ASH, CMS, & Palmetto/J1MAC News

The following information has been received by ANCO.


****ASH NEWS****
The American Society of Hematology's (ASH) Practice Update was published and is available online at http://www.hematology.org/policy/practice/05072009.cfm#1. It features:

Influenza A (H1N1): Updated Information for Clinicians

Federal Budget Passes With Language to Ease Passage of Health Reform and to Avert Physician Payment Cuts

Medicare Proposal Includes ASH Recommendations to Limit Coverage of Genetic Tests to Determine Best Warfarin Dosage

FTC Delays Implementation of Red Flags Rule for Physicians

ASH Committee on Practice Discusses Health Reform and Physician Payment Issues With Congress

Successful ASH Webinar on PQRI & E-Prescribing


****CMS NEWS****
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Provider Communications Group will host a national provider conference call on the 2009 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) and Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program (e-Prescribing). This toll-free call will take place from 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., EDT, on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.

The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) made the PQRI program permanent, but only authorized incentive payments through 2010. Eligible professionals who meet the criteria for satisfactory submission of quality measures data for services furnished during the reporting period, January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009, will earn an incentive payment of 2.0 percent of their total allowed charges for Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) covered professional services furnished during that same period. The 2009 PQRI consists of 153 quality measures and 7 measures groups.

Section 132 of MIPPA authorizes a new and separate incentive program for individual eligible professionals who are successful electronic prescribers (e-Prescribers) as defined by MIPPA. This new incentive is separate from and is in addition to PQRI.

The topics covered on this national provider call will include:

An update on the Quality Data Code (QDC) Error Report;

Tips for satisfactorily reporting a Measures Group in the 2009 PQRI; and

Frequently Asked Questions on e-Prescribing.

Following this presentation, the lines will be opened to allow participants to ask questions of CMS PQRI subject matter experts.

Educational products are available on the PQRI dedicated web page located at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI , on the CMS website, in the Educational Resources section, section, as well as educational products are available on the e-prescribing dedicated web page located at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ERxIncentive. Feel free to download the resources prior to the call so that you may ask questions of the CMS presenters.

Conference call details:

Date: May 20, 2009

Conference Title: 2009 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative and Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program-National Provider Call

Time: 2:30 p.m. EDT

In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. It is important to note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in data. This registration is solely to reserve a phone line, NOT to allow participation. If you cannot attend the call, replay information is available below.

Registration will close at 2:30 p.m. EDT on May 19, 2009, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time.

To register for the call participants need to go to http://www2.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/052009

Fill in all required data.

Verify your time zone is displayed correctly the drop down box.

Click "Register".

You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. Note: Please print and save this page, in the event that your server blocks the confirmation emails. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please check your spam/junk mail filter as it may have been directed there.

For those of you who will be unable to attend, a replay option will be available shortly following the end of the call. This replay will be accessible from 5:30 p.m. EDT 5/20/2009 until 11:59 p.m. EDT 5/27/2009. The call in data for the replay is (800) 642-1687 and the passcode is 90613260.

If you require services for the hearing impaired please send an email to:Medicare.TTT@PalmettoGBA.com.


MM6303 – Requirements for Specialty Codes
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6303.pdf


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
An Introductory Overview of the HIPAA 5010
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20A~MLNs~All%20Part%20A%20MLNs~An%20Introductory%20Overview%20of%20the%20HIPAA%205010?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/8525746A00550AA3852575AF00695282?opendocument

SE0904, An Introductory Overview of the HIPAA 5010, outlines substantial
changes in the content of the data that must be submitted with claims, as
well as to the data available in response to electronic inquiries. The
implementation will require changes to the software, systems and perhaps
procedures used for billing Medicare and other payers.


Requirements for Specialty Codes
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/DocsCat/Providers~Jurisdiction%201%20Part%20B~MLNs~All%20Part%20B%20MLNs~Requirements%20for%20Specialty%20Codes?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/8525746A00550AA3852575AF00696010?opendocument

CR6303, Requirements for Specialty Codes, alerts providers that the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is to revising the Medicare Claims
Processing Manual, Chapter 26, Section 10.8 in order to clarify the
criteria CMS considers when reviewing Medicare physician/non-physician
practitioner specialty code requests.