON bills, were successful in lowering their costs 56% of the time, and were more likely to be successful negotiating with providers compared with insurers (63% vs 37%; P <.01). Men were more likely than women to be successful in lowering their costs (76% vs 50%; P <.05). OON bills for emergencies, providers at in-network hospitals, and with a balance bill were more likely to be negotiated, although bills from providers at in-network hospitals and with balance bills were less likely to be successfully negotiated. Patients had low rates of success in negotiating OON bills for emergency care and for OON providers at in-network hospitals. Policy makers aiming to protect patients under these scenarios should consider policies that allow for an easily accessible, formal, and unbiased mediation process.

Strengthening America's Public Health System Act

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM

2009-05-13

Senate - 05/13/2009 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Financial System Stabilization and Reform Act of 2009

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Castle, Michael N. [R-DE-At Large

2009-03-26

House - 04/28/2009 Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Supporting State Systems of Early Learning Act

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA

2011-03-03

Senate - 03/03/2011 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

76 FR 28961 - Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-19

... Regional Service Center, Functional Automation & Information Management Section, 4040 North Fairfax Drive... confirming billing or expense data. The DoD ``Blanket Routine Uses'' set forth at the beginning of the Office...

78 FR 47935 - Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-06

... corresponding terms in alphabetical order below: AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ARD Assessment... resource-intensive than SNF residents, especially SNF post-acute care patients. These commenters stated...

Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS

2013-05-06

Senate - 04/01/2014 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 340. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME

2009-01-08

Senate - 01/08/2009 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Early Warning Reporting System Improvement Act of 2014

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA

2014-03-25

Senate - 03/25/2014 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Greenhouse Gas Observation and Analysis System Act

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV

2009-07-29

Senate - 07/29/2009 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI

2014-05-22

Senate - 07/23/2014 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 481. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

42 CFR 408.82 - Conditions for group billing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Conditions for group billing. 408.82 Section 408.82... PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Direct Remittance: Group Payment § 408.82 Conditions for group billing. CMS agrees to a group billing arrangement only if the following conditions are met...

42 CFR 408.82 - Conditions for group billing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Conditions for group billing. 408.82 Section 408.82... PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Direct Remittance: Group Payment § 408.82 Conditions for group billing. CMS agrees to a group billing arrangement only if the following conditions are met...

42 CFR 408.82 - Conditions for group billing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Conditions for group billing. 408.82 Section 408.82... PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Direct Remittance: Group Payment § 408.82 Conditions for group billing. CMS agrees to a group billing arrangement only if the following conditions are met...

42 CFR 408.82 - Conditions for group billing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Conditions for group billing. 408.82 Section 408.82... PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Direct Remittance: Group Payment § 408.82 Conditions for group billing. CMS agrees to a group billing arrangement only if the following conditions are met...

44 CFR 354.6 - Billing and payment of fees.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM § 354.6 Billing and payment of fees. (a) Electronic billing and payment. We will deposit all funds collected under this part to the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Fund as... 44 Emergency Management and Assistance 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Billing and payment of fees...

47 CFR 64.2401 - Truth-in-Billing Requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... relationships with the subscriber that will result in periodic charges on the subscriber's bill, unless the... content so that customers can accurately assess that the services for which they are billed correspond to... customer, and must clearly and conspicuously identify on the bill those charges for which non-payment will...

18 CFR 420.33 - Payment of bills.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 2 2013-04-01 2012-04-01 true Payment of bills. 420.33 Section 420.33 Conservation of Power and Water Resources DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMMISSION ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL BASIN REGULATIONS-WATER SUPPLY CHARGES Entitlement; Measurement; Billing § 420.33 Payment of bills...

40 CFR 81.88 - Billings Intrastate Air Quality Control Region.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Quality Control Regions § 81.88 Billings Intrastate Air Quality Control Region. The Metropolitan Billings Intrastate Air Quality Control Region (Montana) has been renamed the Billings Intrastate Air Quality Control... to by Montana authorities as follows: Sec. 481.168Great Falls Intrastate Air Quality Control Region...

40 CFR 81.88 - Billings Intrastate Air Quality Control Region.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Quality Control Regions § 81.88 Billings Intrastate Air Quality Control Region. The Metropolitan Billings Intrastate Air Quality Control Region (Montana) has been renamed the Billings Intrastate Air Quality Control... to by Montana authorities as follows: Sec. 481.168Great Falls Intrastate Air Quality Control Region...

42 CFR 408.82 - Conditions for group billing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Conditions for group billing. 408.82 Section 408.82... PROGRAM PREMIUMS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE Direct Remittance: Group Payment § 408.82 Conditions for group billing. CMS agrees to a group billing arrangement only if the following conditions are met...

46 CFR 169.813 - Station bills.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Station bills. 169.813 Section 169.813 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) NAUTICAL SCHOOLS SAILING SCHOOL VESSELS Operations § 169.813 Station bills. (a) A station bill (muster list) shall be prepared and signed by the master of...

46 CFR 169.813 - Station bills.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Station bills. 169.813 Section 169.813 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) NAUTICAL SCHOOLS SAILING SCHOOL VESSELS Operations § 169.813 Station bills. (a) A station bill (muster list) shall be prepared and signed by the master of...

41 CFR 109-40.5004 - Government bills of lading.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Government bills of... Government bills of lading. In those instances where DOE cost-type contractors are authorized to use Government bills of lading, specific employees of cost-type contractors will be authorized by the contracting...

41 CFR 109-40.5004 - Government bills of lading.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Government bills of... Government bills of lading. In those instances where DOE cost-type contractors are authorized to use Government bills of lading, specific employees of cost-type contractors will be authorized by the contracting...

31 CFR 309.12 - Relief on account of loss, theft or destruction, etc.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

..., theft, destruction, mutilation or defacement of Treasury bills may be given only under the authority of... bills, immediate advice, with a full description of the bill or bills involved, should be sent to the... be given, instructions and necessary blank forms will be furnished. ...

31 CFR 309.12 - Relief on account of loss, theft or destruction, etc.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

..., theft, destruction, mutilation or defacement of Treasury bills may be given only under the authority of... bills, immediate advice, with a full description of the bill or bills involved, should be sent to the... be given, instructions and necessary blank forms will be furnished. ...

47 CFR 64.2401 - Truth-in-Billing Requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... for non-telecommunications services must place those charges in a distinct section of the bill... subtotaled. These separate subtotals for carrier and non-carrier charges also must be clearly and conspicuously displayed along with the bill total on the payment page of a paper bill or equivalent location on...

33 CFR 146.130 - Station bill.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... necessary for the proper handling of other emergencies. (c) The station bill shall contain the various... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Station bill. 146.130 Section 146... CONTINENTAL SHELF ACTIVITIES OPERATIONS Manned OCS Facilities § 146.130 Station bill. (a) The person in charge...

33 CFR 146.130 - Station bill.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... necessary for the proper handling of other emergencies. (c) The station bill shall contain the various... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Station bill. 146.130 Section 146... CONTINENTAL SHELF ACTIVITIES OPERATIONS Manned OCS Facilities § 146.130 Station bill. (a) The person in charge...

33 CFR 146.130 - Station bill.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... necessary for the proper handling of other emergencies. (c) The station bill shall contain the various... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Station bill. 146.130 Section 146... CONTINENTAL SHELF ACTIVITIES OPERATIONS Manned OCS Facilities § 146.130 Station bill. (a) The person in charge...

Plasticity of an Amorphous Assembly of Elastic Gel Beads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grosshans, D.; Knaebel, A.; Lequeux, F.

1995-01-01

We have studied the rheological properties of an assembly of swollen gel beads in a lack of solvent. The system is an amorphous assembly of packed soft spheres in a given volume. We have studied the plastic behavior of the system, and interpreted it in terms of bead rearrangements within the assembly. Nous avons étudié les propriétés rhéologiques d'un assemblage de billes de gel gonflées en défaut de solvant. Le système est donc une assemblée amorphe de sphères molles écrasées à volume total constant. Nous avons étudié divers aspects du comportement plastique et nous l'avons interprété en termes de réorganisations de billes dans l'assemblage.

Impact of Rate Design Alternatives on Residential Solar Customer Bills: Increased Fixed Charges, Minimum Bills and Demand-Based Rates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McLaren, Joyce; Davidson, Carolyn; Miller, John

Utilities are proposing changes to residential rate structures to address concerns about lost revenue due to increased adoption of distributed solar generation. An investigation of the impacts of increased fixed charges, minimum bills and residential demand charges on PV and non-PV customer bills suggests that minimum bills more accurately capture utilities' revenue requirement than fixed charges, while not acting as a disincentive to efficiency or negatively impacting low-income customers.

STS-124 Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-06-14

NASA Deputy Shuttle Program Manager LeRoy Cain points out a portion of the space shuttle Discovery to NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier, left, during a walk around shortly after Discovery touched down at 11:15 a.m., Saturday, June 14, 2008, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. During the 14-day STS-124 mission Discovery's crew installed the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's large Kibo laboratory and its remote manipulator system leaving a larger space station and one with increased science capabilities. Discovery also brought home NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman after his 3 month mission onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

Senate consideration of S. 1730 resulted in a recommendation for passage of a bill which would open up onshore oil and gas leasing and eliminate the known geological structure (KGS) requirement for competitive bidding. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee report reviews the 1920 Mineral Leasing Act, and notes that 95% of outstanding leases were awarded on a noncompetitive basis using the KGS designation. The report examines problems under the current simultaneous oil and gas (SIMO) lottery system, the probable impacts of amending the 1920 law, and analyzes each section of the proposed bill. The report concludes with correspondence, statements,more » and an explanation of changes which will be required in current law.« less

Clinical laboratory billing: superfluous requirements without justification?

PubMed

Stadler, Stephen

2004-01-01

Congress occasionally passes new laws that affect how clinical laboratories handle test orders from physicians and, subsequently, process the billing for tests. Once a bill is signed into law, it is forwarded to administrative agencies, which draft regulations and administrative procedures, under which the intentions of Congress are carried out. In the case of laboratory test ordering and billing, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has the greatest influence over how these regulations and procedures are defined. Unfortunately, in many cases, billing rules have been promulgated in ways that create the need for hospitals and commercial laboratories to expend huge sums of money to bill within the confines of the administrative rules; cause clinical laboratories to suffer from omissions and mistakes of other parties who are part of the patient care process but are not accountable for the billing information they provide to laboratories; and, frankly, in some respects, simply defy common sense.

Clinical integration of billing for a pediatric nephrology and transplant program.

PubMed

Tietjen, Andrea L; Orsini, Jenoveva; Mulgaonkar, Shamkant; Morgan, Debbie

2003-09-01

To develop and implement a billing process that fully integrates all activities of a pediatric nephrology and transplant program, by facilitating and coordinating data from patients, physicians, hospitals, and third-party billing services to maximize revenues. Financial operations were analyzed via a randomized audit of patient charts that focused on office procedures and revenue collection. Results based on monthly reports documenting revenue received and outstanding, procedures billed, and patient registration accuracy. The combination of improvements in patient registration, chart documentation, new billing sheets with procedure and diagnosis codes, physician in-service education, upgraded charges, and the recredentialing of all practice physicians realized an increase in revenue collections from 18% in 2000 to 89% in 2001. The need to integrate and coordinate information is vital for both billing accuracy and revenue collections. Integration of clinical services and billing procedures has maximized performance, profitability, and accuracy while decreasing administrative time and costs.

20 CFR 30.701 - How are medical bills to be submitted?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false How are medical bills to be submitted? 30.701... EMPLOYEES OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS COMPENSATION PROGRAM ACT OF 2000, AS AMENDED Information for Medical Providers Medical Records and Bills § 30.701 How are medical bills to be submitted? (a) All charges for...

20 CFR 30.701 - How are medical bills to be submitted?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 1 2014-04-01 2012-04-01 true How are medical bills to be submitted? 30.701... EMPLOYEES OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS COMPENSATION PROGRAM ACT OF 2000, AS AMENDED Information for Medical Providers Medical Records and Bills § 30.701 How are medical bills to be submitted? (a) All charges for...

20 CFR 30.701 - How are medical bills to be submitted?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false How are medical bills to be submitted? 30.701... EMPLOYEES OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS COMPENSATION PROGRAM ACT OF 2000, AS AMENDED Information for Medical Providers Medical Records and Bills § 30.701 How are medical bills to be submitted? (a) All charges for...

20 CFR 30.701 - How are medical bills to be submitted?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 1 2013-04-01 2012-04-01 true How are medical bills to be submitted? 30.701... EMPLOYEES OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS COMPENSATION PROGRAM ACT OF 2000, AS AMENDED Information for Medical Providers Medical Records and Bills § 30.701 How are medical bills to be submitted? (a) All charges for...

Fixed-Rate Tuition Plans: A Survey in Response to Senate Bill 806

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, 2015

2015-01-01

Legislation introduced in 2015, including Senate Bill 806, sought to amend the "Code of Virginia" regarding fixed four-year tuition and other costs. Eventually, Senate Bill 1183 was incorporated into Senate Bill 806; the substitute amendment directed the board of visitors of each four-year public institution with an in-state…

76 FR 74017 - Empowering Consumers to Prevent and Detect Billing for Unauthorized Charges (“Cramming...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-30

... FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 64 [CG Docket Nos. 11-116 and 09-158; CC Docket No. 98-170; FCC 11-106; DA 11-1860] Empowering Consumers to Prevent and Detect Billing for Unauthorized Charges (``Cramming''); Consumer Information and Disclosure; Truth-in-Billing and Billing Format AGENCY...

