ACCC, 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_12-30-2009.html. ANCO is an Institutional Member of ACCC. This edition features:

• CMS Waits Action by Congress on SGR

• ACCC Submits Comments to CMS on PET to Identify Bone Metastasis

• Several New HCPCS Codes to Take Effect in 2010

• Infusion Nurses Society Releases Updated Reference Text, Includes FDA-approved Treatment for Anthracycline Extravasation


****CMS NEWS****
SE0931 – Expiration of Various Payment Provisions Under the Medicare Program
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0931.pdf

SE0929 – 2010 Annual Participation Enrollment Program Extension
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0929.pdf

MM6796 – Emergency Update to the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB)
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6796.pdf

MM6540 – Tracking the Hospice Attending Physician’s National Provider Identifier (NPI) for Validating Hospice Part B Payments
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6540.pdf


The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Provider Communications Group will host a national provider conference call on the 2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) and Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program (eRx). This toll-free call will take place from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., EST, on Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

The PQRI is voluntary quality reporting program that provides an incentive payment to identified individual eligible professionals (EPs), and beginning with the 2010 PQRI, group practices who satisfactorily report data on quality measures for covered Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) services furnished to Medicare Part B Fee-For-Service (FFS) beneficiaries.

The PQRI was first implemented in 2007 as a result of section 101 of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (TRHCA), and further expanded as a result of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (MMSEA), and the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA).

The eRx Incentive Program is an incentive program for eligible professionals initially implemented in 2009 as a result of section 132(b) of the MIPPA. The eRx Incentive Program promotes the adoption and use of eRx systems by individual eligible professionals (and beginning with the 2010 eRx Incentive Program, group practices).
The topics covered on this national provider call will include:

· Program Announcements & Updates; and

· Introduction to 2010 PQRI – How to Get Started.

Following the presentation, the lines will be opened to allow participants to ask questions of CMS PQRI and eRx subject matter experts.

Educational products are available on the PQRI dedicated web page located at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI , on the CMS website, in the Educational Resources section, as well as educational products are available on the eRx dedicated web page located at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ERxIncentive on the CMS website. Feel free to download the resources prior to the call so that you may ask questions of the CMS presenters.

Conference call details:

Date: January 12, 2010

Conference Title: Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) and Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program (eRx)- National Provider Call

Time: 1:30 p.m. EST

In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. It is important to note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in data. This registration is solely to reserve a phone line, NOT to allow participation.

Registration will close at 1:30 p.m. EST on January 9, 2010, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time.

To register for the call participants need to go to: http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/011210

Fill in all required data.

Verify your time zone is displayed correctly the drop down box.

Click "Register".

You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. Note: Please print and save this page, in the event that your server blocks the confirmation emails. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please check your spam/junk mail filter as it may have been directed there.

For those of who will be unable to attend, a transcript of the call will be available at least one week after the call at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/pqri on the CMS website.

If you require services for the hearing impaired please send an email to: Medicare.TTT@PalmettoGBA.com.


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
Implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA) Version 5010 276/277 Claim Status Second Phase
This J1 A/B MAC MLN Matters article (CR6721) provides technical directions
to Medicare Shared System Maintainers and Medicare Contractors regarding
the implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA) of 1996 for the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12
Version 005010 Health Care Claim Status Request and Response (276/277)
transaction sets. Providers need to be aware of their own requirements to
be fully compliant with the X12 5010 standards by January 1, 2012. Please
be sure to share with your staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7Z6Q8G3726?opendocument


MCPSS Media Kit 2010
CMS is conducting the fifth administration of the Medicare Contractor
Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS) and will be sending random survey
samples to Medicare fee-for-service providers and suppliers.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7Z6PQB7826?opendocument


Payment for Implantable Tissue Markers: Healthcare Common Procedure Coding
System (HCPCS) Code A4648
This J1 Part B MLN Matters article (CR6579) clarifies guidance regarding
payment for implantable tissue markers. When billed on a physician claim
and used in conjunction with the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code
for the placement of interstitial devices for radiation therapy guidance
(e.g., fiducial markers, dosimeter), prostate (via needle, any approach),
single or multiple, the use of implantable tissue markers is separately
billable and payable by Medicare. Please be sure to share with your staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7Z6MGV3723?opendocument


Place of Service (POS) and Date of Service (DOS) Instructions for
Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests
This J1 Part B MLN Matters article (CR6375) informs Medicare contractors
(FIs, carriers and A/B MACs) about the correct place of service (POS) codes
and the date of service (DOS) for the interpretation of diagnostic tests.
Be sure your billing staff is aware of the correct DOS and is aware of how
Medicare contractors determine correct POS coding to assure proper payment
of your claims. Please be sure to share with your staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7Z6MAX5504?opendocument


J1 Provider Outreach and Education Event Calendar
Check out the educational events we will host in the new January 2010
Palmetto GBA J1 Provider Outreach and Education Events calendar on our Web
site!
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7TAL2C7131?opendocument


Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)
This article details important reminders for physicians who provide
services to Medicare beneficiaries in an area designated as a geographic
Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). Please be sure to share with your
staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7Z8QDA0878?opendocument


J1 PCC Closed for New Year's Day January 1, 2010
The J1 Provider Contact Center (PCC) will be closed in observance of New
Year's Day on Friday, January 1, 2010.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7Z7PZB7045?opendocument


January 2010 J1 A/B MAC Medicare Advisory
The January 2010 J1 A/B MAC Medicare Advisory is available on the Web site.
Please be sure to share with your staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7Z8K9G3785?opendocument


Medicare Remit EasyPrint (MREP) Software for J1 Part B
Medicare Remit EasyPrint (MREP) version 2.7 is available for download.
Please note that the Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARCs) and Claim
Adjustment Reason Codes (CARCs) must be downloaded from the Washington
Publishing Company (WPC) Web site to be used in conjunction with the
updated MREP Software. You can save time and money by taking advantage of
FREE MREP software now available to view and print the ANSI 835!
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7HVMA20718?opendocument


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