CMS & Palmetto/J1MAC News

The following information has been received by ANCO.


****CMS NEWS****
The results of the 2009 Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS) are now available.

The MCPSS enables CMS to gauge provider satisfaction with key services performed by the Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) contractors that process and pay the more than $300 billion in Medicare claims each year. Respondents rated their FFS contractors between 4 and 6 on a 6-point scale, with “1” representing “not at all satisfied” and “6” representing “completely satisfied.” The 2009 MCPSS marked the fourth annual administration of the survey.

The national average has remained relatively stable through each MCPSS administration. The 2009 national average was 4.54, compared to last year’s national average of 4.51. The MCPSS was sent early this year to more than 32,000 randomly selected providers, including physicians, suppliers, health care practitioners and institutional facilities that serve Medicare beneficiaries across the country.

As in 2008, Provider Inquiries was cited as the top indicator of satisfaction. For the fourth consecutive year this business function was cited as one of the key predictors of provider satisfaction. Claims Processing remained a strong predictor of provider satisfaction as in the past three years.

The public reporting of the results over the last four years has increased awareness about the MCPSS. CMS has used the MCPSS to establish a uniform measure of provider satisfaction with FFS contractor performance. Each FFS contractor receives an individual report of findings specific to their organization, which can be used to implement process improvement initiatives.

The results of the 2009 survey are available through the CMS and MCPSS web pages at:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MCPSS/ and https://www.mcpsstudy.org/ .


The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the October 2009 ASP pricing files and crosswalks, which are available for download at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/McrPartBDrugAvgSalesPrice/01a1_2009aspfiles.asp .


The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce that the PowerPoint presentation used during the September 17th, 2009 National Provider Call is posted on the CMS website.

To access the PowerPoint Presentation, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI on the CMS website and click on the CMS Sponsored Calls tab. Once on the CMS Sponsored Calls page, scroll down to the “Downloads” section and click on the “National Provider Call-September 17th 2009” link. As an added benefit, the presentation is also available as an Adobe Acrobat file.

CMS will continue to hold national conference calls on a variety of topics related to the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative and the Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program. When each call is announced, registration information will be provided on the CMS Sponsored Calls page. All calls are free of charge.

If you are unable to participate in a scheduled call, the option read the transcript of the call will be made available.

To access the registration information on all upcoming National Provider Calls, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI on the CMS website and click on the CMS Sponsored Calls tab.


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
J1 Open Meetings
Have Palmetto GBA J1 coverage questions? Come to the Palmetto GBA J1
October Open Meetings in Hawaii, California or Nevada to have your
questions addressed. There will be no Draft Local Coverage Determinations
(LCDs) being presented for comment at the meetings.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7VVMPK1270?opendocument


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