CMS & Palmetto/J1MAC News

The following information has been received by ANCO.


****CMS NEWS****
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Updates Physician Payment Information for Value-Driven Health Care
To support the delivery of high-quality, efficient health care and enable consumers to make more informed health care decisions, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is making cost and quality data available to all Americans. As part of this initiative, Medicare posted information in 2007 and 2008 about the payments it made during the previous year for common and elective procedures and services provided by Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), Hospital Outpatient Departments, and Physicians.

The Hospital information is posted on the Hospital Compare Website where it can be viewed along with hospital quality information. The Hospital compare website may be found at www.medicare.gov.

On August 28, 2009, Medicare posted an update to the Ambulatory Surgery Center data. The Physician payment data was posted on September 25, 2009. Hospital Outpatient Department data will be updated later this year. The information is being displayed in the same format as in previous years, updated with calendar year (CY) 2008 data. The posting updates may be found at: www.cms.hhs.gov/HealthCareConInit/.


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
Drug Lookup and Calculator Tool
The Drug Lookup and Calculator Tool was created to help providers submit
the correct number of 'units' on their claims by calculating and converting
the dosage administered to the patient. As a bonus, it will also display
the most current Maximum Allowed Units (MAUs) assigned to the drug. Be sure
to take a look at this new self-service tool.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7W8K9R6863?opendocument


J1 Part B LCD Update
The following J1 Part B LCDs have been revised: Stereotactic Body Radiation
Therapy and Stereotactic Radiosurgery.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7W7SK34877?opendocument


October 2009 J1 A/B MAC Medicare Advisory
The October 2009 J1 A/B Mac Medicare Advisory is available on the Palmetto
GBA Web site.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7W8K4Q8450?opendocument


Medicare Provider Feedback Town Hall Meeting
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requests your
participation in a Town Hall meeting on October 29, 2009, from 2 p.m. to 4
p.m. ET. The meeting will be held via conference call as well as in the
auditorium at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security
Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland 21244.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/Providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7WCKU73455?opendocument


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