47 CFR 64.1201 - Restrictions on billing name and address disclosure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Carrier Validation and Billing Information for Joint Use Calling Cards, CC Docket No. 91-115, FCC 93-254... provider. (4) The term bulk basis means billing name and address information for all the local exchange... billing name and address information to any party other than a telecommunications service provider or an...

75 FR 15456 - Notice of Availability for the Signal Peak Energy, LLC, Federal Coal Lease Application...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-29

... James M. Sparks, Manager, Billings Field Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, Montana 59101-4669... CONTACT: Craig Drake, Assistant Manager, Billings Field Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, Montana... Application MTM 97988. DATES: The public hearing will be held in the BLM Montana State Office's main...

41 CFR 102-118.45 - How does a transportation service provider (TSP) bill my agency for transportation and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... provider (TSP) bill my agency for transportation and transportation services? The manner in which your agency orders transportation and transportation services determines the manner in which a TSP bills for service. This is shown in the following table: Transportation Service Provider Billing (a) Ordering method...

19 CFR 24.3 - Bills and accounts; receipts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Bills and accounts; receipts. 24.3 Section 24.3... TREASURY CUSTOMS FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE § 24.3 Bills and accounts; receipts. (a) Any bill or... document filed by the payer and the payer's cancelled check shall constitute evidence of payment. (c) A...

19 CFR 24.3 - Bills and accounts; receipts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Bills and accounts; receipts. 24.3 Section 24.3... TREASURY CUSTOMS FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE § 24.3 Bills and accounts; receipts. (a) Any bill or... document filed by the payer and the payer's cancelled check shall constitute evidence of payment. (c) A...

19 CFR 24.3 - Bills and accounts; receipts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Bills and accounts; receipts. 24.3 Section 24.3... TREASURY CUSTOMS FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE § 24.3 Bills and accounts; receipts. (a) Any bill or... document filed by the payer and the payer's cancelled check shall constitute evidence of payment. (c) A...

19 CFR 24.3 - Bills and accounts; receipts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 1 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Bills and accounts; receipts. 24.3 Section 24.3... TREASURY CUSTOMS FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE § 24.3 Bills and accounts; receipts. (a) Any bill or... document filed by the payer and the payer's cancelled check shall constitute evidence of payment. (c) A...

19 CFR 24.3 - Bills and accounts; receipts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 19 Customs Duties 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Bills and accounts; receipts. 24.3 Section 24.3... TREASURY CUSTOMS FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE § 24.3 Bills and accounts; receipts. (a) Any bill or... document filed by the payer and the payer's cancelled check shall constitute evidence of payment. (c) A...

20 CFR 30.701 - How are medical bills to be submitted?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false How are medical bills to be submitted? 30.701... EMPLOYEES OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS COMPENSATION PROGRAM ACT OF 2000, AS AMENDED Information for Medical Providers Medical Records and Bills § 30.701 How are medical bills to be submitted? (a) All charges for...

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities '99 Session: Mandates and Curiosities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, St. Paul.

This publication highlights and explains relevant Minnesota legislative developments affecting higher education. For each bill, there is a summary provided in plain English, followed by copies of related portions of the legislation. The bills presented are: (1) Higher Education Omnibus Funding Bill (H.F. 2380); (2) Bonding Omnibus Bill (H.F.…

An analysis of state legislation on community trails.

PubMed

Eyler, Amy; Lankford, Tina; Chriqui, Jamie; Evenson, Kelly R; Kruger, Judy; Tompkins, Nancy; Voorhees, Carolyn; Zieff, Susan; Aytur, Semra; Brownson, Ross

2010-03-01

Trails provide opportunities for recreation, transportation and activity. The purpose of this article is to describe state legislation related to community trails, to analyze legislation content, and to evaluate legislation on inclusion of evidence-informed elements. State trail legislation from 2001 to 2008 was identified using online legislative databases. An analysis of evidence-informed elements included in the legislation was conducted. These elements included: funding, liability, accessibility, connectivity, and maintenance. Of the total 991 trail bills, 516 (52.0%) were appropriations bills, of which 167 (32.2%) were enacted. We analyzed 475 (48%) nonappropriation trail bills of which 139 (29.3%) were enacted. The percentage of enactment of appropriations bills decreased over time while enactment of nonappropriations trail bills increased. Over half of the nonappropriations trail bills included at least 1 evidence-informed element, most commonly funding. Few bills contained liability, connectivity, accessibility, or maintenance. There is opportunity for providing evidence-informed information to policy-makers to potentially influence bill content. The number of bills with a funding element demonstrates that fiscal support for trails is an important policy lever that state legislatures may use to support trails. Lastly, trails should be considered in over-all state-level physical activity legislation to provide opportunities for communities to be active.

Evolution of sexual dimorphism in bill size and shape of hermit hummingbirds (Phaethornithinae): a role for ecological causation

PubMed Central

Temeles, Ethan J.; Miller, Jill S.; Rifkin, Joanna L.

2010-01-01

Unambiguous examples of ecological causation of sexual dimorphism are rare, and the best evidence involves sexual differences in trophic morphology. We show that moderate female-biased sexual dimorphism in bill curvature is the ancestral condition in hermit hummingbirds (Phaethornithinae), and that it is greatly amplified in species such as Glaucis hirsutus and Phaethornis guy, where bills of females are 60 per cent more curved than bills of males. In contrast, bill curvature dimorphism is lost or reduced in a lineage of short-billed hermit species and in specialist Eutoxeres sicklebill hermits. In the hermits, males tend to be larger than females in the majority of species, although size dimorphism is typically small. Consistent with earlier studies of hummingbird feeding performance, both raw regressions of traits and phylogenetic independent contrasts supported the prediction that dimorphism in bill curvature of hermits is associated with longer bills. Some evidence indicates that differences between sexes of hermit hummingbirds are associated with differences in the use of food plants. We suggest that some hermit hummingbirds provide model organisms for studies of ecological causation of sexual dimorphism because their sexual dimorphism in bill curvature provides a diagnostic clue for the food plants that need to be monitored for studies of sexual differences in resource use. PMID:20194168

Provider Experiences with Chronic Care Management (CCM) Services and Fees: A Qualitative Research Study.

PubMed

O'Malley, Ann S; Sarwar, Rumin; Keith, Rosalind; Balke, Patrick; Ma, Sai; McCall, Nancy

2017-12-01

Support for ongoing care management and coordination between office visits for patients with multiple chronic conditions has been inadequate. In January 2015, Medicare introduced the Chronic Care Management (CCM) payment policy, which reimburses providers for CCM activities for Medicare beneficiaries occurring outside of office visits. To explore the experiences, facilitators, and challenges of practices providing CCM services, and their implications going forward. Semi-structured telephone interviews from January to April 2016 with 71 respondents. Sixty billing and non-billing providers and practice staff knowledgeable about their practices' CCM services, and 11 professional society representatives. Practice respondents noted that most patients expressed positive views of CCM services. Practice respondents also perceived several patient benefits, including improved adherence to treatment, access to care team members, satisfaction, care continuity, and care coordination. Facilitators of CCM provision included having an in-practice care manager, patient-centered medical home recognition, experience developing care plans, patient trust in their provider, and supplemental insurance to cover CCM copayments. Most billing practices reported few problems obtaining patients' consent for CCM, though providers felt that CMS could better facilitate consent by marketing CCM's goals to beneficiaries. Barriers reported by professional society representatives and by billing and non-billing providers included inadequacy of CCM payments to cover upfront investments for staffing, workflow modification, and time needed to manage complex patients. Other barriers included inadequate infrastructure for health information exchange with other providers and limited electronic health record capabilities for documenting and updating care plans. Practices owned by hospital systems and large medical groups faced greater bureaucracy in implementing CCM than did smaller, independent practices. Improving providers' experiences with and uptake of CCM will require addressing several challenges, including the upfront investment for CCM set-up and the time required to provide CCM to more complex patients.

Carotenoids buffer the acute phase response on fever, sickness behavior and rapid bill color change in zebra finches.

PubMed

George, Deanna B; Schneider, Brent C; McGraw, Kevin J; Ardia, Daniel R

2017-08-15

Carotenoids are finite resources that animals can allocate to self-maintenance, attractiveness or reproduction. Here we test how carotenoids affect the acute phase response (APR), an intense rapid systemic response characterized by fever, sickness behavior and production of acute phase proteins, which serves to reduce pathogen persistence. We conducted a 2×2 factorial design experiment in captive adult male and female zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata ) to determine the effects of carotenoid supplementation on the intensity of the APR. We measured changes in feeding rate, activity level and body temperature of the birds. We found that, relative to unsupplemented controls, carotenoid-supplemented birds exhibited less severe reductions in feeding and activity, smaller increases in body temperature and lower circulating levels of haptoglobin (an acute phase protein) 24 h after inducing an APR. Among supplemented individuals, those with higher blood carotenoid levels exhibited a lower reduction in activity rate after 24 h. Forty-eight hours after APR induction, birds exhibited a significant decrease in plasma carotenoid levels and a decrease in bill hue, with less reduction in hue in carotenoid-supplemented individuals. These results demonstrate that carotenoids can alleviate several important behavioral and physiological effects of an APR and that bill color can change rapidly following induction of the costly APR immune defense. In particular, immune activation may have caused birds to preferentially draw down carotenoids from the bloodstream, ostensibly for use in health. Rapid bill color changes over a 48-h period support growing evidence that bills may serve as short-term signals of health and condition. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

The Proposed MACRA/MIPS Threshold for Patient-Facing Encounters: What It Means for Radiologists.

PubMed

Rosenkrantz, Andrew B; Hirsch, Joshua A; Allen, Bibb; Wang, Wenyi; Hughes, Danny R; Nicola, Gregory N

2017-03-01

In implementing the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), CMS will provide special considerations to physicians with infrequent face-to-face patient encounters by reweighting MIPS performance categories to account for the unique circumstances facing these providers. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of varying criteria on the fraction of radiologists who are likely to receive special considerations for performance assessment under MIPS. Data from the 2014 Medicare Physician and Other Supplier file for 28,710 diagnostic radiologists were used to determine the fraction of radiologists meeting various proposed criteria for receiving special considerations. For each definition, the fraction of patient-facing encounters among all billed codes was determined for those radiologists not receiving special considerations. When using the criterion proposed by CMS that physicians will receive special considerations if billing ≤25 evaluation and management services or surgical codes, 72.0% of diagnostic radiologists would receive special considerations, though such encounters would represent only 2.1% of billed codes among remaining diagnostic radiologists without special considerations. If CMS were to apply an alternative criterion of billing ≤100 evaluation and management codes exclusively, 98.8% of diagnostic radiologists would receive special considerations. At this threshold, patient-facing encounters would represent approximately 10% of billed codes among remaining radiologists without special considerations. The current CMS proposed criterion for special considerations would result in a considerable fraction of radiologists being evaluated on the basis of measures that are not reflective of their practice and beyond their direct control. Alternative criteria could help ensure that radiologists are provided a fair opportunity for success in performance review under the MIPS. Copyright © 2016 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Patterns and predictors of state adult obesity prevention legislation enactment in US states: 2010-2013.

PubMed

Donaldson, Elisabeth A; Cohen, Joanna E; Villanti, Andrea C; Kanarek, Norma F; Barry, Colleen L; Rutkow, Lainie

2015-05-01

This study examined bill- and state-level factors associated with enactment of adult obesity prevention legislation in US states. A review of bills in the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity's legislative database identified 487 adult obesity prevention bills, or proposed legislation, introduced between 2010 and 2013. Multilevel models were constructed to examine bill- and state-level characteristics associated with enactment. From 2010 to 2013, 81 (17%) of obesity prevention bills introduced were enacted across 35 states and the District of Columbia. Bills introduced in 2010 were more likely to be enacted than in 2013 (OR=9.49; 95% CI: 2.61-34.5). Bills focused on access to healthy food, physical activity, general and educational programs, as well as modifying rules and procedures (e.g., preemption) had greater odds of enactment relative to food and beverage taxes (OR=8.18; 95% CI: 2.85-23.4 healthy food; OR=17.3; 95% CI: 4.55-65.7 physical activity; OR=15.2; 95% CI: 4.80-47.9 general; OR=13.7; 95% CI: 3.07-61.5 rules). The year of bill introduction and overall bill enactment rate were related to adult obesity prevention legislation enactment in states. This study highlights the importance of a bill's topic area for enactment and provides insights for advocates and policymakers trying to address enactment barriers. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Colour also matters for nocturnal birds: owlet bill coloration advertises quality and influences parental feeding behaviour in little owls.

