CMA, CMS, & Palmetto/J1MAC News

The following information has been received by ANCO.


****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:

• Health Reform Takes Important Steps to Cover Uninsured, But Falls Short of Ensuring Access to Doctors

• CMA Submits Comments on Meaningful Use Definition

• CMA President Named to Board of Health Information Exchange Organization

• State Approves Regulations to Expand Scope of Practice for Nonphysicians

• Appeals Court Hears Oral Arguments in Lawsuit Challenging San Francisco's Ban on Sale of Tobacco in Pharmacies

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

• CMA Launches Free Practice Management Newsletter: Subscribe Today

• There's Still Time to Register for CMA's 13th Annual Health Care Leadership Academy


****CMS NEWS****
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the April 2010 ASP and NOC pricing files and crosswalks. The ASP pricing files for January 2010, October 2009, July 2009, and April 2009 have also been updated. All are available for download at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/McrPartBDrugAvgSalesPrice/ (see left menu for year-specific links).


The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be hosting its fourth national provider call regarding the implementation of HIPAA Version 5010. There will be a brief presentation given by CMS followed by a Q&A session with CMS subject matter experts. Please note that this call is geared towards vendors, clearinghouses, and providers who are performing their own development of 5010.

Conference call details:

Date: March 24, 2010

Conference Title: HIPAA Version 5010 Fourth National Provider Call

Discussion topics:
· General overview of 5010
· Additional changes to Medicare Fee For Service (FFS)
· Timelines and deadlines
· What you need to do to prepare
· CMS’s approach for new error handling transactions: 999 and 277CA
· Hot Topics:
1. Billing provider address change - P.O. Boxes no longer permitted
2. Discussions on handling Transaction Errata

Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET

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 2:00 p.m. ET on March 23, 2010, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time.

1. To register for the call participants need to go to:
http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/032410
2. Fill in all required data.
3. Verify your time zone is displayed correctly the drop down box.
4. Click "Register".
5. 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.


****PALMETTO/J1 MAC NEWS****
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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