Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Recent News from ACCC, ASCO, CMA, CMS, & Palmetto/J1MAC

The following information was received by ANCO during the ListServ's down time. Ordinarily these items would have been posted separately. They are aggregated here for your convenience.

All ANCO Online LIstServ postings are archived at the ANCO Online ListSev blog available at http://anco-online.blogspot.com/.


***ACCC NEWS***
The Association of Community Cancer Center's (ACCC) This Week at ACCC was published and is available at http://www.accc-cancer.org/mediaroom/newsletters/media_ACCCNEWSLETTER_9-29-2008.html. It features:

CMS to Issue Guidance on Use of Recognized Compendia, But Gives No Date

ACCC's Highly Acclaimed Hospital Summit Back By Popular Demand

CMS to Host ICD-10-CM/PCS National Provider Conference Calls

Regional Oncology Symposia Coming to Tampa and Philadelphia

Most Cancer Clinical Trials Go Unpublished

Alimta Receives New FDA Indication

Q&A on ACCC's Listserv: The Value of a Dedicated Surgical Oncology Wing

ACCC's CE Blackboard: Continuing Education Programs for You

State Medical Oncology Societies Host Upcoming Meetings

Intensive Course Offered in Clinical Cancer Genetics


***ASCO NEWS***
ASCO has prepared additional guidance for members related to the FDA’s recent label changes for ESAs in cancer. Please review the attached document “Important Information for Physicians about Changes Affecting the FDA-Approved Use of Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs)”.

ASCO's e-News was published and is available at http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe5315777d63027d731d&m=ff2d16787160&ls=fdf7127671650c7f7d177275&l=fe5c157575630475731c&s=fdf2157972640d79751d7073&ju=fe2516707c6d017b771075. It features:

ASCO Announces Candidates for 2009 Election

Members Only Housing Now Open for 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting

Applications Now Open for 2009 ASCO State Affiliate Grants

2008 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology

Annual Meeting Summaries Now Available on ASCO.org

Latest Issue of Journal of Oncology Practice Available Online

Registration Now Open for the 2009 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

2008 Breast Cancer Symposium Virtual Meeting Includes General Poster Presentations

ASCO Joins "Frosted Pink with A Twist" and Mary Lou Retton to Raise Awareness of Cancer

Apply Today for CDA and YIA Grants from The ASCO Cancer Foundation

Cancer Policy Alert: CMS Announces CAP Postponement, ASCO Comments on FDA Advisory Committee Draft Guidance

Translational Cancer Medicine 2008: Bridging the Lab and the Clinic in Cancer Medicine

Aging and Cancer: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

For Your Patients: Special Cancer.Net Podcast: Look Good...Feel Better

For Your Patients: Latest Cancer.Net Feature Articles Explain Pharmacogenomics and Angiogenesis

New JCO Early Release Articles Published

See What's Coming Up in JCO


***CMA NEWS***
The California Medical Association's (CMA) CMA Alert was published and is available at http://www.calphys.org/html/news.asp. It features:

Serious Medicare Payment Problems Persist

You’re Invited to a Medicare Payment Workshop in Sacramento, Friday October 3 at 6pm

CMA Takes Legal Action to Stop Unlawful DMHC Regulation

CMA Urges CMS to Extend Family PACT Waiver

Governor Approves State Budget; Structural Problems Remain

CMA’s Annual House of Delegates Convenes this Weekend

CMA Doctors Get Out in the Community

Physicians Urged to Verify Accuracy of CPPI Quality Data

Save the Date: CMA’s 34th Annual Legislative Leadership Conference Is April 14

Member Benefit of the Week: 30 - 50% off Epocrates


***CMS NEWS***
ICD-10-CM/PCS National Provider Conference Calls With Question & Answer Session
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a series of national provider calls (see below) that will provide an overview of ICD-10 and how it differs from ICD-9-CM. The presentations will include the major impacts providers should consider when planning to update any systems with ICD-10 codes. Issues such as differences in code length, alpha-numeric characters, and increased details captured by the codes will be explained. For the provider, payer, vendor, and publishing community, this overview will help them think about future reporting, system updates, and training, considering that ICD-10 may be implemented in the future.

The presenters will include members of the Cooperating Parties for ICD-9-CM, a formal coalition that has been working together on ICD-10 issues. The role of each will be explained, along with a similar role they will play should ICD-10 be implemented. The Cooperating Parties include CMS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and American Hospital Association (AHA).