PubMed

Avilés, J M; Parejo, D

2013-10-01

Chromatic signals of offspring quality have been shown to play a role in parent-offspring communication in diurnal birds, but are assumed to be useless in dim light conditions because colour-based discrimination probably requires more light. A major ecological and evolutionary conundrum in this scenario is why the nestlings of some nocturnal owls display colourful beaks. Here, we test the hypothesis that yellow bill coloration of owlets of the nocturnal little owl Athene noctua may function as a chromatic signal revealing to parents aspects of quality of their offspring. In a first step, we examined physical variation in bill coloration and its covariation with owlet quality. Secondly, we studied parental provisioning in relation to an experimental manipulation of bill coloration of owlets. Bills of owlets showed higher within-nest variation in yellow-red chroma than in brightness. Plasma carotenoid concentration and nestling immunological status were not associated with chromatic or achromatic features of the bill. Interestingly, however, heavier owlets displayed more yellow bills than lighter ones. The effect of bill coloration on parental favouritism changed with brood size. Parents holding large broods preferentially fed owlets with enhanced over reduced yellow bill coloration, whereas those with small broods did not significantly bias feeding in relation to owlet bill coloration. Our results, based on integration of objective spectrophotometric assessment of colour and experimental procedures, confirm that parent little owls use bill coloration to reveal information on owlet body mass to adjust their feeding strategies, thus highlighting the importance of considering potential chromatic signals for a full comprehension of parent-offspring communication processes in nocturnal bird species.

The Long and the Short of It: No Dietary Specialisation between Male and Female Western Sandpipers Despite Strong Bill Size Dimorphism

PubMed Central

Franks, Samantha E.; Fernández, Guillermo; Hodkinson, David J.; Kyser, T. Kurt; Lank, David B.

2013-01-01

Many bird species show spatial or habitat segregation of the sexes during the non-breeding season. One potential ecological explanation is that differences in bill morphology favour foraging niche specialisation and segregation. Western sandpipers Calidris mauri have pronounced bill size dimorphism, with female bills averaging 15% longer than those of males. The sexes differ in foraging behaviour and exhibit partial latitudinal segregation during the non-breeding season, with males predominant in the north and females in the south. Niche specialisation at a local scale might account for this broad geographic pattern, and we investigated whether longer-billed females and shorter-billed males occupy different foraging niches at 16 sites across the non-breeding range. We used stable-nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analysis of whole blood to test for dietary specialisation according to bill length and sex. Stable-nitrogen isotope ratios increase with trophic level. We predicted that δ15N values would increase with bill length and would be higher for females, which use a greater proportion of foraging behaviour that targets higher-trophic level prey. We used stable-carbon (δ13C) isotope analysis to test for habitat segregation according to bill length and sex. Stable-carbon isotope ratios vary between marine- and freshwater-influenced habitats. We predicted that δ13C values would differ between males and females if the sexes segregate between habitat types. Using a model selection approach, we found little support for a relationship between δ15N and either bill length or sex. There was some indication, however, that more marine δ13C values occur with shorter bill lengths. Our findings provide little evidence that male and female western sandpipers exhibit dietary specialisation as a function of their bill size, but indicate that the sexes may segregate in different habitats according to bill length at some non-breeding sites. Potential ecological factors underlying habitat segregation between sexes include differences in preferred habitat type and predation risk. PMID:24260305

Addressing medical coding and billing part II: a strategy for achieving compliance. A risk management approach for reducing coding and billing errors.

PubMed Central

Adams, Diane L.; Norman, Helen; Burroughs, Valentine J.

2002-01-01

Medical practice today, more than ever before, places greater demands on physicians to see more patients, provide more complex medical services and adhere to stricter regulatory rules, leaving little time for coding and billing. Yet, the need to adequately document medical records, appropriately apply billing codes and accurately charge insurers for medical services is essential to the medical practice's financial condition. Many physicians rely on office staff and billing companies to process their medical bills without ever reviewing the bills before they are submitted for payment. Some physicians may not be receiving the payment they deserve when they do not sufficiently oversee the medical practice's coding and billing patterns. This article emphasizes the importance of monitoring and auditing medical record documentation and coding application as a strategy for achieving compliance and reducing billing errors. When medical bills are submitted with missing and incorrect information, they may result in unpaid claims and loss of revenue to physicians. Addressing Medical Audits, Part I--A Strategy for Achieving Compliance--CMS, JCAHO, NCQA, published January 2002 in the Journal of the National Medical Association, stressed the importance of preparing the medical practice for audits. The article highlighted steps the medical practice can take to prepare for audits and presented examples of guidelines used by regulatory agencies to conduct both medical and financial audits. The Medicare Integrity Program was cited as an example of guidelines used by regulators to identify coding errors during an audit and deny payment to providers when improper billing occurs. For each denied claim, payments owed to the medical practice are are also denied. Health care is, no doubt, a costly endeavor for health care providers, consumers and insurers. The potential risk to physicians for improper billing may include loss of revenue, fraud investigations, financial sanction, disciplinary action and exclusion from participation in government programs. Part II of this article recommends an approach for assessing potential risk, preventing improper billing, and improving financial management of the medical practice. Images p432-a PMID:12078924

Financial System Stabilization and Reform Act of 2009

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME

2009-03-23

Senate - 03/23/2009 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Improving the Juvenile Justice System for Girls Act of 2013

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3

2013-05-06

House - 07/08/2013 Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Financial Services Systemic Risk Oversight Council Act of 2009

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA

2009-11-09

Senate - 11/09/2009 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

National Urban Search and Rescue Response System Act of 2009

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9

2009-01-27

House - 01/28/2009 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

To establish pilot projects for agriculture renewable energy systems.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Holden, Tim [D-PA-17

2010-09-29

House - 11/16/2010 Referred to the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Biotechnology, Specialty Crops, and Foreign Agriculture. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2011

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Denham, Jeff [R-CA-19

2011-09-13

House - 09/14/2011 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2009

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-25

2009-05-21

House - 05/22/2009 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act of 2011

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO

2011-03-01

Senate - 03/01/2011 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

A Method for Constructing a New Extensible Nomenclature for Clinical Coding Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa.

PubMed

Van Laere, Sven; Nyssen, Marc; Verbeke, Frank

2017-01-01

Clinical coding is a requirement to provide valuable data for billing, epidemiology and health care resource allocation. In sub-Saharan Africa, we observe a growing awareness of the need for coding of clinical data, not only in health insurances, but also in governments and the hospitals. Presently, coding systems in sub-Saharan Africa are often used for billing purposes. In this paper we consider the use of a nomenclature to also have a clinical impact. Often coding systems are assumed to be complex and too extensive to be used in daily practice. Here, we present a method for constructing a new nomenclature based on existing coding systems by considering a minimal subset in the sub-Saharan region. Evaluation of completeness will be done nationally using the requirements of national registries. The nomenclature requires an extension character for dealing with codes that have to be used for multiple registries. Hospitals will benefit most by using this extension character.

Customer Engagement in AEP gridSMART Residential Transactive System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Widergren, Steven E.; Marinovici, Maria C.; Fuller, Jason C.

— In 2013, AEP Ohio (AEP) operated a 5-minute real-time price (RTP) electricity market system on 4 distribution feeders as part of their gridSMART® demonstration project. The RTP households were billed for their electricity usage according to an RTP tariff approved by the Public Utility Commission of Ohio. They were given the incentive that their annual bill would be no greater than if they were on the flat-rate tariff, but they had financial incentives to shift consumption from high price periods to low price periods. Incentives were also available for response under high prices from local events, such as reachingmore » the distribution feeder capacity or a critical peak pricing event. An analysis of this transactive system experiment was completed in early 2014. This paper describes the incentive provided to the customer, the nature of their interaction with the smart thermostat that provided automated response to the transactive signal, and their level of satisfaction with the program.« less

Superheat recovery system shakes savings out of A/C systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1985-09-01

One of the most productive and least expensive methods of recovering waste heat is a system that reclaims the excess energy or superheat generated by closed-loop-air conditioning or refrigeration cycles. Installed recently in 72 Steak N' Shakes restaurants as part of a total energy conservation package, it has helped cut gas bills by more than 70%.

20 CFR 10.801 - How are medical bills to be submitted?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 1 2013-04-01 2012-04-01 true How are medical bills to be submitted? 10.801... AMENDED Information for Medical Providers Medical Records and Bills § 10.801 How are medical bills to be submitted? (a) All charges for medical and surgical treatment, appliances or supplies furnished to injured...

20 CFR 10.801 - How are medical bills to be submitted?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false How are medical bills to be submitted? 10.801... AMENDED Information for Medical Providers Medical Records and Bills § 10.801 How are medical bills to be submitted? (a) All charges for medical and surgical treatment, appliances or supplies furnished to injured...

20 CFR 10.801 - How are medical bills to be submitted?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 1 2014-04-01 2012-04-01 true How are medical bills to be submitted? 10.801... AMENDED Information for Medical Providers Medical Records and Bills § 10.801 How are medical bills to be submitted? (a) All charges for medical and surgical treatment, appliances or supplies furnished to injured...

20 CFR 10.801 - How are medical bills to be submitted?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false How are medical bills to be submitted? 10.801... AMENDED Information for Medical Providers Medical Records and Bills § 10.801 How are medical bills to be submitted? (a) All charges for medical and surgical treatment, appliances or supplies furnished to injured...

A Summary of Major State Legislation Passed in 1972 Relating to the Education of Handicapped Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Education Commission of the States, Denver, CO. Handicapped Children's Education Project.

Summarized are approximately 120 bills passed by state legislatures in 1972 pertaining to the education of handicapped children. The summaries are intended to provide general information concerning recent legislation by states and territories. Summaries usually include bill number and a resume of the bill's provisions. Examples of bills include…

49 CFR 375.807 - What actions may I take to collect the charges upon my freight bill?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... freight bill? (a) You must present a freight bill within 15 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and... seven days (including Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays). (c) You must provide in your tariffs... calendar days for any shipper who has not paid your freight bill within the 7-day period. However, for...

Chicana/o Students Respond to Arizona's Anti-Ethnic Studies Bill, SB 1108: Civic Engagement, Ethnic Identity, and Well-Being

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Leary, Anna Ochoa; Romero, Andrea J.

2011-01-01

Arizona Senate Bill 1108, the "anti-ethnic studies bill," proposed to eliminate ethnic studies programs and ethnic-based organizations from state-funded education. Along with other anti-immigrant legislation, this bill is creating an oppressive climate of discrimination against individuals of Mexican descent in Arizona. This study…

76 FR 54001 - Agency Information Collection (Election To Apply Selected Reserve Services to either Montgomery...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-30

... To Apply Selected Reserve Services to either Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty or to the Montgomery GI... Selected Reserve Services to Either Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty or to the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected.... Abstract: Reservist who participant in the Montgomery GI Bill-- Active Duty and served on active duty for...

20 CFR 30.421 - What are the time frames for submitting bills and reimbursement requests?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false What are the time frames for submitting bills and reimbursement requests? 30.421 Section 30.421 Employees' Benefits OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION... AMENDED Medical and Related Benefits Medical Bills § 30.421 What are the time frames for submitting bills...

How the Bill of Rights Was Developed.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stivison, David V.

The roots of the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, are examined in this document. Attention is directed to English law, specifically the Magna Carta and England's Bill of Rights of 1689, as providing much of the underpinnings for the U.S. Bill of Rights. The text of 15 articles proposed by anti-federalists…

77 FR 48461 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Farm Bill of 2008 Retailer Sanctions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-14

... Service 7 CFR Parts 278 and 279 RIN 0584-AD88 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Farm Bill of 2008..., Public Law 110-246 (``the 2008 Farm Bill''). The proposal would update SNAP retailer sanction regulations to include authority granted in the 2008 Farm Bill to allow FNS to impose a civil penalty in addition...

Validation of the standardized and simplified cutting bill

Treesearch

Urs Buehlmann; D. Earl Kline; Janice K. Wiedenbeck; R., Jr. Noble

2008-01-01

This research validated the framework for the standardized and simplified cutting bill presented in an earlier paper. The cutting bill validation was carried out in two ways. First, all 20 of the cutting bill's part groups were examined to determine if significant yield influences resulted from changing specific part sizes within the boundaries of a given part...

9 CFR 590.130 - Basis of billing plants.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Basis of billing plants. 590.130... of Service § 590.130 Basis of billing plants. Overtime and/or holiday services shall be billed to the official plant on the basis of each 15 minutes of overtime and/or holiday service performed by each...

9 CFR 590.130 - Basis of billing plants.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Basis of billing plants. 590.130... of Service § 590.130 Basis of billing plants. Overtime and/or holiday services shall be billed to the official plant on the basis of each 15 minutes of overtime and/or holiday service performed by each...

9 CFR 590.130 - Basis of billing plants.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Basis of billing plants. 590.130... of Service § 590.130 Basis of billing plants. Overtime and/or holiday services shall be billed to the official plant on the basis of each 15 minutes of overtime and/or holiday service performed by each...

9 CFR 590.130 - Basis of billing plants.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Basis of billing plants. 590.130... of Service § 590.130 Basis of billing plants. Overtime and/or holiday services shall be billed to the official plant on the basis of each 15 minutes of overtime and/or holiday service performed by each...

42 CFR 405.515 - Reimbursement for clinical laboratory services billed by physicians.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

...'s bill, or a request for payment for a physician's services, includes a charge for a laboratory test... chapter): (a) If the bill or request for payment indicates that the test was personally performed or supervised either by the physician who submitted the bill (or for whose services the request for payment was...

42 CFR 405.515 - Reimbursement for clinical laboratory services billed by physicians.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

...'s bill, or a request for payment for a physician's services, includes a charge for a laboratory test... chapter): (a) If the bill or request for payment indicates that the test was personally performed or supervised either by the physician who submitted the bill (or for whose services the request for payment was...

