ACCC, ASH, CMA, 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/2010/ACCConnect-1-13-2010.html. ANCO is an Institutional Member of ACCC. This edition features:

• Join Us for Great Learning & Networking Opportunities at ACCC's 36th Annual National Meeting in Baltimore, MD

• ACCC to Co-Host Educational Briefing on Capitol Hill

• Who Will Care for Tomorrow's Cancer Patients? ACCC Looks for Answers

• Heard on ACCC's ListServ: Are Tumor Boards for Education or for Active Treatment Planning

• New HCPCS Code for Taxotere (docetaxel) Injection Concentrate (J9171)

• NIH Conference: Enhancing Use and Quality of Colorectal Cancer Screening


****ASH NEWS****
The American Society of Hematology's (ASH) Practice Update was published and available online at http://www.hematology.org/Practice/Practice-Updates/4801.aspx. This edition features:

• ASH Continues Efforts to Restore Payment for Medicare Consult Codes to Support Hematologists

• Congressional Negotiations Begin on Final Health Reform Bill

• ASH Supports BCR-ABL Testing for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia to MedCAC

• 2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative Program Continues Financial Incentive for Physician Participation

• 2009 ASH Quick Reference: The Evaluation and Management of Heparin-Induce Thrombocytopenia

• Federal Regulations Proposed to Define "Meaningful Use" and Set Standard for Electronic Health Record Incentive Program

• Last Chance to Register for Highlights of ASH


****CMA NEWS****
The California Medical Association's (CMA) Alert was published and is available online at http://www.calphys.org/html/news.asp. This edition features:

• Congress at the Brink of Health Reform

• CMA Sends Delegation to DC to Lobby for Health Reform Improvements

• CMA Polling Members on Health Reform

• Federal Officials Announce Meaningful Use Criteria

• Consultation Code Issue Frustates Physicians: CMA Publishes Billing Guide

• Questions About the New Consultation Code Rules? Sign Up for CMA's Webinar: How to Bill Medicare in 2010

• Governor Schwarzenegger Releases Proposed 2010-2011 Budget

• CMS Temporarily Extends California's Family PACT Waiver

• Blue Cross Extends Health Families Continuity of Care Plan, Again

• CMA's 36th Annual Legislative Conference is April 27


****CMS NEWS****
The revised Medicare Physician Guide: A Resource for Residents, Practicing Physicians, and Other Health Care Professionals (Oct 2009), which offers general information about the Medicare Program, how to become a Medicare provider or supplier, Medicare payment policies, Medicare reimbursement, evaluation and management services, protecting the Medicare Trust Fund, inquiries, overpayments, and fee-for-service appeals, is now available in CD-ROM format from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare Learning Network. To place your order, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNGenInfo/ , scroll down to “Related Links Inside CMS” and select “MLN Product Ordering Page.”


MM6818 – Correction to CR 6728 on Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) Edits, Version 16.0, Effective January 1, 2010
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6818.pdf


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


MM6715 – Pharmacogenomic Testing for Warfarin Response
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6715.pdf


MM6440 – Additional Data Collection on Hospice Claims
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6440.pdf


MM6753 – Positron Emission Tomography (PET) (FDG) for Cervical Cancer
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6753.pdf


MM6705 – Expansion of Medicare Telehealth Services for Calendar Year (CY) 2010
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6705.pdf


MM6657 – Calendar Year (CY) 2010 Annual Update for Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and Laboratory Services Subject to Reasonable Charge Payment
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6657.pdf


SE1001 – Additional Information Regarding the Calendar Year (CY) 2010 Annual Update for Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and Laboratory Services Subject to Reasonable Charge Payment
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE1001.pdf


MM6547 – Processing of Non-Covered International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) Procedure Codes on Inpatient Hospital Claims
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6547.pdf


The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a Listening Session on the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). The purpose of this listening session is to discuss and solicit feedback on the individual quality measures and measures groups being considered for possible inclusion in the proposed set of quality measures for use in the 2011 PQRI program and key components of the design of the PQRI program, such as possible reporting mechanisms, reporting periods, criteria for satisfactory reporting, the group practice reporting option, and public reporting of 2011 PQRI data.

