CMS & Palmetto/J1MAC News

The following information has been received by ANCO.


****CMS NEWS****
On April 15, 2010, President Obama signed into law the “Continuing Extension Act of 2010.” This law extends through May 31, 2010, the zero percent update to the MPFS that was in effect for claims with dates of service January 1, 2010, through March 31, 2010. The law is retroactive to April 1, 2010. Consequently, effective immediately, claims with dates of service April 1 and later which were being held by Medicare contractors are being released for processing and payment. Please keep in mind that the statutory payment floors still apply and, therefore, clean electronic claims cannot be paid before 14 calendar days after the date they are received by Medicare contractors (29 calendar days for clean paper claims).

Please watch your listservs and your contractor’s website for more information.


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
On April 15, 2010, President Obama signed into law the "Continuing Extension Act of 2010." This law extends through May 31, 2010, the zero percent update to the MPFS that was in effect for claims with dates of service January 1, 2010 through March 31, 2010. The law is retroactive to April 1, 2010. Consequently, effective immediately, claims with dates of service April 1 and later, which were being held by Medicare contractors, are being released for processing and payment. Please keep in mind that the statutory payment floors still apply and, therefore, clean electronic claims cannot be paid before 14 calendar days after the date they are received by Medicare contractors (29 calendar days for clean paper claims).

Given the uncertainty regarding MPFS claims with dates of service June 1, 2010, and later, please watch your listservs and your contractor's website for more information.


J1 Part B LCDs Updates
The following J1 Part B Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) have been
revised: Flow Cytometry L30692, In Vitro Chemosensitivity & Chemoresistance
Assays L30697 and CT Colonography (Virtual Colonoscopy) L28250.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/84HR646420?opendocument


PC-ACE Pro32 version 2.20 Update File
PC-ACE Pro32 software has been updated to version 2.20 with several CMS
Medicare mandates and enhancements. All PC-ACE Pro32 users must download
and install the attached software update file immediately.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/84FRCM4526?opendocument


Medicare Medical Records: Signature Requirements Acceptable and
Unacceptable Practices
While CMS guidelines mandate the presence of signatures specifically for
all 'medical review' purposes, modifiers, etc., records pertaining to any
procedures billed to Medicare are potentially subject to review by not only
Palmetto GBA, but other CMS contractors. Because of this, we are alerting
you to the importance of these signature requirements and if changes are
needed, we suggest you take immediate action. The contents of this article
are applicable to Medicare claims with dates of service on or after March
1, 2010, processed by or medical record submitted to Palmetto GBA for
Medical Review purposes on or after April 16, 2010.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/84HT746343?opendocument


The Continuing Extension Act of 2010 Extends Zero Percent Medicare
Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Update
On April 15, 2010, President Obama signed into law the 'Continuing
Extension Act of 2010.' This law extends through May 31, 2010, the zero
percent update to the MPFS that was in effect for claims with dates of
service January 1, 2010 through March 31, 2010. The law is retroactive to
April 1, 2010. Consequently, effective immediately, claims with dates of
service April 1 and later, which were being held by Medicare contractors,
are being released for processing and payment. Please keep in mind that the
statutory payment floors still apply and, therefore, clean electronic
claims cannot be paid before 14 calendar days after the date they are
received by Medicare contractors (29 calendar days for clean paper claims).
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/84KMXM0885?opendocument


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