42 CFR 405.515 - Reimbursement for clinical laboratory services billed by physicians.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

...'s bill, or a request for payment for a physician's services, includes a charge for a laboratory test... chapter): (a) If the bill or request for payment indicates that the test was personally performed or supervised either by the physician who submitted the bill (or for whose services the request for payment was...

42 CFR 405.515 - Reimbursement for clinical laboratory services billed by physicians.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

...'s bill, or a request for payment for a physician's services, includes a charge for a laboratory test... chapter): (a) If the bill or request for payment indicates that the test was personally performed or supervised either by the physician who submitted the bill (or for whose services the request for payment was...

20 CFR 10.801 - How are medical bills to be submitted?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false How are medical bills to be submitted? 10.801... AMENDED Information for Medical Providers Medical Records and Bills § 10.801 How are medical bills to be submitted? (a) All charges for medical and surgical treatment, appliances or supplies furnished to injured...

Ecological relationships of two todies in Hispaniola: effects of habitat and flocking

Treesearch

Steven C. Latta; JR. Wunderle

1998-01-01

We studied microhabitat use, foraging and social behavior of Broad-billed (Todus subulatus)a nd Narrow-billed (T. angustirostrisT) odies in two areaso f sympatry in the Cordillera Central of the Dominican Republic. Solitary Broad-billed and Narrow-billed Todies occupied distinct microhabitats in both shade coffee plantations and native pine forest while generally...

77 FR 22068 - Proposed Information Collection (Post-9/11 GI Bill Education Longitudinal Study Survey) Activity...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-12

... DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS [OMB Control No. 2900-New (Post-9/11 GI Bill Longitudinal Study Survey)] Proposed Information Collection (Post-9/11 GI Bill Education Longitudinal Study Survey) Activity... information needed to determine the long-term outcomes of Veterans participating in VBA's Post-9/11GI Bill...

77 FR 39344 - Agency Information (Post-9/11 GI Bill Education Longitudinal Study Survey) Activity Under OMB Review

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-02

... DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS [OMB Control No. 2900-New (Post-9/11 GI Bill Longitudinal Study Survey)] Agency Information (Post-9/11 GI Bill Education Longitudinal Study Survey) Activity Under OMB...-9/11 GI Bill Longitudinal Study Survey) in any correspondence For Further Information or a Copy of...

Impact of business infrastructure on financial metrics in departments of surgery.

PubMed

Wai, Philip Y; O'Hern, Tim; Andersen, Dave O; Kuo, Marissa C; Weber, Cynthia E; Talbot, Lindsay J; Kuo, Paul C

2012-10-01

In the current environment, pressure is ever increasing to maximize financial performance in surgery departments. Factors such as physician extenders, billing and collection, payor mix, contracting, incentives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and administrative incentives may greatly influence financial performance. However, despite a plethora of information from the University HealthSystem Consortium and the Association of American Medical Colleges, best-practice information for business infrastructure is lacking. To obtain a sampling of current practices, we conducted a survey of departments of surgery. An anonymous 30-question survey addressing demographics, productivity, revenue and expense profile, payor mix, physician extender and staff personnel, billing and collections methodology, and financial performance was distributed among members of the Society of Surgical Chairs via SurveyMonkey. This was approved by the Loyola Institutional Research Board. Multivariate linear regression analyses and t tests/rank-sum tests were performed, as appropriate. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. A total of 25 (19%) departments responded; 14 were integrated with the hospital/health system, and 11 were integrated with the medical school. In 60% (n = 15), the main hospital had 500 to 1,000 beds; 48% (n = 12) had >4 hospitals in their system. For FY10, MD clinical full-time equivalents (FTEs) were 49 ± 10; total work relative value units (wRVUs) were 320 ± 8 k; and total billed cases were 43 ± 16 k. A total of 23 of 25 used physician-extenders with an average of 18 ± 5 per department and in 22 of 23, the physician extenders billed. On average, there were 18 ± 6 clinical-support staff, 25 ± 11 front-office staff, and 13 ± 3 back-office support staff FTEs. Among these FTEs, there were 16 ± 5 devoted to business operations (billing, coding, denial/claims management, financial oversight). Collections/wRVUs were $60 ± 3 (range, 39-80). Regression modeling demonstrated that total wRVUs were determined by the number of MD FTEs (P = .01), number of physician extenders (P = .01), number of front-office staff (P = .01), number of back-office staff (P = .02), and number of total business staff (P = .01). Collections/wRVUs were predicted by number of hospitals (P = .04), number of MD FTEs (P = .03), number of physician extenders (P = .01), and number of cases/total business staff (P = .02). Interestingly, wRVUs/MD was predicted by number of MD FTEs (P = .01) but were not greatly impacted by numbers of clinical or business support staff. In 4 of 25, the billing and coding staff were incentivized and had a Collections/wRVU = 64 ± 5 whereas nonincentivized staff had collections/wRVU = 59 ± 3. (P = NS) Also, %Accounts receivable >90 days (15% vs 25%) were not substantially different. Only 48% (12/25) have departments have recouped Centers for Medicare and Medicaid dollars for Physician Quality Reporting Initiative, Meaningful Use, Patient-Centered Medical Homes, or other Accountable Care-like programs. One-half (13) of the departments had both an inpatient and outpatient electronic medical record. Finally, on a scale of 1-10 (10 = highest), the average level of satisfaction with billing and collections processes was 6. Our results indicate that the physician extender, clinical support staff, and business staff environment can impact surgeon productivity, and there is opportunity for improvement. Determining best practices for ratios of support staff/MD and optimizing the role of electronic medical record in workflow and billing/collections are critical in the current environment. Our pilot study requires extension across more institutions for validation. Copyright © 2012 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

76 FR 48485 - Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-08

... order below: ABN Advance Beneficiary Notice AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ARD Assessment... Survey Certification and Reporting System PAC-PRD Post Acute Care Payment Reform Demonstration PECOS... which the hospital can use its beds to provide either acute or SNF care, as needed. For critical [[Page...

76 FR 26363 - Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-06

... previous case-mix classification system. It also includes a discussion of a Non-Therapy Ancillary component... facilities. Finally, it proposes certain changes relating to the payment of group therapy services and... Payment for SNF Non-Therapy Ancillary Costs 1. Previous Research 2. Conceptual Analysis 3. Analytic Sample...

It System Integration: Global Medical Acquisition of Health Tech Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Russo, Mark; White, Bruce

2013-01-01

Mergers and Acquisitions are just part of life in business. For example, in the health care technology field in 2012, Veritas Capital Partners acquired Thomson Reuters' Healthcare. Other major active acquisition companies included: Medical Transcription Billing, T-System Technologies and Sharecare. In this case study, a larger health technology…

76 FR 17843 - Intent To Compromise Claim Against the District of Columbia Public Schools

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-31

...' accounting system with transaction detail, and copies of corresponding checks to support $556,033 in accrued expenses billed to Title I, ITQ, and IDEA-B. In addition, DCPS provided printouts from its accounting system with transaction detail and copies of corresponding checks demonstrating that expenditures under...

77 FR 46213 - Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-02

.... Monitoring Impact of FY 2012 Policy Changes and Certain SNF Practices A. RUG Distributions B. Group Therapy... Common Procedure Coding System HR-III Hybrid Resource Utilization Groups, Version 3 IHS IGI (Information... OCN OMB Control Number OMB Office of Management and Budget OMRA Other Medicare-Required Assessment PPS...

NASA Sees Tropical Storm Bill Making Landfall in Texas

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-06-16

On June 15 at 19:15 UTC (3:15 p.m. EDT) the MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Storm Bill approaching Texas and Louisiana. Powerful thunderstorms circled the center in fragmented bands. At 11 a.m. CDT on June 16, a Tropical Storm Warning was in effect from Baffin Bay to High Island Texas as Bill was making landfall. The National Hurricane Center noted that Bill is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over eastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma and 2 to 4 inches over western Arkansas and southern Missouri, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches in eastern Texas. In eastern Texas and far western Louisiana today and tonight, isolated tornadoes are also possible, as with any landfalling tropical storm. Tropical storm conditions are expected to continue into the evening in the warning area. Along the coasts, the combination of a storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters. The water could reach the following heights above ground if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide. The NHC noted that the Upper Texas coast could experience 2 to 4 feet, and the western Louisiana coast between 1 to 2 feet. At 10 a.m. CDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Bill was located near latitude 28.2 North, longitude 96.4 West. Bill was moving toward the northwest near 10 mph (17 kph) and that general motion is expected to continue today. The latest minimum central pressure reported by an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft was 997 millibars. Reports from an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds remain near 60 mph (95 kph) with higher gusts. Unlike Carlos, Bill is not a compact storm. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km) from the center. Between 9 and 10 a.m. CDT, an automated observing station at Port O'Connor also reported a sustained wind of 44 mph (70 kph) and a gust to 53 mph (85 kph). For updated forecasts, watches and warnings, visit the National Hurricane Center webpage at www.nhc.noaa.gov. For local forecasts and advisories, visit: www.weather.gov. Bill is forecast to continue moving inland and is expected to be a tropical depression by Wednesday, June 17, west of Dallas. The remnants of Bill are forecast to move into the Midwest later in the week. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

RDI's Wisdom Way Solar Village Final Report: Includes Utility Bill Analysis of Occupied Homes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Robb Aldrich, Steven Winter Associates

2011-07-01

In 2010, Rural Development, Inc. (RDI) completed construction of Wisdom Way Solar Village (WWSV), a community of ten duplexes (20 homes) in Greenfield, MA. RDI was committed to very low energy use from the beginning of the design process throughout construction. Key features include: 1. Careful site plan so that all homes have solar access (for active and passive); 2. Cellulose insulation providing R-40 walls, R-50 ceiling, and R-40 floors; 3. Triple-pane windows; 4. Airtight construction (~0.1 CFM50/ft2 enclosure area); 5. Solar water heating systems with tankless, gas, auxiliary heaters; 6. PV systems (2.8 or 3.4kWSTC); 7. 2-4 bedrooms, 1,100-1,700more » ft2. The design heating loads in the homes were so small that each home is heated with a single, sealed-combustion, natural gas room heater. The cost savings from the simple HVAC systems made possible the tremendous investments in the homes' envelopes. The Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings (CARB) monitored temperatures and comfort in several homes during the winter of 2009-2010. In the Spring of 2011, CARB obtained utility bill information from 13 occupied homes. Because of efficient lights, appliances, and conscientious home occupants, the energy generated by the solar electric systems exceeded the electric energy used in most homes. Most homes, in fact, had a net credit from the electric utility over the course of a year. On the natural gas side, total gas costs averaged $377 per year (for heating, water heating, cooking, and clothes drying). Total energy costs were even less - $337 per year, including all utility fees. The highest annual energy bill for any home evaluated was $458; the lowest was $171.« less

The rights of persons with Disability Bill, 2014: How “enabling” is it for persons with mental illness?

PubMed Central

Rao, Gundugurti Prasad; Ramya, Vemulokonda Sri; Bada, Math Suresh

2016-01-01

India ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2007. This is a welcome step towards realizing the rights of the persons with disability. The UNCRPD proclaims that disability results from interaction of impairments with attitudinal and environmental barriers which hinders full and active participation in society on an equal basis with others. Further, the convention also mandates the signatory governments to change their local laws, to identify and eliminate obstacles and barriers and to comply with the terms of the UNCRPD in order to protect the rights of the person with disabilities, hence the amendments of the national laws. Hence, the Government of India drafted two important bill the Right of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 (RPWD Bill, 2014) and Mental Health Care Bill, 2013 (MHC Bill, 2013). There is no doubt that persons with mental illness are stigmatized and discriminated across the civil societies, which hinders full and active participation in society. This situation becomes worse with regard to providing mental health care, rehabilitation and social welfare measures to persons with mental illness. There is an urgent need to address this issue of attitudinal barrier so that the rights of persons with mental illness is upheld. Hence, this article discusses shortcomings in the Right of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 (RPWD Bill, 2014) from the perspective of persons with mental illness. Further, the article highlights the need to synchronize both the RPWD Bill, 2014 and Mental Health Care Bill, 2013 to provide justice for persons with mental illness. PMID:27385843

Are psychoanalytic billing practices ethical?

PubMed

Blackmon, W D

1993-01-01

The changing climate of "health care reform" and increased third-party intrusion into psychotherapy are raising challenges over the ethics of traditional psychoanalytic practices such as billing for missed sessions. The practice of billing for missed sessions is an integral part of some analytic psychotherapies and forms the basis of the field of operation of many therapies. When used in this way, the billing practices are unique in medicine in that only these therapies use billing as a part of treatment. This practice is used for a variety of practical reasons but especially to emphasize to patients that the therapy occurs in their internal lives and addresses the symbols they use in organizing their world view. The symbolic use of a time commitment and the obligation to pay for that commitment are necessary so as not to present the patient with a contaminated field of operation. In this way the practice is similar to many other areas of medicine, such as surgeries that are viewed as global procedures whose billing allows for time that is not actually spent in contact with patients. This paper discusses the clinical rationale for the ability to bill for missed sessions and its ethics in terms of the newer language of utilization review. By laying down the principle of billing as a practice parameter for an open-ended bundled service that is billed globally the author translates the practice into more modern utilization-review terminology.

