ACCC, ASCO, CMA, CMS, Palmetto/J1MAC News

The following information has been received by ANCO.


****ACCC NEWS****
The Association of Community Cancer Center's (ACCC) This Week At ACCC was published and is available online at http://www.accc-cancer.org/mediaroom/newsletters/2009/media_ACCCNEWSLETTER_4-20-2009.html. ANCO is an Institutional Member of ACCC. This edition features:

CMS Attempts to Clarify RAC Review Process of Provider Claims

Medicare Legislation: Nursing Time and Educating Cancer Patients

Cincinnati Get Ready: ACCC's Symposium Is May 6

Ovarian Cancer Screening Resulted in Many Unnecessary Surgeries

Tomorrow's the Deadline to Apply for ACCC's Prostate Cancer Care Project

Q&A on ACCC's Listserv: Chemo Double-Checks

ACCC's CE Blackboard: A Full Range of Courses to Choose


****ASCO NEWS****
The American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) Oncology Practice Insider was published and available online at http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe6115797365007d741c&m=ff311d707460&ls=fde71372736202747417777c&l=fe5e1575706c067d7d10&s=fe1f15797d620479731d75&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe251672726d0d7f731772. ANCO is a state/regional affiliate of ASCO. This edition features:

1. Informed Consent for Chemotherapy Administration

2. ASCO Annual Meeting Program Announcement

3. AMA Announces Physician Class Action Against WellPoint/Anthem

4. NCCN Compendium

5. Availability of Internet-Based PECOS

6. Medicare Expands Coverage of PET Scans

7. ASP Drug Pricing Files April 2009 Update

8. From the practice manager's desk...

9. CORRECTION: AMA Resource: "Internal collections in the physician practice

10. Billing and Coding Q&A


The American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) e-news was published and is available online at http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe5a1579736407757613&m=ff2d16787160&ls=fde91374706d077d7c1c717d&l=fe6915757264077d7617&s=fdf2157972640d79751d7073&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe231672726c0378711776. ANCO is a state/regional affiliate of ASCO. This edition features:

Abstract Submitter Now Open for the 2009 Breast Cancer Symposium

View the 2007-2008 ASCO Annual Report

ASCO Urges House Members to Co-sponsor ASP Legislation; Reps. Capps and Boustany Introduce the Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act of 2009; ASCO Sends IOM Comparative Effectiveness Research Priorities

Don't Miss Out on the 2009 Annual Meeting in Orlando

ASCO Seeks Candidates for Upcoming JCO Editor-in-Chief Term

ASCO is All a-Twitter!

Interact with Colleagues on OncologyEHR

2009 ASCO Special Awards Recognize Society Leaders

Read the JCO Original Report "FOXP3 Expression and Overall Survival in Breast Cancer"

ASCO Publishes 5th Edition of Practical Tips

Virtual Meeting, Podcast Access Available from the 2009 GU Cancers Symposium

View, Purchase Electronic Resources from the 2009 GI Cancers Symposium

For Your Patients

Cancer.Net Feature: Patient Navigation: Getting Help With Cancer Care

ASCO Expert Corner: Talking With the Doctor About PSA Screening

Reminders

Early Registration Rates for the 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting End April 24

Apply for the June 17-19 Accelerating Anticancer Agent Development and Validation Workshop

Register and Reserve Housing for the Best of ASCO® Meetings in Los Angeles and Atlanta

Deadline for Active and Emeritus Members to Vote on the ASCO Bylaws is May 18


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

Medical Board Changes Licensing Fees for Physicians

CMA Publishes Red Flag Rule Toolkit for Members Only

State Supreme Court Sides with CMA in Peer Review Case

Highlights from CMA's Annual “Doctor Day” in Sacramento

Sign Up for CMA's Legislative Hot List

CMA Webinar: Best Practices – Improving the Efficiency and Quality of Your Practice

Earn 17.75 Hours of CME at CMA's Health Care Leadership Academy

Family PACT Waiver Extended through September 30, 2009

Federal Officials Vow to Raise Medicare Reimbursement Rates in Several of California’s High-Cost Counties


****CMS NEWS****
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be offering several informational sessions on the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Program. Presenting with CMS will be the RAC for California, HealthDataInsights, Inc. These sessions will take place at the CMS San Francisco Regional Office located at 90 7th Street in San Francisco, California.
On May 4, 2009, CMS will offer two sessions each with a capacity for 200 participants: one at 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM (PDT) and again at 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (PDT).
On May 5, 2009, CMS will host an additional informational session from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM (PDT) with a capacity of 90 participants.
The program will provide California hospitals, SNF’s, Rehabilitation Facilities, Home Health Agencies, DME Suppliers, and physicians with an opportunity to ask CMS officials and HealthDataInsights, Inc. questions regarding the RAC program. Space is limited to attend this program so register early for a session utilizing the following link:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/events/upcomingevents.asp?strOrderBy=1&type=3.
On May 11, 2009, the California Hospital Association (CHA) will host two additional informational sessions in the Los Angeles area. These sessions will be held at the Good Samaritan Hospital located at 1225 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017-1901. The first session is at 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM (PDT) and the second session is at 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. (PDT). Registration will be handled by CHA. Further registration instructions will be sent by CHA to their members.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OF THESE SESSIONS WILL CONTAIN THE SAME CONTENT; THEREFORE, YOU NEED ONLY REGISTER FOR ONE SESSION.
The permanent RAC Program was instituted as a result of Section 302 of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 and requires the Secretary to expand the program to all 50 states by no later than January 1, 2010. The RACs are tasked with identifying improper payments paid on Medicare fee-for-service claims. Read the text of this legislation by going to Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, Section 302 [pdf, 29kb].
If you have any questions please e-mail them to RAC@cms.hhs.gov
Please stay tuned for future Region D RAC Provider Outreach conferences in your area!