The listening session will be held on February 2, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST) in the main auditorium of the Central Building of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, located at 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850.

There is still time to register to participate in this event! Although we are no longer accepting registrations for participation via teleconference, there is still space to participate in person. In order to participate in the meeting, you must complete the online registration at http://www.usqualitymeasures.org on the internet, by no later than 5 p.m. EST on January 27, 2010.

A summary of the measures and measures groups suggestions received and other background materials for the listening session will be posted on the PQRI section of the CMS Web site at www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI on the CMS website, in the coming weeks.

For more information, please see the Federal Register meeting notice posted at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-30122.pdf on the Internet.


The Medicare Learning Network (MLN) has produced two QUICK REFERENCE CHARTS, which provide information on frequently used Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) web pages.
· The Quick Reference: All Medicare Providers (DEC2009) chart includes a list of CMS web pages that ALL Medicare providers use most frequently.
· The Quick Reference: New Medicare Provider (DEC2009) chart includes a list of CMS web pages that NEW Medicare providers use most frequently.

These charts can be bookmarked and viewed online or they can be printed and used as ready references. Both charts can be located at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/MPUB/list.asp on the MLN Publications page. Use search key word “quick” to locate these publications.


The World of Medicare WBT is designed for health care professionals who want to understand the fundamentals of the Medicare Program. After completing this course, participants should be able to differentiate between Medicare Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D, identify Medicare beneficiary health insurance options, eligibility, and enrollment, as well as recognizing how Medigap and Medicaid work with the Medicare Program.

This WBT course offers continuing education credits. Please see the course description for details.This training can be accessed by visiting http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNgeninfo/ and scrolling to the “Related Links Inside CMS” page section. Within these links, select Web Based Training (WBT) Modules and then World of Medicare (January 2010) from the list provided.


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
ACT Call: New Year, Fresh Start - January 26, 2010
Please join us on January 26, 2010, for an Ask the Contractor
Teleconference (ACT): New Year, Fresh Start! This hour long ACT call is
designed to be a Medicare refresher course, covering a variety of topics
including the call inquiry process, filing an appeal and reading your
remittance advice.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7ZMN764584?opendocument


J1 A/B MAC Palmetto GBA Assigned ICD-9-CM Codes for National Coverage
Determinations
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7RCMMD8585?opendocument


J1 PCC Closed January 18, 2010 (MLK Day)
Share with your staff - The J1 Provider Contact Center (PCC) will be closed
on Monday, January 18, 2010, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7ZNNW21210?opendocument


Correction to CR 6728 on Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) Edits, Version
16.0, Effective January 1, 2010
This J1 Part B MLN Matters article (CR6818) informs physicians that the
latest package of Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits, Version 16.0,
effective January 1, 2010, is being corrected to replace the files in CR
6728, which was released on November 20, 2009. Please be sure to share with
your staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7ZPLU75368?opendocument


Emergency Update to the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database
(MPFSDB)
This J1 A/B MAC MLN Matters article (CR6796a) was revised on January 8,
2010, to reflect a new Change Request (CR) 6796 that was released on
January 6, 2010. The transmittal number (see above), CR Release Date and
Web address for accessing CR 6796 has been changed. The files associated
with CR 6796 include a legislative change to the CY 2010 conversion factor
update and changes as a result of technical corrections to the malpractice
relative value units. This article also amends payment files that were
issued to Medicare contractors based on the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee
Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule. Please be sure to share with your staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7ZPN448006?opendocument


Medically Unlikely Edits (MUE): Change Request 6712
These instructions are for Change Request 6712, Medically Unlikely Edits
(MUE). The instructions are being posted because there will not be an MLN
Matters article that addresses this subject matter. Please be sure to share
with your staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7ZNTJ54702?opendocument


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