Special Report - Post 9/11 GI Bill

Science.gov Websites

For the first time in history, servicemembers enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill program will be able , see the Dept. of Veteran's Affairs Web site. Top Stories Officials Tout Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits this fall under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, officials are continuing an active outreach effort to ensure

19 CFR 24.3a - CBP bills; interest assessment; delinquency; notice to principal and surety.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... of 1954 (26 U.S.C. 6621, 6622). The current rate of interest will appear on the CBP bill and may be... 19 Customs Duties 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false CBP bills; interest assessment; delinquency....3a CBP bills; interest assessment; delinquency; notice to principal and surety. (a) Due date of CBP...

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2012

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME

2012-04-19

Senate - 04/19/2012 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Manufacture Renewable Energy Systems: Make it in America Act of 2011

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-10

2011-01-26

House - 02/08/2011 Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform . (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

NASA at the Space & Science Festival

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-08-05

NASA James Webb Space Telescope systems engineer Mike Menzel, participates in a panel discussion titled "The Big Picture", Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017 at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Commission on Effective Regulation and Assessment Systems for Public Schools Act

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO

2011-03-17

Senate - 03/17/2011 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Commission on Effective Regulation and Assessment Systems for Public Schools Act

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO

2013-05-22

Senate - 05/22/2013 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Electronic Life Safety and Security Systems Federal Background Check Act of 2013

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Rep. Luetkemeyer, Blaine [R-MO-3

2013-04-09

House - 04/30/2013 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2014

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK

2014-07-24

Senate - 07/24/2014 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Implementation of a Shared Resource Financial Management System

PubMed Central

Caldwell, T.; Gerlach, R.; Israel, M.; Bobin, S.

2010-01-01

CF-6 Norris Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC), an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center at Dartmouth Medical School, administers 12 Life Sciences Shared Resources. These resources are diverse and offer multiple products and services. Previous methods for tracking resource use, billing, and financial management were time consuming, error prone and lacked appropriate financial management tools. To address these problems, we developed and implemented a web-based application with a built-in authorization system that uses Perl, ModPerl, Apache2, and Oracle as the software infrastructure. The application uses a role-based system to differentiate administrative users with those requesting services and includes many features requested by users and administrators. To begin development, we chose a resource that had an uncomplicated service, a large number of users, and required the use of all of the applications features. The Molecular Biology Core Facility at NCCC fit these requirements and was used as a model for developing and testing the application. After model development, institution wide deployment followed a three-stage process. The first stage was to interview the resource manager and staff to understand day-to-day operations. At the second stage, we generated and tested customized forms defining resource services. During the third stage, we added new resource users and administrators to the system before final deployment. Twelve months after deployment, resource administrators reported that the new system performed well for internal and external billing and tracking resource utilization. Users preferred the application's web-based system for distribution of DNA sequencing and other data. The sample tracking features have enhanced day-to-day resource operations, and an on-line scheduling module for shared instruments has proven a much-needed utility. Principal investigators now are able to restrict user spending to specific accounts and have final approval of the invoices before the billing, which has significantly reduced the number of unpaid invoices.

Seeing red: Americans driven into debt by medical bills. Results from a National Survey.

PubMed

Doty, Michelle M; Edwards, Jennifer N; Holmgren, Alyssa L

2005-08-01

New analysis of the 2003 Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey reveals that an estimated 77 million Americans age 19 and older--nearly two of five (37%) adults--have difficulty paying medical bills, have accrued medical debt, or both. Working-age adults incur significantly higher rates of medical bill and debt problems than adults 65 and older, with rates highest among the uninsured. Even working-age adults who are continually insured have problems paying their medical bills and have medical debt. Unpaid medical bills and medical debt can limit access to health care: two-thirds of people with a medical bill or debt problem went without needed care because of cost--nearly three times the rate of those without these financial problems.

Some evidentiary considerations for physician billing.

PubMed

Rooks, Franklin J

2011-01-01

In a criminal prosecution for medical billing fraud alleging up-coding and overbilling, the government's evidence may encompass the practice's entire billings and draw inferences from them. In addition, fraud may be demonstrated through statistical analysis comparing a physician's billings relative to other providers of the same specialty. The Federal Rules of Evidence govern the admissibility of evidence during a trial, to provide fairness for both the prosecution and the defense. Physicians and practice managers should be well versed in the billing requirements and particularly careful when CPT codes are expressed in terms of "required times" as opposed to "typical times."

Size and retention of breeding territories of yellow-billed loons in Alaska and Canada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schmutz, Joel A.; Wright, Kenneth G.; DeSorbo, Christopher R.; Fair, Jeff; Evers, David C.; Uher-Koch, Brian D.; Mulcahy, Daniel M.

2014-01-01

Yellow-billed Loons (Gavia adamsii) breed in lakes in the treeless Arctic and are globally rare. Like their sister taxa, the well-documented Common Loon (G. immer) of the boreal forest, Yellow-billed Loons exhibit strong territorial behavior during the breeding season. Little is known about what size territories are required, however, or how readily territories are retained from year to year. An understanding of territory dynamics and size is needed by management agencies as most of the U.S. breeding population of Yellow-billed Loons resides in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska where oil and gas development is expected to increase in the next few decades. Using locational data from a set of Yellow-billed Loons marked with satellite transmitters, we quantified an index of territory radius for each of three breeding populations: two in Alaska and one in Canada. The mean territory radius was 0.42 km for Yellow-billed Loons summering on lakes within the Seward Peninsula in northwest Alaska, 0.69 km for Yellow-billed Loons within the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska (encompasses the National Petroleum Reserve), and 0.96 km for Yellow-billed Loons within Daring Lake in mainland Canada. In this study, the mean territory radius on the Arctic Coastal Plain was about half the distance identified in stipulations for industrial development in the National Petroleum Reserve. The range in territory size among areas corresponded to a gradient in size of lakes used by Yellow-billed Loons with territories at the two Alaska sites on lakes averaging < 200 ha while territories in Canada were generally on much larger lakes. In the year after capture, 71% of Yellow-billed Loons retained territories that were held the previous year. Most Yellow-billed Loons that lost their territories wandered over a large area within 6 km of their prior territory. No Yellow-billed Loons occupied new territories, though one reacquired its prior territory after a 1-year hiatus. Retention of a territory in a subsequent year was positively related to early arrival dates at the breeding site. For Yellow-billed Loons on the Arctic Coastal Plain, this relationship was quite strong with a week lag in arrival decreasing the probability of retaining a territory by 80%. These collective observations, in combination with theoretical studies of population regulation by floaters (non-territorial birds), suggest that lake habitat suitable for breeding Yellow-billed Loons may currently limit population size in this species.

Impact of Outpatient Rehabilitation Medicare Reimbursement Caps on Utilization and Cost of Rehabilitation Care After Ischemic Stroke: Do Caps Contain Costs?

PubMed

Simpson, Annie N; Bonilha, Heather S; Kazley, Abby S; Zoller, James S; Simpson, Kit N; Ellis, Charles

2015-11-01

To estimate the proportion of patients with ischemic stroke who fall within and above the total outpatient rehabilitation caps before and after the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 took effect; and to estimate the cost of poststroke outpatient rehabilitation cost and resource utilization in these patients before and after the implementation of the caps. Retrospective cohort study. Medicare reimbursement system. Medicare beneficiaries from the state of South Carolina: the 1997 stroke cohort sample (N=2667) and the 2004 stroke cohort sample (N=2679). Not applicable. Proportion of beneficiaries with bills within and above the cap before and after the cap was enacted, and total estimated 1-year rehabilitation Medicare payments before and after the cap. The proportion of patients with stroke exceeding the cap in 2004 after the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 was enacted was significantly lower (5.8%) than those in 1997 (9.5%) had there been a cap at that time (P=.004). However, when the proportion of individuals exceeding the cap among both the outpatient provider and facility files was examined, there was a greater proportion of patients with stroke in 2004 (64.6%) than in 1997 (31.9%) who exceeded the cap (P<.0001). The estimated average 1-year Medicare payments for rehabilitation services, when examining only the Part B outpatient provider bills, did not differ between the cohorts (P=.12), and in fact, decreased slightly from $1052 in 1997 to $833 in 2004. However, when examining rehabilitation costs using all available outpatient Medicare bills, the average estimated payments greatly increased (P<.0001) from $5691 in 1997 to $9606 in 2004. These findings suggest that billing practices may have changed after outpatient rehabilitation services caps were enacted by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Rehabilitation services billing may have shifted from Part B provider bills to being more frequently included in facility charges. Copyright © 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Incremental analysis of the reengineering of an outpatient billing process: an empirical study in a public hospital

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background A smartcard is an integrated circuit card that provides identification, authentication, data storage, and application processing. Among other functions, smartcards can serve as credit and ATM cards and can be used to pay various invoices using a ‘reader’. This study looks at the unit cost and activity time of both a traditional cash billing service and a newly introduced smartcard billing service in an outpatient department in a hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. Methods The activity time required in using the cash billing service was determined via a time and motion study. A cost analysis was used to compare the unit costs of the two services. A sensitivity analysis was also performed to determine the effect of smartcard use and number of cashier windows on incremental cost and waiting time. Results Overall, the smartcard system had a higher unit cost because of the additional service fees and business tax, but it reduced patient waiting time by at least 8 minutes. Thus, it is a convenient service for patients. In addition, if half of all outpatients used smartcards to pay their invoices, along with four cashier windows for cash payments, then the waiting time of cash service users could be reduced by approximately 3 minutes and the incremental cost would be close to breaking even (even though it has a higher overall unit cost that the traditional service). Conclusions Traditional cash billing services are time consuming and require patients to carry large sums of money. Smartcard services enable patients to pay their bill immediately in the outpatient clinic and offer greater security and convenience. The idle time of nurses could also be reduced as they help to process smartcard payments. A reduction in idle time reduces hospital costs. However, the cost of the smartcard service is higher than the cash service and, as such, hospital administrators must weigh the costs and benefits of introducing a smartcard service. In addition to the obvious benefits of the smartcard service, there is also scope to extend its use in a hospital setting to include the notification of patient arrival and use in other departments. PMID:23763904

Incremental analysis of the reengineering of an outpatient billing process: an empirical study in a public hospital.

PubMed

Chu, Kuan-Yu; Huang, Chunmin

2013-06-13

A smartcard is an integrated circuit card that provides identification, authentication, data storage, and application processing. Among other functions, smartcards can serve as credit and ATM cards and can be used to pay various invoices using a 'reader'. This study looks at the unit cost and activity time of both a traditional cash billing service and a newly introduced smartcard billing service in an outpatient department in a hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. The activity time required in using the cash billing service was determined via a time and motion study. A cost analysis was used to compare the unit costs of the two services. A sensitivity analysis was also performed to determine the effect of smartcard use and number of cashier windows on incremental cost and waiting time. Overall, the smartcard system had a higher unit cost because of the additional service fees and business tax, but it reduced patient waiting time by at least 8 minutes. Thus, it is a convenient service for patients. In addition, if half of all outpatients used smartcards to pay their invoices, along with four cashier windows for cash payments, then the waiting time of cash service users could be reduced by approximately 3 minutes and the incremental cost would be close to breaking even (even though it has a higher overall unit cost that the traditional service). Traditional cash billing services are time consuming and require patients to carry large sums of money. Smartcard services enable patients to pay their bill immediately in the outpatient clinic and offer greater security and convenience. The idle time of nurses could also be reduced as they help to process smartcard payments. A reduction in idle time reduces hospital costs. However, the cost of the smartcard service is higher than the cash service and, as such, hospital administrators must weigh the costs and benefits of introducing a smartcard service. In addition to the obvious benefits of the smartcard service, there is also scope to extend its use in a hospital setting to include the notification of patient arrival and use in other departments.

A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the use of the phrases GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill to give a false impression of approval or endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA

2013-06-20

Senate - 10/30/2013 Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-280. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Effect of cutting bill requirements on lumber yield in a rip-first rough mill

Treesearch

Urs Buehlmann; Janice K. Wiedenbeck; E. Earl Kline; E. Earl Kline

2003-01-01

In recent years, producers of solid wood dimension parts have emphasized improvements in lumber yield, focusing primarily on lumber grade and cutting technology rather than cutting bill design. Yet, cutting bills have a significant impact on yield. Using rip-first rough mill simulation software, a data bank of red oak lumber samples, and a cutting bill that resembles...

Systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease prevalence in Canada: updated analyses across 7 provinces.

