For Immediate Release:

Consolidated and Easier to Read and Understand New Accountable Care Organization Proposed Regulations and Materials Released Free of Charge for Physicians and Members of the Press who call 727 442-1200 or e-mail agassman@gassmanpa.com. Alan S. Gassman says that the regulations will favor hospitals and large healthcare systems over small physician practices and patient welfare.

Gassman, Bates & Associates, P.A. in Clearwater Florida announces that it has reconfigured the recently released HHS Accountable Care Organization Regulations to be easier understand and more accessible to physicians, the press, and other interested parties. Issued as a 429 page document, the easier to read and navigate product version available in hard copy and MS Word format, and has shrunk to 214 pages. Features include acronym definition throughout the text, a table of contents linked to page numbers, and an index. All pages from the original March 31st (check date issuance) HHS release are included, along with the separate pronouncement from the Department of Justice on abatement of the antitrust laws and other pertinent government issued releases.

This text, along with a brief summary of the new Regulations written by attorneys Alan S. Gassman and Martha Sosa can be purchased by non physicians who are not members of the press for $19.95, with all net proceeds going to the All Children’s Hospital Foundation in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Attorney Alan S. Gassman stated “I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of detail and thought that went into the content of this document, but was completely hindered by its presentation. The size of the document and the overabundance of unfamiliar and unnecessary acronyms was overwhelming. There were no page numbers on the table of contents. Non lawyers who understand the intent of these proposed rules will be able to get a much better understanding of the details by reading this directly. I hope that this helps to allow for better commentary and input to CMS during the 60 day comment period.

Mr. Gassman also said that “Physician interests are not as well served as hospital interests in these rules, and the vast majority of doctors don’t have armies of lawyers and lobbyists to help them here. I’m sad that my family doctor would have to join an organization of the size and complexity of an ACT to be able to make ends meet, and maybe these rules can be improved before finalization if more doctors read about them and provide feedback to simplify this process. Otherwise half or more of the hundreds of millions of dollars of incentives are going to go to lawyers, consultants and software companies instead of doctors and other hard working health professionals.” There are easy ways to simplify these rules to help all concerned, including the government.

Alan S. Gassman is an attorney and author who has published over 200 articles in national magazines, journals, and other services. Gassman, Bates & Associates, P.A. represents several hundred physicians in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. Mr. Gassman has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Medical Economics and many other respected publications. If you would like a copy of the reworked Regulations and supplemental materials, please call 727 442 1200, e-mail Agassman@gassmanpa.com, or visit Amazon.com where the book will be posted on April 7, 2011.