ASH, ACCC, CMA, 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/Practice/Practice-Updates/4373.aspx. This edition features:

Attempt to Repeal SGR Fails in Senate; Slight Increase in Fees Still Likely in 2010

Health Reform Legislation Moves Forward

ASH Comments on Proposed Oncology Electronic Health Record Requirements

ASH Requesting Member Assistance on Validation of PQRI Hematology Measures

Electronic Health Records: HITECH ACT Financial Incentives

Annual Clotting Factor Furnishing Fee Update


****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_10-21-2009.html. ANCO is an Institutional Member of ACCC. This edition features:

• Call your Senators: Urge Repeal of the SGR

• How to Bring Out the Best in Your Cancer Service Line

• FDA Approves Elitek for New Indication

• Prometheus Laboratories Launches Three New Diagnostic Tests

• Does Mammography Sometimes Detect Too Much Breast Cancer?

• Heard on ACCC's ListServ: Verbal Orders Given by RadOnc to Radiation Therapist


****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:

• Senate Fails to Advance Bill to Repeal Medicare SGR

• CMA Sues State to End Medical Board Furloughs

• Physicians' Personal Data Stolen

• Orange County Physician Becomes CMA President

• Highlights from CMA's 2009 House of Delegates

• State Temporarily Exempts H1N1 from Mercury-Free Vaccine Law

• 2009 State Legislative Update

• CMA Announces HIT List Program

• Next Week is Health Care Decisions Week: Physicians Urged to Talk to Patients About End-of-Life Wishes

• Best Practices: Monitoring Financial Benchmarks

• CMA's Annual CEO Report Available Online


****CMS NEWS****
MM6632 – FDG PET for Solid Tumors and Myeloma
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6632.pdf

MM6672 – Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6672.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


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
2010 Medicare Participation Enrollment & Fee Schedule Information
We are excited to provide you with a CD-ROM packed full of useful
information, which will include the 2010 Medicare Participation Enrollment
form along with some valuable additional information. We anticipate that
the CD-ROM will be mailed in November 2009.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7X2L3Y4207?opendocument


Annual Clotting Factor Furnishing Fee Update
CR 6673, from which this article is taken, announces that for calendar year
(CY) 2010, the blood clotting factor furnishing fee of $0.170 per
international unit (I.U.) is added to the payment limit for a blood
clotting factor that is not included on the Average Sales Price (ASP) or
Not Otherwise Classified (NOC) files. Please review and share with your
staff members.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7X2REF5488?opendocument


FDG PET for Solid Tumors and Myeloma
CR 6632, from which this article is taken, announces that the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is revising the Medicare National
Coverage Determinations Manual, Section 220.6 (Positron Emission Tomography
(PET) Scans). Please review and share with your staff members.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7X2R6T8231?opendocument


MACtoberfest Kicks Off at 8 a.m. Thursday, October 28!
Palmetto GBA J1 MACtoberfest is almost here! To get an overview of the
conference, join us for a general session at 8 a.m. on Thursday, October
28! Click on the link below for more details. Thank you for your
participation!
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7X2PFM1227?opendocument


Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Historically, the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for blood flow
determination has been a Medicare non-covered procedure. CR 6672, from
which this article is taken, announces that the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) found that the non-coverage of MRI for blood flow
determination is no longer supported by the available evidence. Therefore,
effective September 28, 2009, CMS is removing blood flow measurement as a
nationally non-covered indication for MRI and is giving local Medicare
contractors the discretion to cover (or not to cover) this use of MRI in
blood flow measurement.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7X2RB72121?opendocument


Notice of New Interest Rate for Medicare Overpayments & Underpayments: 1st
Notification for FY 2010
The Department of the Treasury has notified the Department of Health and
Human Services that the private consumer rate has been changed to 10.875
percent effective October 22, 2009, for Medicare overpayments and
underpayments. Please review and share with your staff members.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7X3L5K1568?opendocument


November 2009 J1 A/B MAC Medicare Advisory
The J1 November 2009 Medicare Advisory is now available. Please review and
share with your staff members.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7X3RZ23866?opendocument


The ANCO Online ListServ has moved and is now sent directly from the ANCO office computer. Please contact ListServ@anco-online.org if you wish to update or unsubscribe your e-mail address. Thanks!