ACCC, CMA, & 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_10-7-2009.html. ANCO is an Institutional Member of ACCC. This edition features:

• Oncology Leaders: A Summit for You

• Reach Out to Congress: Stop Payment Cuts to Cancer Care

• NCI Announces New NCCCP Sites Funding Opportunity

• CMS Revises October 2009 ASP and NOC Drug Pricing

• FDA Clears Test for Ovarian Cancer that Could Guide Surgical Decisions

• Heard on ACCC's ListServ: Cancer Registry Reporting, Staffing, and Workload

• Online Presentations Available from ACCC's Oncology Economics Conference


****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:

• AMA Creates CPT Codes for H1N1 Vaccine; Many Billing Questions Remain

• First Doses of H1N1 Delivered to Physicians This Week

• CMA Has Serious Concerns About Senate Health Reform Bill

• CMA Proposes Health Reform Amendments to Protect Physicians from Increased Liability

• Attorney General Opinion Reinforces California's Ban on the Corporate Practice of Medicine

• New Federal Regulations Require Physicians to Notify Patients of Security Breaches

• Don't Forget Blue Cross Switches to Paperless EOBs

• CMA Published Blue Cross Tool Kit

• CMA's Coalition Invited to Next Round of Federal Applications to be California's Regional Health IT Extension Center

• Best Practices: Performing an EHR Needs Assessment

• CMA's Annual House of Delegates Convenes Next Week


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
2009 PQRI National Provider Call: October 15, 2009
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). This toll-free call will take place
from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT, on Thursday, October 15, 2009. The topics
covered on this national provider call will include: the Alternative
National Provider Index (NPI) Feedback Report Distribution Process, updates
on 2008 PQRI and 2007 re-run PQRI incentive payments and an explanation of
the paper and electronic remittance advice statement for determining
incentive payments.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7WKH2M3117?opendocument


Announcing the Release of the Revised CMS-855 Medicare Enrollment
Applications
While Medicare contractors will continue to accept the February 2008
version of the Medicare enrollment application through November 30, 2009,
physicians, non-physician practitioners and other suppliers should begin to
use the new Medicare enrollment applications immediately. Please review and
share with your staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7VRSEK1310?opendocument


Expansion of the Current Scope of Editing for Ordering/Referring Providers
for Claims Processed by Medicare Carriers and Part B Medicare
Administrative Contractors (MACs)
This article was revised on September 14, 2009, to provide further
clarification of what will happen during the two phases of implementing
this change. The article is based on change request (CR) 6417, which
requires Medicare implementation of system edits to assure that Part B
providers and suppliers bill for ordered or referred items or services only
when those items or services are ordered or referred by physician and
non-physician practitioners who are eligible to order/refer such services.
Physician and non-physician practitioners who order or refer must be
enrolled in the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System
(PECOS) and must be of the type/specialty who are eligible to order/refer
services for Medicare beneficiaries. Be sure billing staff are aware of
these changes that will impact Part B provider and supplier claims for
ordered or referred items or services that are received and processed on or
after October 5, 2009.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7RSNP30613?opendocument


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