ACCC, CMA, CMS & Palmetto/J1MAC News

The following information has been received by ANCO.


****ACCC NEWS***
The Association of Community Cancer Center's (ACCC) Connect was published and is available online at http://www.accc-cancer.org/mediaroom/newsletters/2009/media_ACCConnect_9-23-2009.html. ANCO is an Institutional Member of ACCC. This edition features:

ACCC Submits Comments to CMS on PET

Particle Beam Radiation Therapy Promising but Unproven for Treating Cancer

Prometheus Laboratories Inc Joins ACCC's Technical Advisory Council

Education Needs Assessment Survey: Oncology Practices

Virtual Tumor Board: Early Breast Cancer

ICD-9 Codes, ESAs, and Iron Supplementation

Myriad Genetics Launches Public Awareness Campaign for Healthcare Providers and Patients


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

Medical Liability Issues on the Front Burner in Washington

Alfred Gilchrist Named New CMA CEO

Senate Finance Finally Unveils Health Reform Bill

CDC Encourages Swift Use of Antivirals in High Risk H1N1 Patients

Hospital Outpatient Clinics: Legal Considerations for Physicians

Blue Cross Physicians: Don’t Forget to Review New Fees Before 11/11

CMA-Sponsored Bills Pass Legislature; Await Governor’s Signature

Annual Session Resolutions Available to Members Online

Tickets Now on Sale for CMA Foundation Annual Dinner

Best Practices: Improving the Patient Experience

Physician EHR Case Study Chapter 4: At the Brink of E-Prescribing


****CMS NEWS***
What’s New with 2009 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) and Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing) Incentive Programs
1. New Medicare Learning Network Education Product
2. New and Revised MLN Articles on the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative
3. Three Physician Quality Reporting Initiative Help Desk Resources Now Available for Eligible Professionals

Medicare Learning Network Announces Availability of the 2009 PQRI and E-Prescribing Program Web-based Training Course
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Learning Network (MLN) is pleased to announce that the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) and Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program (E-Prescribing) Web-based Training Course is now available.

The course provides information to physicians, health care professionals, and medical administrative staff on the completion, submission and maintenance of the documentation required to successfully participate in Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) and Electronic Prescription Incentive (E-Prescribing) programs. The course offers continuing education credits; please see the course description page for the details.

The course can be accessed by going to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNGenInfo on the CMS website and scrolling down to the “Related Links Inside CMS” section and selecting Web Based Training (WBT) Modules. Once on the web-based training module page, select the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative and Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program WBT from the list provided.

Medicare Learning Network Announces New and Revised MLN Articles on the 2009 PQRI
~New-MM6514- Coding and Reporting Principles for the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) and the Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing) Incentive Programs
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mlnmattersarticles/downloads/MM6514.pdf

~Revised-SE0830- Steps for Individual Eligible Professionals to Access Their 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Feedback Reports Personally
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0830.pdf

~Revised-SE0831- Steps for Organizations to Access Their 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Feedback Report
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0831.pdf

These new and revised articles are intended to assist eligible professionals and group practices who report PQRI quality measures data to Medicare.

Three Physician Quality Reporting Initiative Help Desk Resources are Available for Eligible Professionals
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce three PQRI Help Desk Resources to assist eligible professionals with their questions on the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative.

1. Provider Call Center Directory
· Remittance Advice Notices
· Incentive payment distribution status
· Adjustments made to incentive payment due to sanctions/overpayments
For contact information, see the “Provider Center Toll-free Numbers Directory” by clicking the link under the “Related Links Inside CMS” section below and scrolling down to the “Downloads” section.

2. External User Services (EUS) – 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM EST
· Registering/creating an IACS account
· Accessing an IACS account
· Changing an IACS account
· Approving users into an organization
Phone: 1-866-484-8049
TTY: 1-866-523-4759

3. QualityNet Help Desk – 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM CST
· General CMS PQRI & ERX Information
· PQRI Portal Password Issues
· PQRI feedback report availability and access
Phone: 1-866-288-8912

All publicly available information on the CMS Physician Quality Reporting Initiative can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI, on the CMS website.

All publicly available information on the CMS Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ERxIncentive on the CMS website.


SE0926 – 2009 - 2010 Seasonal Influenza (Flu) Resources for Health Care Professionals
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0926.pdf

MM6589 – Implementation of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) version 5010 for Transaction 835 - Health Care Claim Payment/Advice
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6589.pdf

MM6599 – Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Transition and Outbound Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Transactions
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6599.pdf

MM6604 – Claim Adjustment Reason Code (CARC), Remittance Advice Remark Code (RARC), and Medicare Remit Easy Print (MREP) Update
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6604.pdf


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
Registration is Open for J1 MACtoberfest October 29-30
Registration is now open for MACtoberfest, our fall face-to-face education
series, in Las Vegas October 29 through 30. It's the last in-person event
of the year and provides an opportunity to interact face to face with
Palmetto GBA representatives and other key Medicare partners.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7W4L6L1805?opendocument


J1 Provider Contact Center To Be Closed for Training on Friday, September 25
The J1 Provider Contact Center will be closed for training on Friday,
September 25, 2009 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7W5MCA2360?opendocument


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