ACCC, ASH, CMA, CMS, & Palmetto/J1MAC News

The following information has been received by ANCO.


****ACCC NEWS****
The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) Connect was published and is available online at http://www.accc-cancer.org/mediaroom/newsletters/2010/ACCConnect-1-27-2010.html. ANCO is an Institutional Member of ACCC. This edition features:

• Cancer Care Trends Survey to be Released at ACCC's 36th Annual National Meeting in Baltimore, MD

• New Continuing Education Activity on Therapy for Advanced/Metastatic NSCLC

• Heard on ACCC's ListServ: Leaving Ports Accessed for Multiple Day Chemotherapy

• The Downside of Diagnostic Imaging

• FDA Revises Safety Information for Bortezomib

• Seeking Your Thoughts on ACCC's Meeting Topics

• Spanish Translations of NCD Patient Publications Now Available


****ASH NEWS****
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) Practice Update was published and is available online at http://www.hematology.org/Practice/Practice-Updates/4844.aspx. This edition features:

• President Obama Expected to Renew Call for Health Reform in State of the Union Address

• Medicare Physician Payment "Fix" Has Unclear Future

• ASH Urges Inclusion of Clinical Trials Coverage Provision in Final Health Reform Bill

• CMS Releases a Revised Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Fact Sheet

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

• Earn CME Through Blood Articles


****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:

• Fate of Health Reform Uncertain

• CMA CEO Alfred Gilchrist Steps Down

• CMA Updates Medicare Consultation Code Billing Guide

• DMHC Finalizes Timely Access Regulations

• New Orders for H1N1 Vaccine Now Being Accepted

• Pharmacy Board Proposes Patient Centric Prescription Labeling Regulations

• CMA's 2010 Model Medical Staff Bylaws Now Available

• Register Today for the 2010 California Health Care Leadership Academy


****CMS NEWS****
The revised Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Fact Sheet (January 2010), which provides general information about the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) including MPFS payment rates and the MPFS payment rates formula, is now available in downloadable format from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare Learning Network at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MedcrePhysFeeSchedfctsht.pdf .


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
Presentation is Available for Part B ACT on January 26, 2010
The presentation of the J1 Part B Ask the Contractor Teleconference (ACT)
on January 26, 2010, is now available on our Web site.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/822STK5306?opendocument


Clarification of CMS Change Request 6417 Requirements: Expansion of Current
Scope
We are issuing this Alert to clarify Change Request 6417, which was issued
by CMS to expand editing on claims submitted to Medicare involving
ordering/referring medical providers. It explains some of these changes to
the provider community and assist ordering/referring or other affected
providers in interpreting more effectively any relevant remittance advice
messages. The Alert is designed to proactively address any issues you may
be experiencing and to help providers with determining if the errors are
related to enrollment or a claim submission error. Please be sure to share
with your staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/823LAX7865?opendocument


J1 PCC Closed for Training January 29
The Palmetto GBA J1 Provider Contact Center (PCC) will be closed for
training on Friday, January 29, 2010, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. PST.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/823MNE6536?opendocument


Notice of New Interest Rate for Medicare Overpayments & Underpayments:
Change Request 6652
This article is for Change Request 6652, Notice of New Interest Rate for
Medicare Overpayments & Underpayments. This article will be published
quarterly to let providers know that interest rates will be updated
quarterly and an article will be published to announce those changes.
Please be sure to share with your staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/823SA92151?opendocument


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