ACCC, ASH, CMA, CMS, NCI, & 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 at http://www.accc-cancer.org/mediaroom/newsletters/2009/media_ACCCNEWSLETTER_4-6-2009.html. ANCO is an Institutional Member of ACCC. This edition features:

Comprehensive Cancer Legislation Introduced, Make Your Voice Heard

CMS Revises NCD About FDG PET, Expands Coverage

Has Your Program Applied for ACCC's Prostate Cancer Care Project?

NCCN Drug Compendium No Longer Free

Upcoming Meeting to Highlight Planning and Designing a Cancer Center

Afinitor® Approved for Patients with Advanced Kidney Cancer

Phoenix, Cincinnati, Houston: ACCC's Regional Oncology Symposia

ACCC News Articles Get New Search Engine

NCI to Host Free Telephone Workshop Series for Cancer Survivors

Q&A on ACCC's Listserv: Unofficial Survey of Radiation Departments

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

State Medical Oncology Societies Host Membership Meetings


****ASH NEWS****
The American Society of Hematology's (ASH) webinar "PQRI and E-Prescribing: Nuts and Bolts" is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Eastern Time. This webinar will focus on the basics of how to report the 2009 hematology-related Physician Quality Reporting Initiative measures and how to complete the E-Prescribing measure. It will help ensure that practitioners follow the correct steps and receive the bonus for successful reporting.
Sylvia Publ, CMS Senior Quality Advisor, will discuss the basics of how to satisfactorily report the 2009 PQRI quality measures and to participate in the E-Prescribing program. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

The webinar focuses on assisting hematologists as well as their office staff who may benefit from a greater understanding of the PQRI and E-Prescribing process. We encourage you to pass this information along to your members so that they may participate in this informative discussion. You may advise them to contact Matt Eckel at grassroots@hematology.org to sign up for this webinar and to get answers to any further questions they may have.


****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:
CMA Sues WellPoint for Ingenix Price-Fixing Scheme

Anthem Blue Cross Requires Physicians to Take Pay Cut for Treating Healthy Families Patients

State Budget Update: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

CMS Clarifies “Community Call Plan” Regulations

Assembly Passes COBRA Subsidy Bill

CMA’s Democratic Process at Work: Council on Legislation Sets Legislative Priorities for 2009

Webinar: Red Flag Rules

Physicians Encouraged to Donate to Ovarian Cancer Research

Benefit of the Week: 15% off Insurance Products


****CMS NEWS****
CMS is pleased to announce the scheduled release of modifications to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code set. These changes have been posted to the HCPCS web page at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HCPCSReleaseCodeSets/02_HCPCS_Quarterly_Update.asp. Changes are effective on the date indicated on the update.


CMS is now accepting reporting options suggestions for consideration for possible inclusion in the proposed set of reporting options for use in the 2010 PQRI. For instructions on submitting suggestions, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/pqri and click on the “Overview” link on the left. All suggestions must be received by 5:00pm EST April 17, 2009.

Note: Suggesting reporting option(s) does not guarantee that the reporting option(s) will be included in the proposed or final sets of reporting options of any Proposed or Final Rules that address the 2010 PQRI. CMS will determine what reporting options to include in the proposed set of reporting options, and after a period of public comment, the agency will make the final determination with regard to the final set reporting options for the 2010 PQRI.


****NCI NEWS****
The Office of Advocacy Relations (OAR) is pleased to continue the Spring 2009 Understanding NCI: Toll-Free Teleconference with a discussion on NCI Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP): Translating Scientific Advances into the Community, Tuesday, April 21, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., ET. The NCCCP is a three-year pilot program to test the concept of a national network of community cancer centers to expand cancer research and deliver the latest, most advanced, cancer care to a greater number of Americans in their communities.

The featured speakers are Dr. Maureen Johnson, Project Officer in NCI’s Community Cancer Centers Program and Dr. Beverly Laird, Co-Chair NCI Directors Consumer Liaison Group. To join, please dial (800) 857-6584; the passcode is NCCCP. Toll-free playback will be available through May 21 at (866) 457-5714. For more information about NCCCP, visit http://ncccp.cancer.gov/.


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
Change to Location of Eureka Workshop
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~Learning%20Education~Workshops~Change%20to%20Location%20of%20Eureka%20Workshop?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/8525746A00550AA3852575900046E090?opendocument

The location of the Understanding the Rules and Using the Tools workshop
Thursday, April 9, in Eureka has changed. The workshop will be in the
community room of the Umpqua Bank Plaza, 2426 Sixth Street, Eureka.


Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility Table
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~Resources~Provider%20Enrollment~IDTF~Independent%20Diagnostic%20Testing%20Facility%20Table?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/8525746A00550AA385257590006C0948?opendocument

This table shows the CPT codes, physician supervision levels and physician
and technician requirements for independent diagnostic testing facilities.


Internet-Based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS)
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20A~Resources~Provider%20Enrollment~Internet-Based%20Provider%20Enrollment%20Chain%20and%20Ownership%20System%20(PECOS)?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/8525746A00550AA3852575900046941E?opendocument

This J1 Internet based PECOS article assists providers to determine when to
contact the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) External User
Services (EUS) Help Desk and when to contact the Medicare Provider
Enrollment Contractors.


Part B LCD New Update
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~Coverage~Medical%20Policies~Part%20B%20LCD%20New%20Update?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/8525746A00550AA385257590006DE62A?opendocument

Share with your staff - some Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) have been
revised and can be viewed at the Palemetto GBA J1 Part B Web site.


Reminder about Address Changes
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~Resources~Provider%20Enrollment~General~Reminder%20about%20Address%20Changes?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/8525746A00550AA3852575900064C796?opendocument

If you are credentialed with Palmetto GBA as a Medicare provider, you must
notify Palmetto GBA within 90 days of any changes that occur to your
practice location.


Understanding the Rules and Using the Tools Workshops
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~Learning%20Education~Workshops~Understanding%20the%20Rules%20and%20Using%20the%20Tools%20Workshops?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/8525746A00550AA3852575900046BBDE?opendocument

There's still time to register for Palmetto GBA's Understanding the Rules
and Using the Tools workshops being held this April and May for Part B
providers in California, Nevada and Hawaii.