PubMed

Broten, Laurel; Aviña-Zubieta, J Antonio; Lacaille, Diane; Joseph, Lawrence; Hanly, John G; Lix, Lisa; O'Donnell, Siobhan; Barnabe, Cheryl; Fortin, Paul R; Hudson, Marie; Jean, Sonia; Peschken, Christine; Edworthy, Steven M; Svenson, Larry; Pineau, Christian A; Clarke, Ann E; Smith, Mark; Bélisle, Patrick; Badley, Elizabeth M; Bergeron, Louise; Bernatsky, Sasha

2014-04-01

To estimate systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD) prevalence across 7 Canadian provinces using population-based administrative data evaluating both regional variations and the effects of age and sex. Using provincial physician billing and hospitalization data, cases of SARD (systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, primary Sjögren syndrome, polymyositis/dermatomyositis) were ascertained. Three case definitions (rheumatology billing, 2-code physician billing, and hospital diagnosis) were combined to derive a SARD prevalence estimate for each province, categorized by age, sex, and rural/urban status. A hierarchical Bayesian latent class regression model was fit to account for the imperfect sensitivity and specificity of each case definition. The model also provided sensitivity estimates of different case definition approaches. Prevalence estimates for overall SARD ranged between 2 and 5 cases per 1000 residents across provinces. Similar demographic trends were evident across provinces, with greater prevalence in women and in persons over 45 years old. SARD prevalence in women over 45 was close to 1%. Overall sensitivity was poor, but estimates for each of the 3 case definitions improved within older populations and were slightly higher for men compared to women. Our results are consistent with previous estimates and other North American findings, and provide results from coast to coast, as well as useful information about the degree of regional and demographic variations that can be seen within a single country. Our work demonstrates the usefulness of using multiple data sources, adjusting for the error in each, and providing estimates of the sensitivity of different case definition approaches.

A right to die? Euthanasia and the law in Australia.

PubMed

Bartels, Lorana; Otlowski, Margaret

2010-02-01

This article examines the legal regulation of active voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide in Australia. The Dying with Dignity Bill 2009 (Tas), which was recently defeated by the Tasmanian Parliament, is discussed, as well as other jurisdictions' past and present legislative developments in this context. The recent case law is also considered to ascertain how "mercy killing" or assisted suicide cases are dealt with by the criminal justice system, with particular reference to the case of R v Justins [2008] NSWSC 1194. This is followed by a critical evaluation of the key arguments for and against euthanasia. The article concludes by examining the significance of the Tasmanian Bill and the implications of such legislation.

A bill to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to study and report on the impact on consumers of permitting an increase in the amount of ethanol blended with gasoline for use in gasoline-powered engines used in vehicles operated in interstate commerce, on public streets and roads, or offroad, appliances such as lawn mowers and other nonvehicular devices, and marine engines, and to require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to study and report on any safety or reliability impact of such an increase on motor vehicle engines and fuel systems.

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX

2010-09-29

Senate - 09/29/2010 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Gender, identity, and bioethics.

PubMed

Dietz, Elizabeth A

2016-07-01

Transgender people and issues have come to the forefront of public consciousness over the last year. Caitlyn Jenner' very public transition, heightened media coverage of the murders of transgender women of color, and the panicked passage of North Carolina's "bathroom bill" (House Bill 2), mean that conversations about transgender health and well-being are no longer happening only within small communities. The idea that transgender issues are bioethical issues is not new, but I think that increased public awareness of transgender people and the ways that their health is affected by systems that bioethics already engages with offers an opportunity for scholarship that works to improve transgender health in meaningful ways. © 2016 The Hastings Center.

Legislative and regulatory modernization for therapeutic products.

PubMed

Maher, Maurica

2010-01-01

This presentation is intended to show how the work coming from scientists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals is incorporated into the regulatory assessment of therapeutic products in Canada. One of the primary objectives within the regulatory environment is to provide information back to healthcare professionals and patients in order to help them make informed decisions. The current regulatory system for health products in Canada and why it needs modernization is addressed; a "lifecycle approach" to the regulation of health products is presented; the Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan and Bill C-51, a bill to amend the Food and Drugs Act is reviewed; and the challenges and opportunities for Canada and its fellow regulators are examined.

Landscape changes and colony site dynamics: How gull-billed terns cope at the sea's edge

USGS Publications Warehouse

Erwin, R.M.; Williams, B.; Watts, B.; Truitt, B.; Stotts, D.; Eyler, B.

1996-01-01

Gull-billed Terns have declined dramatically in coastal Virginia over the past 20 years, with apparently low reproductive success. They nest, usually in mixed-species colonies, in two discrete habitat types: large, sandy barrier islands or shell/sandbars on the edges of marsh islands in the lagoon systems. The smaller shell/sandbars seem to provide more consistent nestling habitat and predation pressures than do barrier islands among years. We hypothesize that colony site turnover (between years) should be higher in the more uncertain barrier island habitats than among the shell/sandbar colonies. Our results do not corroborate the prediction. We postulate that social (and other) factors may explain these differences.

Development of Engines for Unmanned Air Vehicles: Some Factors to be Considered

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-01-01

discussions, Honeywell Engines & Systems , Phoenix, AZ, December 14, 2001 [8] Jane’s Aero- Engines , Issue 11, Bill Gunston, Ed., pp. 93–97 (PW300, PW500...Weight/Thrust Reduction Compared to Engine Development Cost—UCAVs................................................................. 24 11. System ... engines are not candidate propulsion systems . The majority of Department of Defense (DoD) efforts (Global Hawk, Air Force UCAV, and Navy UCAV) are

31 CFR 356.4 - What are the book-entry systems in which auctioned Treasury securities may be issued or maintained?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false What are the book-entry systems in... BUREAU OF THE PUBLIC DEBT SALE AND ISSUE OF MARKETABLE BOOK-ENTRY TREASURY BILLS, NOTES, AND BONDS... book-entry systems in which auctioned Treasury securities may be issued or maintained? There are three...

41 CFR 101-26.607 - Billings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Defense Logistics Agency and the requisitioning activity, billings for sales will be rendered at least... centers shall be provided with a continental U.S. address for payment of bills for overseas shipments. [42...

41 CFR 101-26.607 - Billings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Defense Logistics Agency and the requisitioning activity, billings for sales will be rendered at least... centers shall be provided with a continental U.S. address for payment of bills for overseas shipments. [42...

41 CFR 101-26.607 - Billings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Defense Logistics Agency and the requisitioning activity, billings for sales will be rendered at least... centers shall be provided with a continental U.S. address for payment of bills for overseas shipments. [42...

41 CFR 101-26.607 - Billings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Defense Logistics Agency and the requisitioning activity, billings for sales will be rendered at least... centers shall be provided with a continental U.S. address for payment of bills for overseas shipments. [42...

41 CFR 101-26.607 - Billings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Defense Logistics Agency and the requisitioning activity, billings for sales will be rendered at least... centers shall be provided with a continental U.S. address for payment of bills for overseas shipments. [42...

Safe Treatment, Avoiding Needless Deaths, and Abuse Reduction in the Detention System Act

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Watson, Diane E. [D-CA-33

2010-01-19

House - 03/01/2010 Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Engineering Administration.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Naval Personnel Program Support Activity, Washington, DC.

This book is intended to acquaint naval engineering officers with their duties in the engineering department. Standard shipboard organizations are analyzed in connection with personnel assignments, division operations, and watch systems. Detailed descriptions are included for the administration of directives, ship's bills, damage control, training…

Research of Alcohol Detection Systems for Stopping Alcohol-related Fatalities Everywhere Act of 2010

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM

2010-02-25

Senate - 02/25/2010 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Conversion: Kennedy Plan to Change Research Priorities Approved

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shapley, Deborah

1972-01-01

Describes the main import of Senate Bill 32 which includes measures to assist the retraining and employment of scientists and engineers and broadens the purposes of the National Science Foundation by creating the Civil Science Systems Administration. (AL)

Patterns and predictors of state adult obesity prevention legislation enactment in US states: 2010–2013

PubMed Central

Donaldson, Elisabeth A.; Cohen, Joanna E.; Villanti, Andrea C.; Kanarek, Norma F.; Barry, Colleen L.; Rutkow, Lainie

2015-01-01

Objective This study examined bill- and state-level factors associated with enactment of adult obesity prevention legislation in US states. Methods A review of bills in the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity’s legislative database identified 487 adult obesity prevention bills, or proposed legislation, introduced between 2010 and 2013. Multilevel models were constructed to examine bill- and state-level characteristics associated with enactment. Results From 2010 to 2013, 81 (17%) of obesity prevention bills introduced were enacted across 35 states and the District of Columbia. Bills introduced in 2010 were more likely to be enacted than in 2013 (OR = 9.49; 95% CI: 2.61–34.5). Bills focused on access to healthy food, physical activity, general and educational programs, as well as modifying rules and procedures (e.g., preemption) had greater odds of enactment relative to food and beverage taxes (OR = 8.18; 95% CI: 2.85–23.4 healthy food; OR = 17.3; 95% CI: 4.55–65.7 physical activity; OR = 15.2; 95% CI: 4.80–47.9 general; OR = 13.7; 95% CI: 3.07–61.5 rules). Conclusion The year of bill introduction and overall bill enactment rate were related to adult obesity prevention legislation enactment in states. This study highlights the importance of a bill’s topic area for enactment and provides insights for advocates and policymakers trying to address enactment barriers. PMID:25735604

A concise evaluation and management curriculum for physicians in training improved billing at an outpatient academic rheumatology clinic.

PubMed

Hirsh, Joel M; Collier, David H; Boyle, Dennis J; Gardner, Edward M

2010-04-01

To study whether providing house staff with a brief lecture and handout about proper documentation could improve billing at an academic rheumatology clinic. The authors created an educational sheet about documentation and billing after a review of the common documentation omissions responsible for down coding (Appendix, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/RHU/A8). Beginning in November of 2006, the house staff were provided with this sheet and a brief lecture regarding how outpatient evaluation and management levels of service are coded. The results of clinic billing from January 1, 2006 to October 31, 2006 and November 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007 were obtained from the physician billing office. The authors compared the average level of service, by appointment type, in the prepost comparison periods using the student t test. There was a significant improvement in the level of service billed for new visits (P < 0.001), consults (P < 0.001), and return visits (P < 0.001) after November 1, 2006. The percentage of patients evaluated for the first time who were billed as consults improved from 15% to 78% (P < 0.001 by chi2). These changes resulted in $34,342 of additional billing during the postintervention period. A simple strategy for educating the house staff about proper documentation of the history, physical examination, and clinical decision making resulted in a significant improvement in an academic rheumatology division's outpatient billing.

Booster Test for Space Launch System Rocket

NASA Image and Video Library

2016-06-26

The test area where the second and final qualification motor (QM-2) test for the Space Launch System’s booster is seen Sunday, June 26, 2016, at Orbital ATK Propulsion Systems test facilities in Promontory, Utah. The test is scheduled for Tuesday, June 28 at 10:05 a.m. EDT (8:05 a.m. MDT). Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

48 CFR 847.303-1 - F.o.b. origin.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false F.o.b. origin. 847.303-1 Section 847.303-1 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONTRACT MANAGEMENT TRANSPORTATION Transportation in Supply Contracts 847.303-1 F.o.b. origin. Shipments falling within this category must be shipped on a bill of...

Review of "Spend Smart: Fix Our Broken School Funding System"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Bruce

2011-01-01

ConnCAN's Spend Smart: "Fix Our Broken School Funding System" was released concurrently with a bill introduced in the Connecticut legislature, based on the principles outlined in the report. However, the report is of negligible value to the policy debate over Connecticut school finance because it provides little or no support for any of…

Reconciling the Multiple Objectives of Prison Diversion Programs for Drug Offenders: Evidence from Kansas' Senate Bill 123

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stemen, Don; Rengifo, Andres F.

2011-01-01

Background: In recent years, several states have created mandatory prison-diversion programs for felony drug possessors. These programs have both individual-level goals of reducing recidivism rates and system-level goals of reducing prison populations. Objective: This study examines the individual level and system level impact of Kansas' Senate…

Radar Backscatter Study of Sea Ice.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-02-01

CRINC/RS-TR-331-14 N END 11111 .0 W 2.0 =il I.0 i IIIB ii 2 IIIII Bill IlIIIl 8 [(25 I 4 Bi l 1.6 MICROCOPY RE SOL UTIION TEIST CHART 177 slopes...Research, 1978. 51. Continentai Shelf Data Systems, Beaufort Sea-Arctic Coast: Oceano - graphic and Climatologic Data, Vol. 1, Continental Shelf Data Systems

15 CFR 732.5 - Steps regarding Shipper's Export Declaration or Automated Export System record, Destination...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... than anti-terrorism (AT). The only exception to this requirement would be the return of unwanted... be entered on the invoice and on the bill of lading, air waybill, or other export control document... THE EAR § 732.5 Steps regarding Shipper's Export Declaration or Automated Export System record...

15 CFR 732.5 - Steps regarding Shipper's Export Declaration or Automated Export System record, Destination...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... than anti-terrorism (AT). The only exception to this requirement would be the return of unwanted... be entered on the invoice and on the bill of lading, air waybill, or other export control document... THE EAR § 732.5 Steps regarding Shipper's Export Declaration or Automated Export System record...

15 CFR 732.5 - Steps regarding Shipper's Export Declaration or Automated Export System record, Destination...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... than anti-terrorism (AT). The only exception to this requirement would be the return of unwanted... be entered on the invoice and on the bill of lading, air waybill, or other export control document... THE EAR § 732.5 Steps regarding Shipper's Export Declaration or Automated Export System record...

15 CFR 732.5 - Steps regarding Shipper's Export Declaration or Automated Export System record, Destination...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... than anti-terrorism (AT). The only exception to this requirement would be the return of unwanted... be entered on the invoice and on the bill of lading, air waybill, or other export control document... THE EAR § 732.5 Steps regarding Shipper's Export Declaration or Automated Export System record...

