ACCC, 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-5-19-2010.html. ANCO is an Institutional Member of ACCC. This edition features:

• A Call to Action! Review and Comment on Proposed Changes to CoC Standards

• Overcome Burnout & Sour Attitudes: Keynoter Looks at Turn-Around Techniques

• CMS Issues Change on Payment Reduction to Certain Diagnostic Imaging Procedures

• Help ACCC Find Best Practices in Patient Transition Between the Hospital and Practice Setting

• Heard on ACCC's ListServ: Massage Therapy Reimbursement

• Nominees Sought for Two Congressional Healthcare Committees

• ACCC Secretary Receives AOSW Award


****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:

• Lawmakers Work on a Five Year Medicare Fix with California Geographic Payment Fix

• Physicians Can Now Claim Their Share of $350 Million UnitedHealth Settlement

• Governor's Proposed Budget Cuts Health Funding and Creates Administrative Hassles for Physicians

• CMA Tells Feds that Medical Loss Ratio Definition Must Prevent Subjective Insurer Manipulation

• Misleading Blue Shield Physician Ratings Go Public on June 1

• Don't Forget: FTC's Ref Flag Rules Take Effect June 1


****CMS NEWS****
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released MLN Matters Article #MM6960 to advise providers who submit claims to Medicare contractors that, as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), claims with dates of service on or after January 1, 2010, received later than one calendar year beyond the date of service will be denied by Medicare. For more details, please read the article at http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6960.pdf on the CMS website.


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
Online Provider Services Coming Soon
Online Provider Services is coming soon to PalmettoGBA.com/Medicare. It
will be available from the Self-service Tools menu on the Jurisdiction 1
Part A and Jurisdiction 1 Part B Web pages beginning 9 a.m. PST on May 19,
2010. Look for more information soon!
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/85JRAS5358?opendocument


PC-ACE Pro32 Training Modules for Institutional and Professional Claims
Submission
Palmetto GBA is pleased to announce the availability of new Web-based
PC-ACE Pro32 training modules for Part A and Part B providers. PC-ACE Pro32
is a complete, self-contained electronic processing system for healthcare
claims submission and management. This system does not integrate into
office systems, such as accounts receivable, inventory or billing. It
provides you with the ability to enter patient, claim, and procedure file
information, while creating summary reports of the claims you submit
electronically.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/857MGQ4785?opendocument


Northern California 2010 Revised Medicare Part B Fee Schedule
The Northern California 2010 Revised Medicare Part B Fee Schedule is now
available and is effective for services performed on or after January 1,
2010.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/7ZDQMR7321?opendocument


Revised Payment Files for the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database
(MPFSDB) and Retroactive Provisions under the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (Publication L. 111-148) (The Affordable Care Act)
This J1 A/B MAC MLN Matters article (CR6973) amends payment files that were
issued to contractors to take into account the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee
Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule correction notice that went on display at the
Federal Register on May 5, 2010, and retroactive provisions under the
Affordable Care Act. Providers are encouraged to review the information and
to share with their staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/85KKWH2865?opendocument


PC-ACE Pro32 Training Modules
Palmetto GBA is pleased to announce the availability of new Web-based
PC-ACE Pro32 training modules for Part A and Part B providers. PC-ACE Pro32
is a complete, self-contained electronic processing system for healthcare
claims submission and management. This system does not integrate into
office systems, such as accounts receivable, inventory or billing. It
provides you with the ability to enter patient, claim, and procedure file
information, while creating summary reports of the claims you submit
electronically.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/857MGQ4785?opendocument


Systems Changes Necessary to Implement the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Section 6404 - Maximum Period for Submission of
Medicare Claims Reduced to Not More Than 12 Months
This J1 A/B MAC MLN Matters article (CR6960) announces that the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is updating edit criteria related to the
timely filing limits for submitting claims for Medicare Fee-for-Service
(FFS) reimbursement. As a result of the PPACA, claims with dates of service
on or after January 1, 2010, received later than one calendar year beyond
the date of service will be denied by Medicare. Providers are encouraged to
review the information and to share with their staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/85LREN7223?opendocument


Spring Workshop Location Changed to Bishop, CA June 9
Palmetto GBA J1 Spring Workshop Tour scheduled for Tonopah, Nevada on June
9, 2010, will be moved to Bishop, California.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/85NKYJ4300?opendocument


Spring Workshop Tour Lake Tahoe Location Finalized June 8
The J1 Spring Workshop Tour scheduled for Lake Tahoe, Nevada on June 8,
2010, will be held at Harrah's Lake Tahoe, 18 U.S. Highway 50, Stateline,
NV 89449.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/85NRMU8025?opendocument


Updated: Certain Drugs Rejected Incorrectly
Certain HCPCS drug codes processed between February 10 through February 18,
2010, were rejected incorrectly for lack of invoice. A mass adjustment was
completed on March 25, 2010, to correct the issue.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/832KQT6638?opendocument


The ANCO Online ListServ has moved and is now sent directly from the ANCO office computer. Please contact ListServ@anco-online.org if you wish to update or unsubscribe your e-mail address. Thanks!