The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a Special Open Door Forum (ODF) to discuss the availability of Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) and the implementation of regulatory provisions. During this call CMS staff will discuss the:
· Internet-based PECOS for physicians, non-physician practitioners and provider and supplier organizations
· Provider and supplier reporting responsibilities
· Final Adverse Actions
· Change of Practice Locations
· Change of Ownership
· Other Reportable Events
· Effective date of Medicare billing privileges and retrospective billing for physicians, certain non-physician practitioners, and physician and non-physician practitioner organizations
· Revalidation Efforts
Afterwards, there will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions.

We look forward to your participation.
Open Door Forum Instructions:
**Capacity is limited so dial in early. You may begin dialing into this forum as early as 1:45 PM ET.**
Dial: 1-800-837-1935
Reference Conference ID 94109369
Note: TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880 and for Internet Relay services click here http://www.consumer.att.com/relay/which/index.html. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.

An audio recording of this Special Forum will be posted to the Special ODF website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/05_ODF_SpecialODF.asp and will be accessible for downloading beginning Monday May 11, 2009 and available for 30 days.

For automatic emails of Open Door Forum schedule updates (E-Mailing list subscriptions) and to view Frequently Asked Questions please visit our website at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/


MM6400 – Hospice Cap Calculations Letters and Administrative Appeals
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6400.pdf

MM6310 – Billing Routine Costs of Clinical Trials
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6310.pdf


Providers may now register for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ICD-10-CM/PCS Implementation and General Equivalence Mappings (Crosswalks) National Provider Conference Call that will be conducted on May 19, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

This conference call will include a discussion of the following topics:
· An overview of the ICD-10 final rule, which requires the implementation of ICD-10-CM/PCS on October 1, 2013;
· The differences between ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS codes;
· The use of the General Equivalence Mappings that have been created to assist in converting policies, edits, and trend data from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS; and
· The resources that are available to assist in planning for the transition from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS.

Conference call discussion materials and registration information can be accessed at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD10/07a_2009_CMS_Sponsored_Calls.asp .


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
Medicare Remit EasyPrint (MREP) Software for J1 Part B
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/Providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~EDI~Software%20Manuals~Medicare%20Remit%20EasyPrint%20(MREP)%20Software%20for%20J1%20Part%20B?opendocument

If the above link does not work in your e-mail program, please use the
temporary alternate link provided below.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/Providers.nsf/docsCat/8525746A00550AA3852574B800674EB2?opendocument

Medicare Remit EasyPrint (MREP) version 2.6 is available for download. You
can save time and money by taking advantage of FREE Medicare Remit
EasyPrint software now available to view and print the HIPAA compliant 835!
Please visit our Web site at www.palmettogba.com for downloading and
researching the MREP changes for the 2.6 Version.


CMS Notice of New Interest Rate for Medicare Overpayments and
Underpayments: 3rd Notification for FY 2009
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/Providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20A~Articles~General~CMS%20Notice%20of%20New%20Interest%20Rate%20for%20Medicare%20Overpayments%20and%20Underpayments%203rd%20Notification%20for%20FY%202009?opendocument

If the above link does not work in your e-mail program, please use the
temporary alternate link provided below.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/Providers.nsf/docsCat/8525746A00550AA385257597006F6AF7?opendocument

This Change Request (CR) 6240, provides the quarterly update of the 2009
interest rate for Medicare overpayments and underpayments.


Drugs & Biologicals: Maximum Allowed Units (MAUs)
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/Providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Ohio%20Part%20B%20Carrier~Articles~Drugs%20Biologicals~Drugs%20Biologicals%20Maximum%20Allowed%20Units%20(MAUs)?opendocument

If the above link does not work in your e-mail program, please use the
temporary alternate link provided below.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/Providers.nsf/docsCat/8525746A00550AA38525750B007275E3?opendocument

Palmetto GBA has implemented automated system edits for all HCPCS drug
codes. These edits are designed to reduce entry and math errors, not to
limit utilization. Drugs and biologicals submitted with quantities that
exceed the Palmetto GBA established maximum limits will be denied unless
additional supporting documentation is submitted for consideration. We
encourage you to refer to the attached MAU Table before submitting claims
to Palmetto GBA.


Directory of Participating Physicians and Suppliers Now Available
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~Resources~MEDPARD~Directory%20of%20Participating%20Physicians%20and%20Suppliers%20Now%20Available?opendocument

If the above link does not work in your e-mail program, please use the
temporary alternate link provided below.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/docsCat/8525746A00550AA385257597005DBE6C?opendocument

You can now find a directory of the physicians and suppliers who
participate in Jurisdiction 1 Part B Medicare on the Palmetto GBA Web site.
You can search for participating physicians by county or by zip code.