The influence of cutting-bill requirements on lumber yield using a fractional-factorial design part II, correlation and number of part sizes

Treesearch

Urs Buehlmann; D. Earl Kline; Janice K. Wiedenbeck; R., Jr. Noble

2008-01-01

Cutting-bill requirements, among other factors, influence the yield obtained when cutting lumber into parts. The first part of this 2-part series described how different cutting-bill part sizes, when added to an existing cutting-bill, affect lumber yield, and quantified these observations. To accomplish this, the study employed linear least squares estimation technique...

39. View of the big meadow of the Billings Farm ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

39. View of the big meadow of the Billings Farm & Museum, looking east from Vt. Route 12 (Elm Street). The view includes Blake Hill on the horizon, the Billings Farm & Museum's restored historic apple orchard at left, and the property of the Octagon Cottage at 4 Moore Place, beyond the split rail fence at right. - Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, 54 Elm Street, Woodstock, Windsor County, VT

60. View of the big meadow of the Billings Farm ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

60. View of the big meadow of the Billings Farm & Museum, looking east from Vt. Route 12 (Elm Street). The view includes Blake Hill on the horizon, the Billings Farm & Museum's restored historic apple orchard at left, and the property of the Octagon Cottage at 4 Moore Place, beyond the split rail fence at right. - Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, 54 Elm Street, Woodstock, Windsor County, VT

Veterans Going to College: Evaluating the Impact of the Post-9/11 GI Bill on College Enrollment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Liang

2018-01-01

In this study, I used American Community Survey (ACS) 2005-2015 data to examine the enrollment effect of the Post-9/11 GI Bill; the analysis resulted in three main findings: First, although the New GI Bill has increased overall college enrollment by about 3 percentage points on average, the effect was much larger immediately after the bill's…

Fidelity and persistence of Ring-billed (Larus delawarensis) and Herring (Larus argentatus) gulls to wintering sites

USGS Publications Warehouse

Clark, Daniel E.; Koenen, Kiana K. G.; Whitney, Jillian J.; MacKenzie, Kenneth G.; DeStefano, Stephen

2016-01-01

While the breeding ecology of gulls (Laridae) has been well studied, their movements and spatial organization during the non-breeding season is poorly understood. The seasonal movements, winter-site fidelity, and site persistence of Ring-billed (Larus delawarensis) and Herring (L. argentatus) gulls to wintering areas were studied from 2008–2012. Satellite transmitters were deployed on Ring-billed Gulls (n = 21) and Herring Gulls (n = 14). Ten Ring-billed and six Herring gulls were tracked over multiple winters and > 300 wing-tagged Ring-billed Gulls were followed to determine winter-site fidelity and persistence. Home range overlap for individuals between years ranged between 0–1.0 (95% minimum convex polygon) and 0.31–0.79 (kernel utilization distributions). Ringbilled and Herring gulls remained at local wintering sites during the non-breeding season from 20–167 days and 74–161 days, respectively. The probability of a tagged Ring-billed Gull returning to the same site in subsequent winters was high; conversely, there was a low probability of a Ring-billed Gull returning to a different site. Ring-billed and Herring gulls exhibited high winter-site fidelity, but exhibited variable site persistence during the winter season, leading to a high probability of encountering the same individuals in subsequent winters.

Law and psychiatry. Doing forensic work, II: fees, billing, and collections.

PubMed

Reid, William H

2012-05-01

Forensic practice fees, billing, and collection procedures are quite different from those in general psychiatry. Most forensic practices have far fewer "clients," and individual bills are usually larger. Collections are usually better (and less frequently discounted) in forensic practice, and resolving billing disputes is far more straightforward. Medicare, Medicaid, other insurance coverage, provider networks and agreements, procedure codes, and diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) are all largely irrelevant in forensic work (although sometimes important to direct clinical services in correctional psychiatry or forensic treatment clinics). An understanding of the practicalities and ethics of charging and billing for forensic services greatly simplifies practice management.

48 CFR 847.303-1 - F.o.b. origin.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... assistance in determining when to issue the applicable bill of lading (VA Commercial Bill of Lading for domestic use or Government Bill of Lading for international shipments and domestic off-shore shipments) and...

48 CFR 847.303-1 - F.o.b. origin.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... assistance in determining when to issue the applicable bill of lading (VA Commercial Bill of Lading for domestic use or Government Bill of Lading for international shipments and domestic off-shore shipments) and...

48 CFR 847.303-1 - F.o.b. origin.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... assistance in determining when to issue the applicable bill of lading (VA Commercial Bill of Lading for domestic use or Government Bill of Lading for international shipments and domestic off-shore shipments) and...

48 CFR 847.303-1 - F.o.b. origin.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... assistance in determining when to issue the applicable bill of lading (VA Commercial Bill of Lading for domestic use or Government Bill of Lading for international shipments and domestic off-shore shipments) and...

Patterns and predictors of enactment of state childhood obesity legislation in the United States: 2006-2009.

PubMed

Eyler, Amy A; Nguyen, Leah; Kong, Jooyoung; Yan, Yan; Brownson, Ross

2012-12-01

We developed a content review for state policies related to childhood obesity, and we have quantitatively described the predictors of enactment. We collected an inventory of 2006 through 2009 state legislation on 27 childhood obesity topics from legislative databases. We coded each bill for general information, topic content, and other appropriate components. We conducted a general descriptive analysis and 3 multilevel analyses using bill- and state-level characteristics to predict bill enactment. Common topics in the 27% of the bills that were enacted were community physical activity access, physical education, and school food policy. Committee and bipartisan sponsorship and having term limits significantly predicted enactment in at least 1 model. Bills with safe routes to school or health and nutrition content were twice as likely to be enacted. Bills containing product and menu labeling or soda and snack taxes were significantly less likely to be enacted. Bipartisan and committee support and term limits are important in bill enactment. Advocacy efforts can be tailored to increase awareness and sense of priority among policymakers.

AIDS bills remain in limbo as lawmakers ponder Clinton's fate.

PubMed

1998-10-02

Due to the distractions caused by the possible presidential impeachment and by the upcoming re-election campaigns of current lawmakers, Congress may postpone the approval of funding for key legislation that affects a number of HIV prevention, research, and care programs. The current status of several bills is presented. The House and Senate versions of the Labor/Health and Human Services bill show discrepancies regarding the amount of money that should be allocated to the Ryan White CARE Act, to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) programs, and to research at the National Institutes of Health. Another bill debates whether there should be an increase in funding for the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS program, which is part of the Veterans Affairs/Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. Two other bills that are being discussed include a bill that may bar the use of government funds for needle-exchange programs (H.R. 3717 and H.R. 4380) and the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act, which may allow compensation for hemophiliacs that contracted HIV through contaminated blood-clotting medicines.

Patterns and Predictors of Enactment of State Childhood Obesity Legislation in the United States: 2006–2009

PubMed Central

Nguyen, Leah; Kong, Jooyoung; Yan, Yan; Brownson, Ross

2012-01-01

Objectives. We developed a content review for state policies related to childhood obesity, and we have quantitatively described the predictors of enactment. Methods. We collected an inventory of 2006 through 2009 state legislation on 27 childhood obesity topics from legislative databases. We coded each bill for general information, topic content, and other appropriate components. We conducted a general descriptive analysis and 3 multilevel analyses using bill- and state-level characteristics to predict bill enactment. Results. Common topics in the 27% of the bills that were enacted were community physical activity access, physical education, and school food policy. Committee and bipartisan sponsorship and having term limits significantly predicted enactment in at least 1 model. Bills with safe routes to school or health and nutrition content were twice as likely to be enacted. Bills containing product and menu labeling or soda and snack taxes were significantly less likely to be enacted. Conclusions. Bipartisan and committee support and term limits are important in bill enactment. Advocacy efforts can be tailored to increase awareness and sense of priority among policymakers. PMID:23078482

Pediatric primary care psychologists' reported level of integration, billing practices, and reimbursement frequency.

PubMed

Riley, Andrew R; Grennan, Allison; Menousek, Kathryn; Hoffses, Kathryn W

2018-03-01

Integration of psychological services into pediatric primary care is increasingly common, but models of integration vary with regard to their level of coordination, colocation, and integration. High-integration models may provide some distinct advantages, such as preventative care and brief consultation for subclinical behavior concerns; however, psychologists face barriers to seeking reimbursement for these services. Alternatives to traditional psychotherapy and psychological testing codes, specifically Health & Behavior (H&B) codes, have been proposed as 1 method for supporting integrated care. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between psychologists' reported billing practices, reimbursement rates, and model of integration in pediatric primary care. As part of a larger survey study, 55 psychologists working in pediatric primary care reported on characteristics of their practice's model of integration, billing practices, and frequency of reimbursement for consultative services. Compared with those who categorized their integrated care model as colocated, psychologists who endorsed working in integrated models reported a significantly higher usage of H&B codes and more frequent reimbursement for consultations. Overall, use of H&B codes was associated with higher reported levels of coordination and integration. Survey results showed a clear pattern of higher integration being associated with greater utilization of H&B codes and better reimbursement for consultation activities. These results underscore the importance of establishing and maintaining billing and reimbursement systems that adequately support integrated care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

WWII GI Bill and Its Effect on Low Education Levels: Did the World War II GI Bill Have an Effect on High School Completion, Poverty, and Employment?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomas, Megan D.

2017-01-01

Did the World War II (WWII) GI Bill increase the probability of completing high school and further affect the probability of poverty and employment for the cohorts for whom it benefited? This paper studies whether the GI Bill, one of the largest public financial aid policies for education, affected low education levels in addition to its…

The economics of central billing offices.

PubMed

Woodcock, E; Nguyen, L

2000-01-01

The anticipation of economies of scale in physician billing has led many medical practices to consolidate their billing operations. This article analyzes these economies of scale, comparing performance indicators from centralized and decentralized operations. While consolidation provides compliance, control and information, diseconomies of scale can exist in the centralized receivables management process. The authors conclude that physician practices should consider a hybrid approach to billing, thus reaping the benefits of both centralization and decentralization.

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-02

Administration ( NOAA ) to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their dependents; • require the Secretaries concerned to reimburse the Department of Veterans...the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship within the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The scholarship program provides some Post-9/11 GI Bill...officers of the Public Health Service (PHS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to

Supporting Student Veteran Success: Institutional Responses to the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Influx of Student Veterans. WISCAPE Viewpoints

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCready, Bo, Ed.

2010-01-01

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, commonly known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, represents the largest investment in veterans' education since the original GI Bill of 1944. The bill pays tuition for a student veteran up to a cap based on public in-state undergraduate tuition and provides a monthly housing stipend, as well as…

Portable XRF and principal component analysis for bill characterization in forensic science.

PubMed

Appoloni, C R; Melquiades, F L

2014-02-01

Several modern techniques have been applied to prevent counterfeiting of money bills. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the potential of Portable X-ray Fluorescence (PXRF) technique and the multivariate analysis method of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for classification of bills in order to use it in forensic science. Bills of Dollar, Euro and Real (Brazilian currency) were measured directly at different colored regions, without any previous preparation. Spectra interpretation allowed the identification of Ca, Ti, Fe, Cu, Sr, Y, Zr and Pb. PCA analysis separated the bills in three groups and subgroups among Brazilian currency. In conclusion, the samples were classified according to its origin identifying the elements responsible for differentiation and basic pigment composition. PXRF allied to multivariate discriminate methods is a promising technique for rapid and no destructive identification of false bills in forensic science. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

How sailfish use their bills to capture schooling prey.

PubMed

Domenici, P; Wilson, A D M; Kurvers, R H J M; Marras, S; Herbert-Read, J E; Steffensen, J F; Krause, S; Viblanc, P E; Couillaud, P; Krause, J

2014-06-07

The istiophorid family of billfishes is characterized by an extended rostrum or 'bill'. While various functions (e.g. foraging and hydrodynamic benefits) have been proposed for this structure, until now no study has directly investigated the mechanisms by which billfishes use their rostrum to feed on prey. Here, we present the first unequivocal evidence of how the bill is used by Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans) to attack schooling sardines in the open ocean. Using high-speed video-analysis, we show that (i) sailfish manage to insert their bill into sardine schools without eliciting an evasive response and (ii) subsequently use their bill to either tap on individual prey targets or to slash through the school with powerful lateral motions characterized by one of the highest accelerations ever recorded in an aquatic vertebrate. Our results demonstrate that the combination of stealth and rapid motion make the sailfish bill an extremely effective feeding adaptation for capturing schooling prey.

National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act of 2010

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD-8

2009-03-05

Senate - 09/29/2010 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Passed HouseHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

An evaluation of environmental justice and environmental equity : laws and issues that affect minority and low-income populations

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-05-01

Environmental justice and transportation equity concerns pertain to discriminatory outcomes in : planning, operation and maintenance, and infrastructure development by state and metropolitan : systems. On February 11, 1994, President Bill Clinton sig...

To revise the boundaries of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier System Saddlebunch Keys Unit FL-57.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18

2012-09-14

House - 09/21/2012 Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

To correct the boundaries of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Unit P-31P.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Southerland, Steve II [R-FL-2

2012-08-02

House - 08/16/2012 Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

To remove from the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System certain properties in North Carolina.

