ACCC, ASH, CMA & 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-8-25-2010.html. ANCO is an Institutional Member of ACCC. This edition features:

• ACCC Submits Comments to CMS on Proposed 2011 Physician Fee Schedule

• Heard on ACCC's ListServ: Brown Bagging

• CMS Reconsiders Limitation on FDG PET

• Many US and Canadian Oncologists Unprepared to Use Cost-effectiveness Data in Practice


****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/5664.aspx. This edition features:

• ASH Submits Comments to CMS on Proposed Changes to Physician Fee Schedule

• 10-Year Medicare Physician Pay Fix Would Cost $330 Billion

• ASH Submits Comments to CMS on Proposed Changes to Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and CY 2011 Payment Rates

• ASH Submits Comments to FDA on Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)

• AHRQ Releases Technology Assessment on Antiemetic Drugs and Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy in Adults

• DME MACs Revise Oral Anticancer Drugs Policy

• CMS to Host National Provider Call on 2010 PQRI & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Programs

• CMS to Host Conference Call on ICD-10 Implementation

• One week left to register for the State-of-the-Art Symposium

• Register for ASH Webinar Series on Thrombosis


****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:

• Claim Your Share of the $350M UnitedHealth Settlement

• CMS PECOS Enrollment Deadline is September 1

• OAL Approves Regs Requiring Physician Participation in Lethal Injections

• Medicare Audits Find Improper Use of New Patient Codes

• Webinar: Meaningful Use of EHRs

• Legislative Update

• Hospital-Physician Alignment: What You Need to Know About ACOs, Medical Foundations, and Other New Health Care Payment and Delivery Models

• 2011 California Health Care Leadership Academy Rescheduled


****PALMETTO/J1MAC NEWS****
September 2010 J1 A/B MAC Medicare Advisory
The September 2010 J1 A/B MAC Medicare Advisory is now available on the J1
Web site. Providers are encouraged to review the information and to share
with their staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/88LQRW5788?opendocument


Don't Miss the 2010 MACtoberfest in Palm Springs
Don't miss the 2010 Palmetto GBA J1 MACtoberfest from October 27 through
October 29 in Palm Springs, California! Online pre-registration will open
on August 27. Space is limited, so secure your spot early.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/88LRSU3853?opendocument


Payment for Implantable Tissue Markers (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding
System (HCPCS) Code A4648) and Implantable Radiation Dosimeters (HCPCS Code
A4650)
This J1 Part B MLN Matters article (CR6968a) was revised on August 18,
2010, to correct an error in the ‘What You Need to Know’ section on page 1.
The HCPCS code of A450 was corrected to show A4650. All other information
remains the same. This article clarifies that the Healthcare Common
Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for implantable tissue markers and
for implantable radiation dosimeters are separately billable and payable
for physicians when used with certain CPT Codes. Providers are encouraged
to review the information and to share with their staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/88GLQQ5588?opendocument


Claim Adjustment Reason Code (CARC), Remittance Advice Remark Code (RARC)
and Medicare Remit Easy Print (MREP) Update
This J1 A/B MAC MLN Matters article (CR7089) announces the latest update of
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARCs) and Claim Adjustment Reason Codes
(CARCs), effective October 1, 2010, for Medicare. These are the changes
that have been added since CR 6901. The reason and remark code sets must be
used to report payment adjustments in remittance advice transactions. The
reason codes are also used in some coordination-of-benefits (COB)
transactions. Providers are encouraged to review the information and to
share with their staff.
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/ls/J1B~88MRQF1238?opendocument


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