ASH, 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/4940.aspx. This edition features:

Contact the Senate Now to Prevent the 21 Percent Medicare Physician Payment Cut

FDA Announces New Safety Program for Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents

President Obama and Congress Convene Health Reform Summit

ASH Shares Support of BCR-ABL1 Testing in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

The Social Security Administration Expands Its List of Compassionate Allowances

2010 PQRI and E-Prescribing Incentive Program National Provider Call With Q&A Session

Medicare Revises Its Definition of Compendia for Off-Label Indications in Anticancer Chemotherapeutic Regimens

Medicare Releases Quarterly Correct Coding Initiative Update

Don't Miss the Official Highlights of ASH® Latin America


****CMS NEWS****
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is working with Congress, health care providers, and the beneficiary community to avoid disruption in the delivery of health care services and payment of claims for physicians, non-physician practitioners, and other providers of services paid under the Medicare physician fee schedule. As you are aware, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2010 provided a zero percent (0%) update to the 2010 MPFS effective for dates of service January 1, 2010, through February 28, 2010.

We believe Congress is working to avoid the negative update that will take effect March 1. Consequently, CMS has instructed its contractors to hold claims containing services paid under the MPFS for the first 10 business days of March. The holding of MPFS claims will only affect claims with dates of service March 1, 2010, and forward. This hold should have a minimum impact on provider cash flow because, under current law, clean electronic claims are not paid any sooner than 14 calendar days (29 for paper claims) after the date of receipt. Be on the alert for more information about the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Update.


The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is conducting the fifth national administration of theMedicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS). This survey is designed to collect quantifiable data on providers’ satisfaction with the performance of the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) contractors that process and pay their Medicare claims. CMS conducts the MCPSS on an annual basis and uses the results for Medicare contractor oversight and process improvement initiatives.

In January, CMS notified approximately 30,000 Medicare FFS providers and suppliers that they had been randomly selected to participate in the 2010 MCPSS study. As representatives of the more than 1.5 million providers nationwide who serve Medicare beneficiaries across the country, these providers and suppliers have an opportunity to give CMS valuable feedback on their satisfaction, attitudes, perceptions, and opinions about the services provided by their respective contractor.

If you have been notified that you were selected to participate in this study and have not yet done so, CMS is listening and wants to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to go online and complete your survey via a secure online Internet survey tool. Responding online is a convenient, easy, and quick way to provide CMS with your feedback. Survey questionnaires can also be submitted by mail, secure fax, and over the telephone. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

CMS has contracted with SciMetrika, a public health consulting firm, to administer this important survey and report statistical data to CMS. If you received notification that you were selected to participate in the MCPSS study and you no longer have your online survey tool access information or need help accessing the survey tool, please call the MCPSS Provider Helpline at 1-800-835-7012 or send an email to MCPSS@scimetrika.com.

Please Note: Only providers and suppliers notified that they have been randomly selected to take part in the 2010 MCPSS may participate in this study. A new random sample of providers and suppliers is selected annually to participate in the MCPSS study.

For more information about the MCPSS, please visit the CMS MCPSS website athttp://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcpss, or read the CMS MLN Matters Special Edition article at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE1005.pdf featuring the survey.

CMS urges you to please take a few moments to complete your survey today.


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
Certain Drugs Rejected Incorrectly
This Alert announces that certain HCPCS drug codes may have been rejected
incorrectly for no invoice. This affects services processed from February
10, 2010, through Febuary 18, 2010. The issue has been forwarded to the
Systems Department for investigation. When the issue is resolved, a mass
adjustment will be performed for any services rejected incorrectly.
Providers are encouraged to review the information and to share with your
staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/832KQT6638?opendocument


March 2010 J1 A/B MAC Medicare Advisory
The March 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/82ZN2A6010?opendocument


2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative & Electronic Prescribing
Incentive Program National Provider Call
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. to 3:30
p.m. EST, on Wednesday, March 10, 2010.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/82ZH477208?opendocument


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