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Rep. McIntyre, Mike [D-NC-7

2013-06-06

House - 06/13/2013 Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26

2014-02-25

Senate - 06/25/2014 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Passed HouseHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

To correct the boundaries of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Unit P17.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Mack, Connie [R-FL-14

2011-06-13

House - 06/15/2011 Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

To correct the boundaries of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Unit P16.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Mack, Connie [R-FL-14

2011-06-13

House - 06/15/2011 Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Booster Test for Space Launch System Rocket

NASA Image and Video Library

2016-06-26

The quench system arm and nozzle are seen at the test area where the second and final qualification motor (QM-2) test for the Space Launch System’s booster will take place, Sunday, June 26, 2016, at Orbital ATK Propulsion Systems test facilities in Promontory, Utah. The test is scheduled for Tuesday, June 28 at 10:05 a.m. EDT (8:05 a.m. MDT). Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Organizational Contexts and Texts: The Redesign of the Midwest Bell Telephone Bill.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keller-Cohen, Deborah

1987-01-01

Offers a retrospective view of organizational factors affecting the redesign of the Midwest Bell Telephone Bill. Shows how financial considerations, organizational time frame, and employee training and experience influenced the bill's development process. (MM)

Review of State Legislative Approaches to Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 2002–2011

PubMed Central

Pollack, Keshia; Rutkow, Lainie

2015-01-01

We conducted a legal mapping study of state bills related to racial/ethnic health disparities in all 50 states between 2002 and 2011. Forty-five states introduced at least 1 bill that specifically targeted racial/ethnic health disparities; we analyzed 607 total bills. Of these 607 bills, 330 were passed into law (54.4%). These bills approached eliminating racial/ethnic health disparities by developing governmental infrastructure, providing appropriations, and focusing on specific diseases and data collection. In addition, states tackled emerging topics that were previously lacking laws, particularly Hispanic health. Legislation is an important policy tool for states to advance the elimination of racial/ethnic health disparities. PMID:25905834

Impact Upon California School Districts of Senate Bill 90 of 1972 and Assembly Bill 1267 of 1973. A Report to the California Legislature as Required by Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 54.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

California State Dept. of Education, Sacramento. Bureau of School Apportionments and Reports.

This report analyzes the impact of California's 1972 Senate Bill 90 and 1973 Assembly Bill 1267 as they have affected public school finance in California. The portions of SB 90 and AB 1267 that pertain to operating school districts contain general property tax rollback and revenue limit features, as well as mechanisms designed to lessen the…

HIV in the military.

PubMed

1996-04-05

A stopgap spending bill that would repeal a recently enacted provision discharging members of the armed services who test positive for HIV was approved in the Senate. The provision, inserted into the bill by Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-CA), was part of a $256 defense authorization bill that forces the Pentagon to discharge all HIV-positive service members within 6 months of diagnosis. Dornan promises to insert the same language into next year's defense bill if the repeal stands.

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-13

NOAA ) to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their dependents; • require the Secretaries concerned to reimburse the Department of Veterans...Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship within the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The scholarship program provides some Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to...Service (PHS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to dependents.35 Under current law, the

Turning whine into wine: the fiscal impact of comprehensive documentation and billing for nonoperative pediatric surgical services.

PubMed

Gollin, Gerald; Moores, Donald

2006-06-01

Some pediatric surgeons rarely document nonoperative services, believing that the reimbursement provided for such care is negligible. We evaluated the impact of comprehensive documentation and billing for nonoperative, pediatric surgical care. All bills submitted for inpatient, nonoperative care for 1 year were reviewed. Total receipts for documented admissions, consultations, critical care, and daily care were determined. The Evaluation and Management code billed for each service was recorded, and the total and average payments attributable to each Evaluation and Management code were calculated. Fifty-six percent of services were covered by Medicaid and 26% by a commercial insurer. There were 607 billed admission history and physical exams for which reimbursement totaled 43,493 dollars. Critical care services were provided to 49 patients and yielded 8964 dollars in payments. Six hundred thirty-nine inpatient consultations were performed with a reimbursement of 42,830 dollars. Daily care services were billed 1044 times and produced 71,579 dollars in payments. Overall reimbursement for documented, nonoperative services was 166,866 dollars. This represented 16.2% of total, noncontracted income for the practice. Despite a payer mix heavily weighted toward Medicaid, comprehensive documentation and billing for nonoperative services increased total, noncontracted reimbursement by almost 20% over what it would have been had only operative services been billed. The yield from properly documented, nonoperative care can be substantial.

Occupancy of yellow-billed and Pacific loons: evidence for interspecific competition and habitat mediated co-occurrence

USGS Publications Warehouse

Haynes, Trevor B.; Schmutz, Joel A.; Lindberg, Mark S.; Wright, Kenneth G.; Uher-Koch, Brian D.; Rosenberger, Amanda E.

2014-01-01

Interspecific competition is an important process structuring ecological communities, however, it is difficult to observe in nature. We used an occupancy modelling approach to evaluate evidence of competition between yellow-billed (Gavia adamsii) and Pacific (G. pacifica) loons for nesting lakes on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. With multiple years of data and survey platforms, we estimated dynamic occupancy states (e.g. rates of colonization or extinction from individual lakes) and controlled for detection differences among aircraft platforms and ground survey crews. Results indicated that yellow-billed loons were strong competitors and negatively influenced the occupancy of Pacific loons by excluding them from potential breeding lakes. Pacific loon occupancy was conditional on the presence of yellow-billed loons, with Pacific loons having almost a tenfold decrease in occupancy probability when yellow-billed loons were present and a threefold decrease in colonization probability when yellow-billed loons were present in the current or previous year. Yellow-billed and Pacific loons co-occurred less than expected by chance except on very large lakes or lakes with convoluted shorelines; variables which may decrease the cost of maintaining a territory in the presence of the other species. These results imply the existence of interspecific competition between yellow-billed and Pacific loons for nesting lakes; however, habitat characteristics which facilitate visual and spatial separation of territories can reduce competitive interactions and promote species co-occurrence.

Structural stigma in state legislation.

PubMed

Corrigan, Patrick W; Watson, Amy C; Heyrman, Mark L; Warpinski, Amy; Gracia, Gabriela; Slopen, Natalie; Hall, Laura L

2005-05-01

This article discusses examples of structural stigma that results from state governments' enactment of laws that diminish the opportunities of people with mental illness. To examine current trends in structural stigma, the authors identified and coded all relevant bills introduced in 2002 in the 50 states. Bills were categorized in terms of their effect on liberties, protection from discrimination, and privacy. The terms used to describe the targets of bills were examined: persons with "mental illness" or persons who are "incompetent" or "disabled" because of mental illness. About one-quarter of the state bills reviewed for this survey related to protection from discrimination. Within that category, half the bills reduced protections for the targeted individuals, such as restriction of firearms for people with current or past mental illness and reduced parental rights among persons with a history of mental illness. Half the bills seemed to expand protections, such as those that required mental health funding at the same levels provided for other medical conditions and those that disallowed use of mental health status in child custody cases. Legislation frequently confuses "incompetence" with "mental illness." Examples of structural stigma uncovered by surveys such as this one can inform advocates for persons with mental illness as to where an individual state stands in relation to the number of bills that affect persons with mental illness and whether these bills expand or contract the liberties of this stigmatized group.

Hydrodynamic characteristics of sailfish and swordfish

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sagong, Woong; Jeon, Woo-Pyung; Choi, Haecheon

2009-11-01

The sailfish and swordfish are known as fastest sea animals, reaching their maximum speeds of more than 100km/h. Recently, Sagong et al. (2008, Phys. Fluids) investigated the role of V- shaped protrusions existing on the sailfish skin in the skin-friction reduction but those protrusions did not make a direct role in reducing drag. On the other hand, the long bill has been regarded as a device of reducing drag by separation delay through turbulence generation. In the present study, we investigate the hydrodynamic characteristics of sailfish and swordfish by installing the stuffed ones in a wind tunnel and measuring the drag on their bodies and boundary-layer velocities above the body surfaces. The drag coefficients of sailfish and swordfish are 0.0075 and 0.009 based on the free-stream velocity and wetted area, respectively. They are comparable to or smaller than those of other kinds of fish such as the dogfish, tuna and trout. Next, the role of bill on the drag is studied. The drag without bill or with an artificial short bill is lower than that with the original long bill, indicating that the bill does not reduce the drag at all. From the velocity measurement near the body surfaces, we found that flow separation does not occur even without bill, and thus the conjecture that the flow separation is delayed through turbulence generation by the bill is not valid.

47 CFR 36.372 - Marketing-Account 6610 (Class B telephone companies); Accounts 6611 and 6613 (Class A telephone...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... analysis of current billing for a representative period, excluding current billing on behalf of others and billing in connection with intercompany setttlements. Effective July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2012, all...

47 CFR 36.372 - Marketing-Account 6610 (Class B telephone companies); Accounts 6611 and 6613 (Class A telephone...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... analysis of current billing for a representative period, excluding current billing on behalf of others and billing in connection with intercompany setttlements. Effective July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2011, all...

32 CFR 842.37 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... delivery of goods. (1) Carriers issue commercial bills of lading. (2) Transportation officers issue government bills of lading (GBL). GBLs include the terms and conditions of commercial bills of lading with... for international shipments. (c) Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC). The Department of Defense...

32 CFR 842.37 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... delivery of goods. (1) Carriers issue commercial bills of lading. (2) Transportation officers issue government bills of lading (GBL). GBLs include the terms and conditions of commercial bills of lading with... for international shipments. (c) Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC). The Department of Defense...

40 CFR 81.335 - North Dakota.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Billings County Bottineau County Bowman County Burke County Burleigh County Cavalier County Dickey County... Barnes County Benson County Billings County Bottineau County Bowman County Burke County Burleigh County.../Attainment Adams County Barnes County Benson County Billings County Bottineau County Bowman County Burke...

'Intelligent' system's cost-cutting power.

PubMed

Dodge, Jeremy

2010-05-01

Jeremy Dodge, business manager at Marshall Tufflex Energy Management, explains how a voltage optimisation system that, in a claimed industry first, uses "auto-transformers" to reduce incoming mains electricity voltage so that electrical equipment receives precisely the "outgoing feed" it needs to function optimally and no more, thus significantly reducing wastage, can help major electricity users cut their bills "by as much as 25%".

The Emergence of a Market-Driven Funding Mechanism in K-12 Education in British Columbia: Creeping Privatization and the Eclipse of Equity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fallon, Gerald; Poole, Wendy

2014-01-01

Since 2002, British Columbia's education system has undergone extensive change following amendments to the "BC School Act" ("Bill 34"). This article presents a critical analysis of policy changes to the K-12 education finance system, particularly the expansion of the legal capacity of school districts to create "'school…

Phonics, Spelling, and Word Study: A Sensible Approach. The Bill Harp Professional Teachers Library Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glazer, Susan Mandel

This concise book shares several sensible, logical, and meaningful approaches that guide young children to use the written coding system to read, spell, and make meaning of the English language coding system. The book demonstrates that phonics, spelling, and word study are essential parts of literacy learning. After an introduction, chapters are:…

SCIENTIFIC MANPOWER UTILIZATION, HEARINGS ON S. 430, AND S. 467, JANUARY 24-27, MARCH 29-30, 1967.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC. Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare.

THE PURPOSE OF BILL S. 430, "SCIENTIFIC MANPOWER UTILIZATION ACT OF 1967," IS TO FACILITATE AND ENCOURAGE THE UTILIZATION OF THE SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNICAL RESOURCES OF THE NATION IN MEETING URGENT NATIONAL AND LOCAL PROBLEMS BY PROMOTING THE APPLICATION OF SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING TO PROBLEMS IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION,…

Variations in Medicare Reimbursement in Radiation Oncology: An Analysis of the Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data Set

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vu, Charles C.; Lanni, Thomas B.; Robertson, John M., E-mail: JRobertson@beaumont.edu

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to summarize recently published data on Medicare reimbursement to individual radiation oncologists and to identify the causes of variation in Medicare reimbursement in radiation oncology. Methods and Materials: The Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data: Physician and Other Supplier Public Use File (POSPUF), which details nearly all services provided by radiation oncologists in 2012, was used for this study. The data were filtered and analyzed by physician and by billing code. Statistical analysis was performed to identify differences in reimbursements based on sex, rurality, billing of technical services, or location in a certificatemore » of need (CON) state. Results: There were 4135 radiation oncologists who received a total of $1,499,625,803 in payments from Medicare in 2012. Seventy-five percent of radiation oncologists were male. The median reimbursement was $146,453. The code with the highest total reimbursement was 77418 (radiation treatment delivery intensity modulated radiation therapy [IMRT]). The most commonly billed evaluation and management (E/M) code for new visits was 99205 (49%). The most commonly billed E/M code for established visits was 99213 (54%). Forty percent of providers billed none of their new office visits using 99205 (the highest E/M billing code), whereas 34% of providers billed all of their new office visits using 99205. For the 1510 radiation oncologists (37%) who billed technical services, median Medicare reimbursement was $606,008, compared with $93,921 for all other radiation oncologists (P<.001). On multivariate analysis, technical services billing (P<.001), male sex (P<.001), and rural location (P=.007) were predictive of higher Medicare reimbursement. Conclusions: The billing of technical services, with their high capital and labor overhead requirements, limits any comparison in reimbursement between individual radiation oncologists or between radiation oncologists and other specialists. Male sex and rural practice location are independent predictors of higher total Medicare reimbursements.« less