A PowerPoint slide presentation has been posted on the ICD-10 Web Page at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD10 for you to download prior to the conference call so that you can follow along with the presentation.

Conference Call Details:
Separate conference calls have been scheduled for each provider type. The same information will be presented at each conference call. Participants may select one of the times listed below to attend a conference call. Select the appropriate link below, according to your provider type, to register for a conference call.

Provider Type and Date and Time of Conference Call:

Hospital Staff
October 14, 2008
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. EDT
To register go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD10/downloads/ICD10_hospital.pdf.

Other Part A and Part B Providers
November 12, 2008
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. EST
Registration information for this conference call will be forthcoming.

Physicians
November 17, 2008
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. EST
Registration information for this conference call will be forthcoming.

For those who are unable to attend, a transcript will be posted on the ICD-10 Web Page at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD10 shortly after the conference call.

New Article Posted to MLN Matters
SE0822 – Clarification of Medicare Payment for Routine Costs in a Clinical Trial
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0822.pdf

***PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS***
E-mail Updates: Why You Can’t Afford to Miss Them
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~Resources~New%20to%20Medicare~E-mail%20Updates:%20Why%20You%20Can’t%20Afford%20to%20Miss%20Them?opendocument

Palmetto GBA sends e-mail updates to registered subscribers to share
time-sensitive information, changes in guidelines and processes, and
information on documentation and claim submission...sign up today! It is a
challenge for everyone to keep up with the latest news. Imagine how much
more efficiently you could manage your practice or facility, ensure your
compliance with federal rules and regulations, and have confidence in the
accuracy of your claims and your reimbursement from Medicare.

Enrollment Applications: Status and Priority
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~Resources~Provider%20Enrollment~Enrollment%20Applications:%20Status%20and%20Priority?opendocument

Palmetto GBA is receiving a high volume of calls to verify receipt of
enrollment applications and to report “billing problems” related to NPI
numbers. We understand the urgency of resolving billing problems and
updating enrollment information and are working as quickly as possible to
provide the best possible service to you.

Quarterly Update to Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) Edits, Version 14.3,
Effective October 1, 2008
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~Articles~General~Quarterly%20Update%20to%20Correct%20Coding%20Initiative%20(CCI)%20Edits,%20Version%2014.3,%20Effective%20October%201,%202008?opendocument

This article is based on Change Request (CR) 6169, which provides a
reminder for physicians to take note of the quarterly updates to Correct
Coding Initiative (CCI) edits. The latest package of CCI edits, Version
14.3, will be effective October1, 2008. Version 14.3 of the CCI edits will
include all previous versions and updates from January 1, 1996 to the
present.

Update to the Healthcare Provider Taxonomy Codes (HPTC) Version 8.0 –
October 1, 2008
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~EDI~General~Update%20to%20the%20Healthcare%20Provider%20Taxonomy%20Codes%20(HPTC)%20Version%208.0%20–%20October%201,%202008?opendocument

CMS has released the summary of changes reflected in the Health Care
Provider Taxonomy Code (HPTC) list version 8.0. Medicare carriers and
DMERCs will update their HPTC tables with this new version effective on
October 1, 2008.

Part B LCD Update
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~Coverage~Medical%20Policies~Part%20B%20LCD%20Update?opendocument

J1 A/B MAC Part B LCDs have been revised. Please click on the
above link to see the complete list.

Clarification of Medicare Payment for Routine Costs in a Clinical Trial
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~Articles~Clinical%20Trials~Clarification%20of%20Medicare%20Payment%20for%20Routine%20Costs%20in%20a%20Clinical%20Trial%20?opendocument

This Special Edition article provides clarification regarding Medicare
payment of routine costs associated with clinical trials. CMS reminds
providers that the manual policy (chapter 16, section 40 of the Medicare
Benefit Policy Manual) states: “40 No Legal Obligation to Pay for or
Provide Services. Be sure your billing staff is aware of this information.

October 2008 J1 A/B MAC Medicare Advisory
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20A~Publications~Medicare%20Advisory~October%202008%20J1%20AB%20MAC%20Medicare%20Advisory%20?opendocument

This is the first issue of the J1 A/B MAC Medicare Advisory. To ensure no
information is excluded, we have combined information from July, August and
September into the October Issue.

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